Evening star., 1937-08-09
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Next years political campaign is "in
the making now" in the opinion OF we'll
informed political observers here, and,
although the elections do not take place
for more than a year, 1t Is their view
that the outcome will be determined to
a marked degree by reactions to accomp-
liShmentS OF the present session OF Con-
gress. In reaching this conclusion they
point to the fact the next regular session.
which meets in January, probably will
be of short duration and that it is not
likely that any legislation which will be
passed then will make much impress on
the following NOvemberS elections. The
effects. however OF what has been done
by this session will have made them
selves felt to considerable extent, at
least by next Summer or early Fall, and
the voters will have had time to analyZe
these results carefully before November
and decide whether they wish to continue
and strengthen legislation from which
the aforesaid results emanated. II the
answer is favorable, the electorate will
return to Congress the members who
have given support to these measures.
~
In the leadership which President
Roosevelt has assumed in pressing for a
wages and hours bill, housing bill and
other measures which he considers essen
tial to the ultimate success of his pro-
gram, he has been influenced. careful
students of the political situation here
hold, by his interest in the future well
fare of his party. They claim that he
is taking a long look ahead, realizing
fully that if the party is to go forward,
If it is to win at the polls next year and
two years hence, 1t must continue to
show the voters actual accomplishments
in the realm of social progress to which
it has set its face. He recognizes, they
affirm, that in politics as in many other
fields of human endeavor and in nature,
there can be no standing still, that there
must be constant advance II the party
is to maintain its strength and Its hold.
This is the principal reason. they assert.
why the President has insisted on Con-
gress remaining in session In spite OF
Midsummer heat and the desire OF most
members to get home to enjoy some rest
and vacation. 1t was necessary. the
President held, that certain legislation
be adopted first which he thought neces-
sary for the ultimate good of the Demo-
cratic party.
X X
Speculation becomes more and more
intense as to whom President Roosevelt
will nominate to fill the vacancy on the
United States Supreme Court created
by the recent retirement of Associate
Justice Van Devanter. With many
names having been proposed 1t is not
known whether the President himself
has yet decided on whom he will confer
this high honor. Nor is it known whether
he will submit the appointment to the
Senate for its approval before Congress
adjourns, or avail himself of the author
ity which the Attorney General has
ruled he possesses to make a recess
appointment, leaving confirmation to
Congress when it reconvenes. There is
a prevailing opinion in some we'll
informed quarters that the President
already has made the selection Of the
man he wishes to place on the bench,
but that for reasons known only to him.
self he is awaiting the psychological
moment to present the name. In these
same quarters it is believed that this
may depend on the final action Of Con-
gress on the compromise bill providing
for procedural reform in the lower courts.
X X X
This Congress will establish 3 peace
time record of appropriations with an
estimated total of $3.50 $4,000, which
is larger than any previous years appro-
priations except those of two World War
years, and that OF 3l0,336, 300, $40 ap-
proved by the second session Of the