Evening star., 1939-11-05
Democratic Harmony
Aided by Handling
Of Neutrality Bill
Congress Boot-Roeking
Is Up to Roosevelt,
Senote Leader Says
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

by u. GOULD LINCOLN.
The arms embargo repeal bill ane
It's handling in the special session
Of Congress brought the Democrat.
closer to harmony than at any time
since 1896, party leaders insisted
yesterday. And Democratic har.
mony is what is needed for 194(
and its national campaign.
It will be up to President Roose.
welt. one Of the most prominent
Democrats in the Senate said
whether there is to be any boat
rocking in the regular session, open
ing In January.
If the President will be content
to conflne the program to the an.
nual supply bills. plus the appropria.
tions needed for more adequate ma.
tional defense and for relief, thi.
Senator said, In all probability the
session can be held to a compare.
lively brief period. and the Demo-
Gratis who lined up for the arms
embargo repeal-Democrats of both
the conservative and liberal groups
can be kept in line.
Stumbling Blocks Well Marked,
The Democrats are not closing
their eyes to the possible stumbling
blocks In the way Of such a pro-
gram.
First, there is the third-term is
sue. A denomination for the Presi-
dent would be bitterly resented
even If 1t could not be stopped
by Democrats who have opposed the
economic policies of the admins
tration.
Second. there is the possibility
that it will be necessary to extend
the statutory debt limit of the
United States Government, now
fixed by law at $45 900 ,00O, 900.
Third, there is the question of re-
hewing the law authorizing the
President to make reciprocal trade
agreements with foreign nations.
Fourth, there is the question OF
writing a new tax law, not only to
get additional revenue but also to
reform" the system. Included will
be the question of levying taxes on
Federal securities which in the past
have been tax-exempt.
Trade Act To Expire in June.
The reciprocal trade agreement act
Is due to expire next June. The
agreements then in existence with
foreign countries-there are a lot
OF them already-will continue in
operation, to be sure, but the Pres
1dent will have no authority to make
further agreements. Democrats in
the Western and Northern States
particularly, as well as Republicans,
have their hammers out for the
trade agreements on the ground thev
have Disseminated against Ameri-
can producers, especially the farm
ers.
The President and Secretary
Hull" said the Senator previously
referred to. could, If they would.
say: Let the matter ride for the
rest OF the year and we will take 1t
up after the election Between now
and June, it should be possible for
the administration to complete anv
further trade agreements it deems
wise. But it Is certain that If a bill
Is brought forward at the coming
session OF Congress, it will meet mill
tant resistance on the part of many
Democrats, and will tend to bring
back division in the party"
Huge Deficit Is Expected,
whether the administration and
Congress will be able to duck con-
Nderation OF a measure to increase
the statutory debt limit of the
United States will depend on the
size Of the appropriations which
VIII be made this winter and the
size Of the Governments revenues
TO offset these expenditures. Al
ready the public debt is more than
al ,000, 100000. and a huge deficit
is expected at the close of the
present fiscal year, June 80, 1910
The Democrats are encouraged
over the upswing of business in this
country in recent months. They be-
heve 1t will be possible to reduce
some of the heavy expenditures of
the Government-except for ma
tional defense. They see private bus
mess taking more and more work.
ers OH the relief rolls. And they
predict that the big expenditures
Tor national defense already au-
thorlzed by Congress, plus those to
be made In the coming session, will
help to bring about that end.
So thew 0ra tal1i,o &hny,, eo1,,o. 49, =
1t will not be necessary-and Ger
ta1nly not expedient-for the Pres
ident revive his big "lend-spend'
Dill which a rebellious Congress
turned down last summer, despite
reports that certain of the New
Deal leaders are hard at work seek
Ing to revive and remodel the meas
ure.
Let Congress Work Out Bill.
Democrats on Capitol Hill also
are saying that the President wisely
left to the congressional leaders the
conduct of the neutrality bill, with
Its controversial arms embargo re-
peal. They admit that White House
pressure was brought to bear in
some instances. But it was done in q
more tactful manner-and by the
President himself-not by a bevy
Of high-pressure New Deal young
men. Furthermore, threats of q
purge" were eliminated. The Pres
ident was very considerate of the
men who have opposed him in the
past.
The third-term issue continues tc
disturb those Democrats who art
hoping for party harmony in Con.
gress this winter and party harmony
in the election campaign that is tt
follow. If it becomes evident that
the President is to be a candidate tc
succeed himself, the fat will be ir
the fire. Either Mr.. Roosevelt mus
remain q dark horse without any
commitments or he must ef1ectually
take himself out of the picture /,
he Is to have united Democratic
support on the legislative program
That the victory Of the President
4, <ha arms ernhar ron f1oht has great,