Evening star., 1938-03-22


good nature as to -~"''"'''
become involved in a petty quarrel
with public official whose principal
crime thus far is that he has the nerve
to cross the will and thwart the politi-
cal purposes of the man in the White
House.
Nor is there much satisfaction for
the liberals and progressives who be-
lieve in democracy to see in our own
country the President himself trump
ing up some legalistic or technical rea-
son whereby he may visit punishment
on public official who has dared pub
licly to criticize his policies.
The incident may create the un-
fortunate impression that Mr.. Roose-
welt cannot stand criticism or that he
balks at the idea of having his ad-
ministration or its acts subjected to
congressional investigation. He has,
to be sure, at times secretly encour-
aged many congressional inquiry
which has turned into mud-slinging
without a word of protest from him
to his henchmen. Yet when the peo-
pies representatives just want bit of
pitiless publicity thrown on the mystic
rious operations of the T. v. A. and
some of its alleged scandals, the Presi-
dent moves every bit of energy he
possesses to discredit those who are
trying to bring invisible government
into the are of visible inquiry.
Not Intended as Plaything.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is
creature Of Congress. 1t is not just
bureau of the executive branch of the
Government. 1t was not intended to
be presidential plaything or presi-
dental auxiliary. When Congress
delegated the vast authority that 1t
did in the case of the Tennessee VAL
ley law, the National Legislature
merely asked a Federal commission
of three to do that which Congress
itself is unable to do for itself.
Every independent commission is
responsible primarily to Congress and
not to the President of the United
States. AS modern life, with all the
complexities of an industrial age, has
developed the trend has been for 531
men in Congress to vest in board or
commission Of three or five or seven
persons the task of carrying out the
wishes Of both houses and the people.
In this instance, so careful was
Congress to protect its own position
that 1t was stipulated in the law that
the three directors could not be re-
moved except by joint resolution of
both houses Yet Mr.. Roosevelt now
essays to do the removing because an
off1cial does not go along with him in
policy.
Tried Same Tactics.
Early in the Roosevelt administra-
ton the President tried the same arbi-
trary tactics with a member of the
Federal Trade Commission, William
E. Humphreys, and though the law
had specifically said that a member
could not be moved except for the
reasons stated, Mr. Roosevelt trumped
up new reasons. The Supreme Court
of the United States, by vote of
to O, said that Mr.. Roosevelt had
exceeded his powers. For just such
offenses was President Andrew john
son subjected to an impeachment trial
by the Senate.
Unhappily, Mr.. Roosevelt reveals
himself to the country as not ready
to respect the prerogatives of Congress.
An investigation by Congress of the
T. V. A. seems inevitable now, yet Mr.
Roosevelt wants to show Congress he
can discredit Mr.. Morgan without an
inquiry. His purpose is to render less
damaging to his administration the
revelations of congressional commit
tee.
More Public Attention.
1t used to be said that Mr.. Roose-
Welt had good political judgment, but,
IN this affair, he seems to have over
looked the fact that he has built up
DR.. Morgan from publicity stand
point and forced the whole T. v. A. to
the front pages so that the congress
slonal inquiry will obtain more public
attention than If Mr. Roosevelt had
kept hands of and let nature take its
course.
The true issue in the Morgan case
Is whether the Government of the
United States consists, in all its inde-
pendent boards and commissions, of a
group of rubber stamps" who do what
the President tells them, or whether
Observation-Disclosures men occupy these
very important posts It is an issue
going to the root of good government
and especially democratic principles.
1t Is an easily understood issue. for.
II might is right, if the flourish of
presidential authority is more impor-
tant than the revelation of truth, then
indeed has the Hitler technique of
intimidation become contagious, and
the sooner Congress RECEIVERS its DOW
ers and begins to do little investi-
eating Of the use of presidential DOW
ers in this and other governmental
activities, the safer will be American