Evening star., 1937-09-22
Troubles Ahead.

President Roosevelt has given notice
that he intends to press for action on
the legislative proposals which he sent to
Congress at its recent session when that
body reassembles. There was period
quite an extensive period-during the
first session of the Seventy fifth Con-
gress when the President sent up to
Capitol Hill almost message a day.
Many of these proposals were side
tracked. They would constitute an ex-
tensive program for any full congress
sional session. 1t appears, therefore,
that the Congress will have plenty on
its hands when it gets back to Wash
ington. In addition, there will doubtless
be new measures advocated by the Chief
Executive. The promise has been made
that there is to be reorganization of the
taxing system, for example.
The legislative program begged down
in the past session for months, while the
administration sought to put through the
court bill, which the President has more
recently called his plan for the rejuve-
nation of the courts, particularly the Su-
preme Court. If such measure is to be
advanced again-and there are those who
maintain that the President has that in
mind-what reason is there to believe
that there will not again be the same
situation in Congress, with other major
bills waiting their turn?
OF the measures on the program that
failed of action and which in themselves
are extremely controversial there are the
wages and hours bill and the bill for
reorganization of the executive branch
of the Government. They are close to
the presidential heart. The reorganiza-
ton program, the most extensive ever
proposed by Chief Executive, WAS
launched by the President with a mes
sage that virtually claimed it was one of
the most important issues before the
country. 1t was almost the first of the
Presidents recommendations at the re-
cent session of Congress- That there was
need of reorganization was admitted gen.
erally..
The supporters of reorganization, how
ever, split over the question of economy.
1t became clear almost Immediately that
the reorganization planned by the Presi-
dent would not save money. Indeed, there
were those who argued that it would
really increase the Federal pay roll and
expenditures. They split, too, over the
amount of power which was to be placed
in the Presidents hands, not alone over
the regular departments so called, but
over the independent, qussi-judicial
agencies of Government These differ
ences still exist on Capitol Hill. They
may be expected to continue after Con-
gress reassembles.
The next session of Congress comes
before, not after, the congressional elec-
tions. If the administration is no more
successful in obtaining its legislative
program in the second session of this
Congress than 1t was in the first ses-
sion, Immediately following the Roose-
welt landslide, there will be teeth-gnash-
ing among the new dealers. There is 4
theory, however, that the close approach
of the neutrality-suspicious. of the
Democratic party primaries-will cause
the recalcitrants on Capitol Hill to see
the true light once again.
The administration has had Its way
in the matter of party organization in
the House and Senate, generally speak
ing. It's favorites for majority leaders,
in both houses, were chosen. The Sc
lection made in the Senate following the
death of Senator Robinson of Arkansas
has left its scars. The new senatorial
leader, Barkley of Kentucky, won by a
single vote in his contest with Harrison
of Mississippi.
1t was probably inevitable that Presi-
dent Roosevelt should come into conflict
with Congress. All Presidents have done
SO In the past. But the conflict, so soon
after his triumphant reelection was not
only surprise but shock to those who
had become accustomed to watching the
legislators sign on the dotted line.