Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1937-12-02

prepared to battle for them. In pol
itics, that sort of a thing often has
proved fatal to- the plans of the
man who then occupied the White
House. It may not turn out that
way this time but there are many
observers are sure the President is
going to be- forced into accepting
some things he did not want or
does not want just now.
Take the question of taxes, for
instance. Rightly or wrongly. the
President is being blamed for the
current business depression and
criticism of this sort is rolling up
like SNOWFALL going down hill. 1t
is being said that two tax levies
which were forced through congress
are largely responsible. The tax on
undivided profits OF corporations anc
the capital gains tax are used as
horrible examples of these unsound
policies fostered by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Well, the President is responsible.
to the extent THAT he approved of
them They were the product, how
ever, of some of the dozen or so,
peek-a-boo artists to whom the
President frequently has listened as
advisors
/ think it has been generally dem
onstrated that the two taxes in ques-
ton have been ruinous, especially
to the small business. It is equally
true, I believe, that business must
be given some consideration it it
ever is to get on-~a sound basis
again and that it ought to share at
tention of legislators with labor
leaders even though business has
fewer votes. In any event., the bur-
dens which the New Deal admittedly
has placed on business are serving
as the springboard for a part of the
Democratic majority. They can
properly fight for these things-and
easily be too busy to push the Presi-
dents program through
So the Presidents plans have gone
astray. They may remain that way,
or they may 60 even further, de-
pending upon how long the back
ward slide of business continues. OF
one thing, you may be sure. Partly
through his own fault and partly
through the fault Of the type of ad-
visors with which he has surrounded
himself, Mr.. Roosevelt does not
have the confidence of as many
members Of the legislative branch
as he formerly held.
It is little early to attempt q re-
port on prospects for the regular
=. session of con-
LOOKING gress that con-
ForUord venes in January.
Yet, since it is
quite evident there will be nothing
in the current extra session beyond
crop control legislation-if even that
Il believe we might look forward
bit. One of the things now evident
is the position congress will take on
relief for destitute and unemployed.
believe I see battle coming in
that direction.
1t has been apparent during the
last two years that congress was
dissatisfied with the relief system
built up by Secretary Ickes and the
professional reliever, Harry Hop
kins, works progress administrator.
The requirements, especially for the
Hopkins machine, have been met
with what has come to be called
''blank check" appropriations. That
is, congress has passed bill ap-
propriating two billions or three bill
lions or whatever was thought nee
essary by Mr.. Hopkins. 1t was just
as simple as that. Congress had no
strings on the money, seldom was
told great deal of the details. It
was money to feed and clothe the
destitute.
! Now. however, some observers