Evening star., 1937-12-07
Constructive Opposition.

AAASAC oAC lllulCdtlOllS VI COhllUlOll
among the more conservative Demo-
Gratis and Republicans on Capitol Hill, to
oppose some of the New Deal measures.
So far, the movement has gone no
farther than luncheon and cloakroom
conversations. Such a coalition, how
ever, was particularly effective during
the last session Of Congress. 1t spelled
the death of the Presidents bill to in
crease the membership of the Supreme
Court of the United States.
That such coalition may become
formidable is by no means beyond
the realm of possibility or even prob
ability. 1t was not long ago that
Senator Burke of Nebraska, speaking
in Kansas, declared that the fight over
the court bill was minor engagement
compared to the battle that was coming
in Congress to put an end to the gov
ernmental experiments of the New Deal
For the most part the Democrats in the
Senate who are talking coalition are
those who opposed the Presidents court
bill Whether a majority of those
gentlemen can be relied upon to oppose
the administration on other issues has
not yet developed.
Even II such coalition cannot prevent
absolutely the passage of administration
measures, it may be able to compel con-
siderable notifications of those meas
ures. Already there are signs that the
administrations crop control bill, which
is not to the liking of many Democratic
Senator'S must either be modified or
abandoned. On the House side of the
Capitol, the administrations wages and
hours bill must run the gantlet of serious
opposition from Democratic members.
And as for the Presidents plan for re-
organization of the executive depart
ments the chances are it will be materi-
ally changed before it is ever enacted
into law.
Particularly is the suggested coalition
interested in doing something to en-
courage business, to relieve it from
burdens which the New Deal has placed
upon it. The danger of another collapse
is regarded as no mere idle dream.
Members of the Senate believe that if
another depression comes, the country
will suffer far more than it did in the
depression growing out of the crash in
1929. They see not only depletion of
the reserves maintained at that time by
business, but also the impossible position
Of Government itself if it has to under
take to spend more billions of dollars
to prevent starvation and distress in this
country.
Having already raised the public debt
of the United States to its all high
figure-$37 ,00O, 600 0O0-the administra-
ton would be in bad case if it becomes
necessary to dig into the pockets of the
American people to finance more huge
spending programs. With this in mind,
the coalitionists are determined to re-
move, if possible, the blighting fear of
industry and business which is blamed
for retarding expansion in recent
months. They wish to give business, not
breathing spell, but real assurance,
definite assurance, that it can proceed
with plans of expansion without won-
dering where it is to be hit next
To be effective, however, such assur-
ance must be built not merely on OBJ
struction of administration policies 1t
must be constructive. If the admins
tration itself would join Fundamentally
in the movement for the reinsurance of
business, the maximum benefit could be
accomplished.