Evening star., 1938-06-18

voted notwith- '"'''
standing the fact that the public debt
has reached an all-time high of $751;
100000 and that the Nation now
has experienced eight successive years
Of Treasury deficits.
Second, the Democratic majority
which controlled both houses by more
than two-thirds vote implicitly sane
toned the use Of Federal funds in
party elections by refusing specifically
on three separate occasions to prohibit
all Federal employees from engaging ac-
lively in politics.
Third, by a new law, all first, second
and third class postmasters were given
lifetime positions without the necessity
Of passing competitive examinations.
Future vacancies are to be filled from
the top three In competitive exam
ination, but with Senate approval of
each choice. A more brazen use of
public Offices for political purposes can
hardly be imagined, especially since all
the first, second and third class post
masters have been appointed by the
Democrats without examinations.
Turns Deaf Ear.
Subservient to the Executive in most
respects, unwilling to heed the advice
Of the businessmen that the economic
system, now in state of collapse, can
be revived only by removal of bureau
cratic restrictions. the Democratic ma
1ority turned a deaf ear to pleas for
action that would make for stability
and chose instead to do many things
which aggravate the present instabr,
tty. The Democratic majority refused
to permit Congress to exercise its leg
1slative discretion in specifying clearly
the uses to which public funds would
be put and, instead, allowed the Execu-
tive free rein again to do the spending,
and this Notwithstanding the palpable
failure Of the first pump printing ex-
pertinent.
The only achievement which stands
out as glorious exception is the defeat
of the Presidents bill to pack" the
Supreme Court with six new justices.
The failure, on the other hand, of the
bill to reorganize the executive depart
ments was SO closely associated with
the criticism Of President Roosevelt for
his desire to increase his own power
that an otherwise meritorious set of
provisions was lost in the shuttle of
debate and controversy.
With q depression Of severe propor-
tions ravaging the country, casual at
tention was paid by Congress to the
clamor for tax revision and the good
enacted in the final tax law was to
some extent vitiated by the Presidents
statement to the effect that he might,
In the next session, seek to put back
some OF the features of taxation which
business breads so much.
The fact that the Democratic ma
1ority did nothing to alleviate the con-
dition of the unemployed or the par
TALLY employed except to offer them
more Federal funds is fundamental
blunder, the true meaning OF which
may not be apparent as early as next
autumn. but, in the long run, will
mean the downfall of the Democratic
majority. To get stable economic con-
ditions, the legislative branch Of the
Government could have done many
things. These have been enumerated
time and again to Government officials
and the files of the Department Of
Commerce are full of practical sugges-
tions. But, the politicians chose what
seemed to them the easier way-the
path Of expediency. They preferred to
rely on the help that Federal funds
might give them in the autumn elec-
tions than to tackle the real problems
OF the American economic situation.
So, as Congress goes home, there Is
no sigh OF relief, but a sigh of sadness
For, in America as in other countries
in their pre-dictatorship periods, the
legislative body has sacrificed principle
for political graft. The w. P. A. and
the P. w. A. and whole Federal ma
chinery commanded by the President
now is to be utilized for the benefit of
the Democratic party to win an elec-
tion. This happened in 1896 and it is
going to be repeated, but on a smaller
scale, in 1898.
Meanwhile, businessmen who. have
the responsibility Of management and
the responsibility as trustees of the
savings Of the investors look askance
and wonder whether the only lesson
the Democratic majority will ever
learn Is the lesson of a devalued dollar
whose purchasing power Is finally ex-
hausted by what has previously seemed
to be an inexhaustible f1ow of paper
bonds and paper money. Fevers some
times must run their course. So It is
with immoral and prodigate legisla-
lures.
(Copyrisht. 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
NAzlS lSSIIE RIFLES