The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-04-08

sion, very much as Edward r. Nc
Grady, assistant secretary Of la
Dor, and other labor officials have
been doing in the various strike
situations outside the railroad field.
Await Court Fight
The most the government hopes
for, as a matter Of fact, is some
sort of agreement that there must
be 80 days notice before a strike is
actually made effective-a sort of
breathing spell treaty, so to speak.
But few believe that even this would
work, thinking that the modern idea
of nations making war before they
formally declare it is just as effec-
tive--a bit of tactics-even If UNI
fair-in labor warfare as IN inter-
national conflicts.
Meanwhile, of course, all this la
Dor legislation, including also the
much desired-on the part of the adj
ministration-federal regulation of
wages and hours, is waiting on the
outcome Of the Presidents fight to
enlarge the Supreme court.
1t would be bad tactics, most New
Dealers believe, to put any legisla-
ton through before the high court
has its new blood TRANSMISSION. To
get any part Of the program accom-
plished In advance OF action on the
court enlargement law would, it is
thought, take just that much steam
out from the pressure for the court
fight. This battle is tough enough,
the New Dealers realize, without
surrendering an ounce Of advantage.
All of which spells infinite delay.
There is no thought in the senate
of expediting that debate. Senator
Henry F. Ashurst, chairman of the
senate judiciary committee, despite
complete flop to the Presidents
side, announces he will fight any
move to invoke cioture. Which
means that the takers in the senate
will not be restrained.
Best estimates are that the final
vote will not come before June, even
if then, which means that all the
new labor legislation, and the farm
legislation as well, must wait until
after that.
Heavier Spending
Much heavier federal spending
with higher taxes on 1887 incomes,
both corporate and individual-de-
spite the heavily increased returns
OF March 15-are definitely on the
administration agenda. The Wig
orous disclaimers on Capitol hill
that followed the insistence OF M.
| S. Eccles, reserve board chairman,
| that the budget must be balanced
by new levies are just so much eye
wash.
Congress is in a spending mood
and the administration Is headed
toward what tories will call a
spending orgy. Bitter protests of
senators and Representatives will be
| Gained by administration insistence
that new taxes to finance spending,
| without too great additions to the
federal debt, are necessary to head
off nf1ation-which would hit the
consumer. Those in congress who
| oppose the tax boost will be put in
the position of protecting the rich
and the corporations-of grinding
the faces of the poor.
Capitol hill leaders have not yet
been consulted, just as they were
not on the Supreme court enlarge
ment proposal.
Chairman Eccles' statement was
not prompted solely by the slight
decline in price Of federal bonds.
| The administration is interested in
that too, but far from frightened
actually the day Eccles made his
statement government per cent
bonds sold at liz, ard some 2A
per cent bonds sold at a fraction
over par, SO the decline could hardly
be called debacle.
The government is concerned
about this slight decline in prices
| because the whole move is a straw
in the wind which, if it continued,
would result in higher interest rates.
The government does not want high
err interest rates, for two reasons. 1t
wants to keep its own interest pay
ments down, and it wants to en-
| able business to borrow as cheaply
as possible so as to encourage new
industries and greater employment.
Trial Balloon
So Eccles' statement was not just
q trial balloon. 1t was warming
set up to make the impact less
dreadful when it comes, later this
year. The administration is gravely
concerned over the political and
economic effects of the continued
advance in the cost of living, al
ready set in motion by business re-
vival, advances in wages and short
/ ening of hours. 1t fears something
approaching buyers strike lit
tie later when a great mass of con-
| SINNERS with M nav rnicaS Ard