Evening star., 1936-01-06
PRESSURE FLAyED
AS POLITICAL EVIL
Ex-Gov. Ely and Prof. Elliott
Debate Issue Before
Town Hall.

reform.
This common stand against pres
sure" groups was the only point IN
common between the debaters. former
Gov. Joseph B. Ely of Massachusetts,
who argued against change OF the
Constitution. and Prof. william Yam
dell Elliott. chairman of the depart
ment of Government of Harvard Uni
yersity, who advocated constitutional
reform.
Elliott, who commanded Field Ar
tillery battery In France, apologiZed
for the part he took in Paris in bring
ing about creation of the American
Legion, in view of the part which ne
said the Legion today is playing In
"pressure politics"
The American Legion and the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars" he said, "ob-
viously have learned their technique
from the prohibitionists, who were
leaders of the pressure group"
Sound Budget Held Impossible.
Such pressure politics as the So
called pork barrel" drives on the
Treasury for all manner Of purposes,
Elliott declared, make the formation
of a sound national budget impos-
sible."
The very nature of our political
machinery and its yulnerability to
pressure of this type" the professor
said, forces the President to use
patronage, with disastrous results to
the civil service of the United States,
and also to countenance unjustiflable
and unwise spending for political
reasons. If he doesn't bow to these
twin evils, he loses the support of a
pressure frightened Congress and If
he does he often loses the support
Of the country"
Gov Ely. though he disagreed with
most of the Elliott arguments, agreed
that the one great danger to the
people is the poorly considered meth
ods of spending money into which
Government has been forced. He
also concurred heartily with Elliott
as to the evils of the patronage sys-
TEN, declaring emphatically that, as
a Democrat. he would rather see
patronage without ideals"
The defect of the Constitution
which makes possible the activities OF
the pressure group was recognized by
the trainers of that document, but
they we're unable to erect safeguards
because of the pressure activities OF
the constitutional delegates from the
smaller States. who forced the adop-
tion of the principle of equal repre-
sentation in the Senate of all States,
regardless Of size, Elliott said. He
pointed to the packing of the Sen
ate In Civil War times by creation of
States with populations only of fair
sized cities" as one Of the evils which
has arisen from this system.
Difficult Situation Seen.
SIT makes a very difficult situation
for any nation to face" he said. I'm
the face of special interests and Sec
tional pressure, this condition of the
Senate is one factor we must face.
The President has an almost impos-
sible task. given the machinery he
has to operate. Our system does not
n political party and leaves political
government open to pressure tactics"
The first thing the country must
do to save itself. Elliott explained. is
to give the Executive responsibility
for the budget and the Ipending
mechanism which would protect the
President from this type Of pressure.
Unless our political system works to
produce more responsibility for none
tary affairs, the country will continue
to experience "all kinds of political
raiding on the Treasury" he said.
Prof. Elliott urged that the laws
be reformed to prohibit fiscal riders
on bills to which they have no re-
lationship. The right Of the President
to veto single items In appropriation
bills is necessary if the Executive is to
override the demands of the pressure
groups, he said
The thing we must overcome Is
the terror of these pressure groups"
he said. The amount Of pressure
which they bring to bear upon the
members of the Senate and the House
is intolerable and the system which
makes such condition possible is
itself intolerable"
He advocated that the President
be given the power to call general
election at least once during his term
to determine public opinion on cru
cial matters and that, If such sys-
tenn is adopted, the terms of members
of Congress. like that Of the President,
should be four years instead of two.
Joint Session Proposed.
II the Senate is to fulfill its role
It must have different part in finan-
cial affairs and should meet in Joint |
session with the House on fiscal mat
ters, Elliott said. He also believes that |
the Supreme Court should be per-
mitted to have a voice in the framing |
Of legislation upon which it must |
subsequently pass.
I'VE require" Elliott said in closing
his main argument. "a more respon-
sible Federal system. with further ex-
tension of Federal power when it has |
become responsible to prevent cor
ruption and the flooding of money to
the States to meet the demands of
pressure groups"
Ely. in reply, said he could not
understand how special election to
voice public opinion on the spending
Of money would cure the evil.
II do not believe" he said, "that |
monetary control of the affairs of
the country can be obtained by any
Constitutional amendment. 1t can be |
controlled now by the people if they |
arouse themselves, through the regular |
elections Fiscal control Is not O ques-
ton of Constitutional reform, but |
Of aroused opinion of the electorate"
Careless Constitutional reform, he |
warned, would be apt to shake the |
confidence Of people who trust in
the Constitution and rely upon the |
safeguards which 1t provides"
FINE rAKEM lM DAlnc