Evening star., 1937-04-30
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY g. GOULD LINCOLN.

omy and a balanced budget. There are
two good reasons. First, there is keen
desire on the part of Senators and Rep
resentatlves to avoid an increase in tax
alton. Second, there is developing an
increasing desire for balanced budget
which a year ago was mentioned by
Democratic members of Congress, if at
all, with considerable derision. With a
congressional election coming on next
year, and the whole membership of the
House and onethird of the Senate men,
berShip at stake, the desire to 60 before
the people with budget in balance and
with no new tax burdens imposed is
becoming stronger and stronger. There
is also growing fear that unless some
thing Is done to balance the Govern
ment's budget, there may be greatly in
creased imitation with its attendant evils
for the people.
Manifesting itself, too, is greater
spirit of independence among the Demo-
cratic Senators when it comes to the
matter OF appropriations. Before the
President left here on his present vaca-
ton trip, he let it be known that he
would approve a plan for impoundng
Is per cent of all ppropriations-excep
those for certain fixed charges, for ex-
pendltures for veterans, etc.-Wi.h au-
thorlty placed in the Presidents S hands
to give back to the various Government
agencies for use so much of the fifteen
per cent as seemed advisable and neces-
sary. This proposal, although advanced
in the House with considerable eclat,
has fallen on deaf ears in the Senate.
Democratic 1aa6a x,,lo 1ou
stood by the administration through
thick and thin-are attacking the pro-
posal, on the ground that the Congress.
not the President, should fix appropria-
tions and expenditures. Senator Robin
son OF Arkansas, the Democratic leader.
has declared against this proposal and
In favor of a definite cut of 10 per
cent in appropriations-as suggested by
Senator Byrnes Of South Carolina,
another strong administration Senator.
Furthermore, these Senators, intent
upon real curtailment of Government
expenditures, are favoring a decrease in
the Presidents estimate for Work-relief
appropriations from Sl,50000O,00O to
1000 100000. How far they will get with
TINS drive for economy remains to be
seen, but apparently the President has
started something. The determination to
keep expenses down is more evident in
the Senate, so far. than in the House
Senator Kenneth D. McKeller of
tennessee, ranking Democratic member
OF the Senate Appropriations Committee
alter Chairman Carter Glass, in a radio
address delivered last night, declared
himself strongly in favor of the economy
program and against any increase in
taxes at this time. He produced figures
to prove that Congress. in passing upon
all the appropriation bills which have
come before it SO far this year, has cut
the budget estimates. In all. he said.
Congress has appropriated s182, ,539, ,327 80
less than the budget estimates for the
departments affected by the bills so far
acted upon. He added that he was in
clined to favor a horizontal cut on all
departments and that he has prepared
an amendment for that purpose. While
L believe in the balancing OF the budget
at the earliest possible moment" he said.
L do not believe we should impose ad-
ditional taxes. I believe with proper
economy the taxes now levied will be
ample to balance the budget and run
the Government properly. believe also
that within two or three years we may be
able to reduce taxes" There are many
Democrats in Congress who ardently
hope that the Tennessee Senator is
correct.
1t may be that the recrudescence of
independence on Capitol Hill had its
origin in the reception given the Presi-
dents plan to increase the membership
OF the Supreme Court by a maximum
of six Certainly no proposal ever made
by the President since he took Office
more than four years ago has caused
division in the ranks of the Democratic
majority. When you find seven Demo-
cratic Senators, out of total of four
teen on the Judiciary committee, stand
ing out f1atly against the Presidents
program for the Supreme Court, a situ-
alton that has never before confronted
the Roosevelt administration is pre-
sented. 1t is anybody's guess today how
the fight on the court bill will ultimately
go. But around the corridors of the
Capitol is growing a feeling that even-
tually the President will have to drop his
original program and accept a compro-
mise and that if he does not soon let it
be known that a compromise will be
accepted, it will be too late to get any,
thing through the Senate dealing with
the Supreme Court.
Some OF the Democratic Senator'S
and members OF the House, too-are be-
ginning to point out that II the Presi-
dent and the chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee stick to their
attitude that the measure is to be
party issue, they may wreck the Demo-
cratic party. Not only will there be
danger Of many defeats in the congress
sional elections next year, but there will
be danger to the whole program of the
President, and he may not be able to
put through measures which he has in
mind in the interest of the people and to
round out his administration. A few OF
them have gone to the President and
urged him to give consideration to what
the political effects of a stubborn fight
to put through the Supreme Court pro-
gram may bring, particularly If the ami
mosities aroused are carried into the
campaign next year. They point out that
the President may, by continued in
sistence, put in jeopardy many of his
good friends, who have stood by him in
the past.
There is certain analogy which may
be drawn between the fight now Waging
over President Roosevelts Supreme
Court program and the fight which
President Woodrow Wilson Waged, first
to elect 4 Democratic Congress- in war