The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-04-14

Washington. - see Jimmy
Byrnes is going TO reorganize the
government, commented another
Southern senator after studying the
various roll calls on the reorganiza-
ton bill.
II is difficult to exaggerate the
Importance of the service the South
Carolina senator rendered the White
House in leading the fight for this
bill. Up until a few weeks before
the final roll call the whole meas
tire had been considered dead 1t
was believed that the senate4w would
agree with the house in giving Presi-
dent Roosevelt his six additional
assistants. But it was never
dreamed that the senate would vote
to abolish the office of comptroller,
which has proved such an effective
check on illegal spending, and the
whole purpose of which is to make
sure that before money is paid out,
the purpose for which it is to be
paid is in clear accord with the
language of the law.
Nor was it dreamed that the sem
ate would hand the veterans bureau
over to White House control.
Several factors contributed to the
change. Most important, probably,
were the secret promises made
nobody knows how many. These
promises included, it is assumed. a
good lame-duck job for Senator Will
liam Fl. Dieterich of Illinois, who is
headed for retirement by the ILL
nois Democratic factions despite the
most slavish devotion to the Presi-
dent, even extending to reversing
his stand on the leadership battle
last year between Senators Alben
w. Barley of Kentucky and Pat
Harrison of Mississippi.
Army Engineers Win
High up on the list also should be
the astuteness which caused Sena-
tor Byrnes to have the army engi-
neers specifically eliminated from
the powers granted to the President.
1t just happens that the army en-
gineers are the most efficient bunch
OF lobbyists in Washington today.
They have been since the Anti
Saloon league passed into its present
slough of despond, and probably will
be SO long as congressman have the
right to appoint cadets to West
Point. The engineers are old
friends, politically, socially, and in
the distribution of pork, with the
senators and representatives. They
did not want to be changed around.
They did not want their functions
transferred to some New Deal
agency such as IVA, or the proposed
department of public works. They
like it the way it is, and that's the
way it is going to stay.
Another big reason for the Presi-
dents victory was the mounting
tide of opposition to the New Deal
taxation ideas. 1t became neces-
sary, because of pressure from
home, reinforced by the business
depression, for number of senators
to oppose President Roosevelt or
his tax ideas, specifically on his pei
tax on undistributed corporation
earnings, and also on the capita
gains and losses tax.
That would be all right, but some
of them had opposed the Presiden
also on the court packing issue, anc
some figure they must oppose hin
on some other issues also. Altogeth
er, they were in danger of getting
branded as anti-Democratic, in dan
ger of having the Jim Farley-buil
. New Deal machines back candi-
dates against them in their next
primaries.
So probably enough senators to
turn the tide were forced into the
Eyes" column on the reorganiza-
ton bill by this question of regular
ity alone. Especially as it is COM
mon knowledge In Washington that
on secret vote the reorganization
bill would have been overwhelming
ly beaten.
Robert ON the Spot
Lawrence w. ("Chip') Robert
Jr.. secretary of the Democratic Ma
tional committee, and one of TIN
most ardent Southern supporters 0
the adfilifs4asa siataoyI, rs IN other al
a result of President Roosevelt
speech snubbing Senator Walter F
George of Georgia. and virtually in
viting Governor <. d. Rivers to run
against George.
Chip" is on the spot. He i
not only loyal friend of the Presi
dent, and almost a pal of Governo
Rivers, but he is an enthusiastic
admirer of Senator George. IN fact
despite the Georgia senator's in
surgence on the Supreme court is
sue. and on reorganization of TIL
government bureaus, department
and commissions, friends Of the tw
say "Chip" thinks Walter Georg
Just about the best qualified man i
the Democratic party to take tn
place of President Roosevelt whe
Roosevelt steps out, whether tina
be in 1941 or 1945.
The terrible part OF it all, fror
'sChip's" point of view, is that h