The Omaha guide., 1937-09-04
Eeononic Review

The first session of the 75tl
Congress of the United States has
passed into history. As was fore.
cast at its beginning, it was the
scene of some of the most bitter ve1
bal battling of the postwar era.
II deliberated some of the most
important measures ever laid be-
fore the Legislative branch of the
goyernment. Dominated as it was
by an overwhelming party major
ity, it closed aid increasing inter-
party strife that may revolution
lie the existing two-party system.
First, what did Congress do? It
appropriated about $4,000, 000, 900.
1t enacted a long list Of major bills
including continuation of the RFC;
extension of the CCC; extension of
the Department of Agriculture's
marketing agreement authority;
continuation of the reciprocal trade
agreement policy; approval of a
liberal pension system for rail
road workers; passed a bill design
ed to aid tenant famers; provided
that Supreme Court Justices of
long service may retire and receive
full active pay $4,000 a year for
life.
Perhaps more important is
what Congress did not do-for it
is here that the seeds Of discord
and anger sprounted. At the be.
ginning of the session, the Admin
istration had a vast ambitious
must" legislative program the
President wished enacted into law.
The majority leader, the late Sen.
ator Robinson, used every conceiv !,
able tactic to force the Senate to
approve this program. So did the
new leader, Senator Barley, who
took command in the closing days.
Yet the program suffered almost
100 per cent defeat.
Key measure of the Presidents
plan was the bill to enlarge the
Supreme Court. This bill was final
ly withdrawn after a campaign
against it led by Senator Wheeler
of Montana, long considered a rad
ioal legislator.
The President wished a great
low-cost housing measure. A hous-
ing measure was passed in the last
week of the session-but it was
not nearly so ambitious as the
White House had advocated, and
does not fulfill the Presidents de-
mands.
The President favored a wage
and hour bill for industry which
was considerably stricter than the
defunct NRA. It did not pass.
The President asked passage of
a bill to reorganize the independ-
emf government bureaus-such as
the ICC, the Federal Trade Com
mission, etc.-that, in effect, would
have placed them under the direct
control of the Executive. This bill
was deferred and kept from a vote.
Finally, the President nominated
strong New Dealer Senator Black
for the Supreme Court vacancy
caused by the retirement Of just
ice Van Devanter. Senator Blacks
nomination was approved by a
heavy majority-but it is signif-
cant that, for the first time in fifty
years, the tradition" of approving
a senatorial appointment to a judi
cial office by a UNANIMOUS vote was
dis regarded. A number of sena-
tors denounced Mr.. Black on the
floor.
Result: The 18th Congress show
ed itself to be largely anti-New
Deal, with the chief OBJECTIONS in
the Democratic ranks coming from
southern and western senators. No
one, whether he be for or against
The Presidents program, can deny
that the majoity party is split wide
open. And it seems certain that in
January, when the second session
starts, the "rebel' movement vii
be much farther advanced than al
present.
Highly significant was an cpl
sode occurring on the last day il
the Senate. Senator Guffey, Demo
crat Of Pennsylvania, has openl'
suggested that the President use.
his influence 10 defeat Democrat.
senators opposing his measures il
the next primaries. -Four senator