The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-01-21
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should never have been made In
the first place. But congressional
leaders were swept overheard by
the big wave and as far as I am
concerned have demonstrated again
their lack Of ability to keep their
feet on the ground.
do not know what it presages in
the way of future legislation. It
may be that after the excitement
has died down, congress will again
debate legislation and work out
proper laws but the start certainly
has been inauspicious.
Attention ought to be called just
here to the differences that have
arisen and prom
some Use to cause diff
Differences culties between
...... the executi e
branch of the government and
some of the legislators. Mr..
Roosevelt, as President, seems
to feel that he should have plenty
of power to deal with problems like
the Spanish situation and export Of
arms without consulting con-
gress. A good many New Deal
leaders in congress feel the same
way. But there are many who dis
agree with that idea. There is pro-
nounced sentiment at the Capitol
in favor of legislation that would
definitely prohibit the exporting OF
arms and munitions of war but in
Guiding definitions and guide lines
for those in the executive branch
of the government to enforce.
It is too early yet to tell what
form the permanent legislation will
take because of the circumstances
just outlined. With the top heavy
New Deal majority in congress, it
would seem the better guess to pre-.
dict that Mr.. Roosevelt will have his
way but on the other hand, until
such an issue becomes clear cut one
cannot tell very far in advance how
the two schools of thought will solve
their problem and whether the Unit
ed States will be committed further
to the one man control that would
necessarily result from granting
additional discretionary power to
the President in a matter Of this
kind.
There seems to be no doubt any,
where that sooner or later one Of
the nations whose troops is partici-
pating in the Spanish civil strife
will commit an overt act, an act Of
war. Some hot-headed individual in
command of ship or an airplane
or troops guarding border will
take a pot shot that will wipe out a
life or two and wipe out peace at
the same time just as occurred
when the comparatively insignifi-
cant Austrian Archduke was shot in
1914. There can be no question that
the United States must follow an
international policy under these cir
cumstances that is most cautious.
It must watch it's STEP. It dare not
slip-if it is going to stay out of that
European cauldron. And congress,
first of all. must calm down and
consider this situation in the light
of the future instead of the jittery
urge to respond to excited editorials.
DR.. Rexford Guy Tugwell, the ia
NOUS. dreaming brain truster No.
-. of the Roosevelt
IugUelPs administra tion,
Last Act has returned to
private life to
an executive position with a
molasses firm. Before he left his
post as Undersecretary of Agricul-
ture, however, the famous professor
signed an order that is designed
to curb lobbying by former employ
ees of the Department in whose adj
ministration he had hand.
The aim of this order was an
obviously worthy one because it was
designed to prevent former Off
Gals or employees of the Depart
ment of Agriculture from using new
connections with commercial groups
from obtaining information or US
ing influence not of the best sort
from public standpoint. With that
order, there can be no quarrel.
I find among astute observers in
Washington, however, no serious
supposition that the order would
operate to deprive DR.. Tugwell HIM
self or any other former official of
high standing from access to mem
hers of the Departments staff. 1t
just does not work out that way.
1t never has and it never will, de-
spite the wholesome character of the
good professors plans.
The truth is that while such an
order may make lesser officials
more cautious and thus put few
obstacles in the way of petty lobby
ing, it is thoroughly Intellectual in
preventing the use of influence or
the obtaining of information from
that Department or any other in the
government.
The difficulty with this situation
is that government offices are being
used as a stepping stone to more
lucrative jobs. he government does
not offer ambitious and able men
a security of tenure. Men who DEM
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