The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-08-05
HONEYMOON OVER

HONEYMOON OVER
Every President, according to
American political tradition, is
given a congressional honeymoon"
that is, for a certain period Of
time, long or short as the case may
be, his suggestions and requests Of
Congress are received with almost
unanimous appeal and are enacted
into law. He is faced by no major
OBJECTIONS from his party ranks, and
his floor leaders need give but little
effort to keeping "the boys In line"
In our recent history, the short
est honeymoon was that Of Presi-
dent Hoover, who had to deal with 3
hostile Congress within two years
after his election-a circumstance
that had much to do with his crush
ing defeat when he ran for reelec-
ton.
Longest honeymoon has been that
Of President Roosevelt. For four
years, every major policy he advo-
Gated was approved with q mini
mum of debate. He received no set
backs from Congress. In such mat
tiers as disbursement Of government
money, he was given almost q free
hand. He had bills written by his
advisors, sent them to Congress and
saw them made into law within q
few days. Never was the authority
Of the Executive SO broadened.
To say that this honeymoon is
now over Is simply to state an OBJ
vious fact, apparent to both the
friends and opponents Of the New
Deal. Cause Of the split was the
Court Bill. Ultimate effects Of the
split are today the subject for guess
ing forecasting and editorializing
by everyone in the country who
takes an interest in politics.
The death Of Senator Robinson
who though his great personal pop
ularity ability and mastery Of the
complicated parliamentary technique
was able to keep the senate running
like q well-oiled Administration
machine for four years-was SER
ious blow to the President. But
the seeds Of discomfort have been
brewing for long time. Even had
Mr.. Robinson secured the passage
of the Court Bill, which is extreme
1y doubtful, the breach between
congress and the White House would
inevitably have widened. Faced with
no effective Republican opposition.
the overwhelming Democratic ma
jority has been gradually breaking
into q, number Of opposed, FESTIVE
factions.
The upshot Of this, as the Wesh-
ington columnists have been writ
ing, Is clear. The Court Bill-per-
haps the most important piece Of
legislation proposed by the Admins
tration-is definitely dead. There
will be no increase in Supreme
Court membership, no proctor, and
no increase in the membership Of
the lower federal courts unless a
definite need for judges is shown. It
is probable that a bill will be Of
fered whereby the progress Of cases
involving Constitutional questions
from District Courts to the Supreme
Court. will be expedited, and the At
torney General will be empowered
to appear in lower court cases when
the constitutionality Of a federal
law is questioned. These minor re-
forms have long been advocated by
conservatives and liberals alike,
and will not stir opposition.
Furthermore, the other "must"
bills on the Administrations five
point legislative program for this
session are definitely in danger
the chances, say the experts, are
against them passing. These bills
would fix minimum wages and
maximum hours for industry in in
terstate commerce; reorganize the
government departments and bur-
eaus; provide for low-cost housing;
plug up loopholes in the tax laws,
and set up new farm plan, based
on the lever normal granary" Po-
tent remark came from Represent
alive Woodrum, strong White
House adherent, who said that If
the Administration insisted on pass
ing an ambitious legislative pro-
gram such as this, Congress will
still be here when the frost is on
the pumpkin" The revolt, in brief,
has reached a highly advanced
stage.
The effects Of this on the coun-
try are gradually becoming clear.
First, the chances are strongly
against any additional experiment.