The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-20

In the New Deal recovery arch have
been torn from their
NeO rdrm moorings now and,
Legislation from all of the COM
ments 1 have been
able to pick up, it appears that the
general situation has been clarified
thereby. Two of the major New Deal
items-the NRA and the AAA-have
been tossed overheard by the Supreme
court of the United States and
congress, at the request of the Presi-
dent, now has thrown three others into
the limbo of unnecessary things by re-
pealing the legislation for control of
cotton, tobacco and potatoes. These
three with their parent, the Agricul-
tural Adjustment act, represented all
that was basic in the New Deal farm
program.
The Importance of the Presidents
act in requesting repeal of the three
compulsory crop-control laws cannot
be minimized. Mr.. Roosevelt recOg-
nized, when the AAA was invalidated,
that the other three crop-cOntrOl laws
would be of no further use because
they were predicated upon the nation
al law. He recognized further that to
remain adamant would be only to per-
NIT delay in invalidation of those
three laws because they were all head
ed for an adverse decision by the SUI
preme court anyway. In seeking their
repeal, therefore, Mr.. Roosevelt SIM
ply took time by the forelock and grid
ed his armor for fresh start on farm
relief legislation.
Where or in what form the new farm
legislation will finally emerge, none
can foretell. The house and senate
will pass some kind of legislation to
supplant the laws invalidated by the
court or repealed by congress. Neces-
sarily, this new farm legislation will
be of stop-gap character and don'tbe-
lieve that any of its ardent supporters
can tell you exactly what the result
, will be In so far as its effect upon agri-
culture is concerned.
AS far as the compromises have been
worked out, it appears that some of
the leaders are willing again to enact
legislation directed at crop-contrOl in
semi-compulsory manner. If that is
Forthcoming, the new law actually will
be nothing more than a thinly dis
guised attempt to circumvent the pro-
hibitions laid down in the Supreme
court opinion holding the AAA uncon-
stitutional. In any event, the tragedy
| In the situation appears to me to be
| the absence of clear thinking, or else
the circumstances we see represent po-
litical cowardice of the worst type.
It is to be remembered that in this
session of congress more than any 9TH
er since President Roosevelt took Of
| fee, there exist greater number of
blocs; cross currents of opinion; par
tisaE jealousy. A great deal Of it is
| in opposition to brain trust policies
| sponsored by the New Deal but for
political reasons the individuals who
oppose these things dare not openly
| policies as such. Thus, a consensus
has arisen among Washington observ-
ers that representatives and senators
concerned with directing enactment of
new farm legislation are likely to mess
| up the situation rather than come forth
/ with definite and workable PROPOSE
/ ton.
The situation at the White House
| and in congress in connection with
agricultural policies
| F0rtlS0n probably Is the best
Politics Rule illustration in def
mite, tangible form,
| of how many important federal policies
are being dealt with in partisan po-
litical way rather than, as they should
be, IN scientific manner with partisan
politics in the background. need not
recall how many pieces Of legislation
have been put through congress bear
ing New Deal tag of must" OF
course, Mr.. Roosevelt cannot be blamed
entirely for issuing orders when con-
gress is willing to obey. 1t is fact,
nevertheless, that time after time and
with reference to the major New Deal
experiments, the legislation has been
drafted by men serving under Pres
! idential appointment in executive de-
partments, the copies forwarded to
given representatives or senators and
| instructions passed along that the adj
ministration will take no substitute.
1t wants the specific measure and in
that form
The result of all of this has been
! that in numerous cases legislation was
passed without more than few mem
bers of the house and senate having
even read the bills before they were
asked to cast favorable vote on their
! passage.
Now, representatives and senators
are seeking to dodge the responsibility
for their acts. This was shown def
nitely in the celebrity with which con.
gress acted on the Presidential request
for repeal of the three crop-control acts
named heretofore. / know personally
of considerable number of represent.
atives and senators who were delight
ed at the opportunity to vote repeal
of those laws. They never did like
them-after they found out what they
had passed. But politician is the
last person in the world to admit his
mistakes and the representatives and
senators who voted for repeal of the
crop-control laws with such enthusi
asm were no different than the others
The repeal request simply gave them
an opportunity TO get out from under