Evening star., 1937-05-27

StaCe ana Wlen
Mr.. Byrd performed the miracle" by
asking the Department of Agriculture
to withhold Sl,500,00O of proposed
spending in Virginia, it wasn't really
a miracle happening at all.
Senator Byrd, of course, deserves
credit for courage in risking misun-
derstanding by his constituents, bu.
the issue was simple one. The Ques-
ton really presented was: Shall the
Senator from Virginia stand by and
allow $l,500,00O more to be spent IN
his State for the purpose of building
up a political machine to defeat him
for denomination in the Democratic
primaries?
As measure of self-protection, the
Virginia Senator called attention to
the waste involved, as he saw it, in
the proposed expenditure, and while
the episode is very unusual and only
man of Harry Byrds courage and
statemanship would bring it about,
nevertheless the political side of the
controversy is not to be overlooked.
Wastefulness Essential.
Many members of Congress are in
the same fix. If they play ball with
the administration, they can get ad-
ministration support for renomina-
ton and reelection, but they must
acquiesce in policy of wasteful
spending. If they oppose the ad-
ministration, they must be prepared
for the backfire in their districts and
States. Thus, undoubtedly, the re-
fusal by Harry Byrd to countenance
a waste of s1,500,0o0 will be used oy
administration henchmen who are op-
posed to Byrd as means of building
up sentiment against him. But the
people Of Virginia who have supported
Senator Glass notwithstanding his
outspoken criticism of the administra-
tion are of kind apparently who un-
derstand and appreciate also man
of Harry Byrd's capacity and con-
sclentiouS service.
In the other States of the Union
Incumbent members of Congress do
not have political organizations with
the power that Senator Byrd has
had, so they will require consider
able more skill in Warding off the
attacks of administration lieutenants
who appear as rivals for the nomina-
ton and are promptly buttressed by
support from labor organizations and
other groups which are the direct
beneficiaries of administration favor
Members of Congress have until
now failed to realize that the relief
expenditures can be used in such
way as to build up political organiza-
tions under the direction of Mr. Far
ley. For. while Harry Hopkins is
the relief administrator, the funds
are disbursed through a bureaucracy
which has been political in its COM
plexion almost from the very be-
ginning. Besides this, the Federal
officeholders are today very active in
politics and can be counted upon to
fight any candidates inside the Dem
ocratic party who are not lining up
with the administpat ton on public
policies.
House Revolt New Trend.
The revolt this week in the House
Of Representatives, where an effort
priations for specific purposes, is
new trend, but it has been develop
ing for some time. If appropria tions
are earmarked, the discretionary pow
er Of the Executive is to that extent
curtailed. The administration real
ICES very important prize is at stake,
and undoubtedly all the pressure of
the Presidents influence will be
brought to bear by his lobby agents
on Capitol Hill, who will be less ef-
fective in the Senate than in the
House.
Members Of the upper house who
have stuck out their necks, so to
speak, in the fight against the Presi-
dents Supreme Court bill may come
to realize that the 81 500 100000 fund,
II allowed to be spent in a discre-
tionary sense by the administration.
will spell the doom of their careers
in public life unless they can get
substantial support from Republicans