Evening star., 1937-08-06


tory tactics which t
often develop as
a Congress pre-
pares for adjournment.
Actually there is little reason why
q Congress should not recess about
June IS each year and come back on
October IS. This would make the hot
weather less Of a factor in legislative
tempers and moods. But such a plan
might have to be slightly modified in
an election year. Thus in 1898, with
the primaries beginning in the Spring
months, members will start their rest
lesSneSs and will want to see Congress
adjourned by June is at the latest and
then will wish to spend the balance of
the time in active campaigning.
Immediately after a November elec-
ton, however, a special session of Con-
gress could be called and many of the
new members would naturally be in the
National Capital at that time anyhow
Extra Session Eignificant.
At the moment the calling of an
usual significance. The other day Pres
ident Roosevelt told the press that
they would know about the next ap-
pointment to the Supreme Court when
the nomination went to the Senate
From this it was promptly inferred
that Mr.. Roosevelt would send in a
nomination at the present session. If,
on the other hand, he has in mind
special session of Congress for October,
there would be time enough then for
him to send the nomination to the
Senate and no recess appointment
would be necessary, inasmuch as the
Supreme Court does not convene for
Its regular term till October.
The proposed special session, on the
other hand, may have much more of
bearing on campaign plans for 1888
than on any other issue Mr.. Roose-
welt wants crop-control plan in time
for the 1888 elections. There is much
opposition to such a course, but in
typical log rolling fashion, the Presi-
dent is using the kind of leverage the
members of Congress have in the past
been applying. He says in effect there
can be no commodity loans on cotton
unless crop-control bill is passed.
Trading With Congress.
Thus does the President of the
United States trade with or influence
. recalcitrant Congress. Thus also
does subservient Congress surrender
power to the Executive. In the days
OF constitutional Government, when
Congress was still the legislative body,
the members OF both houses would
never be going hat in hand to the
White House to ask protection for
their constituents or the exercise of
governmental powers in behalf of
FARMERS. They used to legislate for
the farmers in the Senate and the
House and tell the Executive what they
wanted passed or eliminated
The bestoWal Of discretionary powers
by Congress on the Executive has in
effect altered the American system of
government. The very members of
Congress who surrendered the leeis-
latlve prerogative by giving to the
Executive the discretionary power to
make huge expenditures are now the
victims OF Executive log-rolling At
present, for example, the members
nave been advised that if they will
promise to get crop control legislation
ready by Midautumn or even by jan
uary l, they can have their commodity
loans. 1t matters little that the Su-
preme Court invalidated previous crop
control laws, such as the A. A. A. Mr..
Roosevelt is intent on forcing Congress
TO pass new laws with the same prln-
clple though with different verbiaee.
II the court refuses to validate the
law, then the President may use the
big stick or club he has held over the
court for the last year-threat to add
new justices and pack the court with
his own majority.
Crop Control Important,
The Importance of crop-control
legislation to Mr.. Roosevelt from a
political viewpoint cannot be over
estimated. Such a scheme as the
A. A. A. provides an efficient, Nation
wide political organization in the
rural districts much better than any,
thing the Democratic National Com
mittee could provide and without the
necessity of using private campaign
funds. The administration is getting
ready to back its rubber stamp"
congressman and Senators in 1898 and
wants the crop-control legislation
pushed through in the latter part of
1887 SO as surely to be able to put
into operation another political organi-
ration to function as effectively as
did the old A. A. A. with its county
committees.
Mr.. Roosevelt Is far-sighted poll
tician and he Is much smarter and
shrewder than the rubber-stamp Con-
gressmen who already have given him
power to spend $l,500, 900, 900 for relief
IN city areas. Now there is to be
made available about $5O0,OOo,0 900 for
activity IN the rural districts. That's
the way a rubber-stamp Congress is
maintained in ONCE, and there seems
TO be little sign as yet Of an aroused
electorate Of independent citizens to
meet the issue of the use of public
FUNDS to perpetuate q political ad-
n1tnistration in power.
(Copyright. 1879