Evening star., 1939-06-26

washington Is llldl tlle SOIlSIeSS
which has so much to do with the
progress of business and industry
and agriculture and banking and
almost every other division of eco
nomic activity, can go home in the
midst of uncompleted tasks just be-
cause the summer heat may be ap-
preaching.
Physical discomfort and the de-
sire for vacation affect the busi-
ness world for a few weeks a year,
but it would be regarded as ex-
tremely retrogressive if some one
were to propose the custom of six
month receSseS. Members of Con-
gress insist that one of the principal
reasons for adjournment is that they
have an opportunity to go back
home and talk with their constit-
uents. Nowadays, however, with the
developed habit of the electorate in
writing letters and kilograms and
the frequent use also of the tele-
phone, the average member of Con-
greSs is hardly out of touch.
What the recesses really mean is
that members have a chance to build
up their political organizations at
home and sense what opposition
may be arising to their candidates..
Such concern is understandable in
normal times, but with 100000
persons out of work, deficits higher
than ever and the world in a dis
turbed condition which makes it
difficult to tell from one week to
another whether a new crisis may
not be emerging, the need for a
virtually continuous session of Con-
greSs transcends all personal and
political considerations.
Old Belief Reversed.
There used to be, and still is in
some quarters, belief that busi-
ness is better when Congress finishes
certain stages of its work and goes
home for awhile. But nowadays
just the reverse is true. When Con-
gress goes home the commissions
and boards and departments to
which Congress has delegated vast
legislative powers and the disburse-
ment Of huge sums begin to take
over the whole governmental scene
and there is no fear of congressional
inquiry or the sudden passage of a
joint resolution of restriction to
interfere with the sweep of bureau
cratic whimsicality.
Congress today has before it cer-
tain major tasks which it has ne
elected since the present session
began in January. The problem of
economic recovery has been compli-
Gated by the indifference of Con-
gress to the revision of existing laws
dealing with social reform. When
the last congressional elections in
November, 1898, elected the present
Congress, the general impression was
that the New Deal had not, to be
sure, been repudiated but had been
held subject to revision and correc-
ton.
Some Of the revisionary measures
now have been adopted, but the
principal laws which prevent the
smooth operation of the economic
system have been left untouched.
Thus there are amendments to the
Securities and Exchange Act, the
Wagner labor relations law, and
the wage and hour law, which, if
made, would give business and in
dustry real stimulus. Public opin-
ion wants such amendments made.
Congress knows certain changes
should be made If these are justi-
fed at all, then the time for such
changes to be made is without delay.
In Waiting Mood.
Congress has been in a waiting
mood. In the absence of sharp pres
sure from the public on specific
issues, there has been a tendency
to drift and wait until the January,
1940 session. But the country is
suffering from Embellishments grow
ing out of the extremes in the re-
form laws The most vital defect in
such legislation has been the vague
ness of the standards or the omis-
sion of legislative standards in franz
ing the laws.
Unless Congress delegates in spe-
ciflc terms the powers it is supposed
to exercise under the Constitution,
the effect is to turn over to bureaus
and boards and commissions the
law-making power. In this is the
paramount defect of the centralized
system of administration that has
been built up in the reform era
brought by the New Deal. That is
why many persons sincerely say they
favor the New Deal objectives but
not the manner in which they have
been executed. There are politicians
who profess the same thing, but
their insincerity is revealed by their
transparent desire really to repeal
all the New Deal measures. Nat
urally the New Deal itself is wary
about any amendments. Between
these two 'opposites is the desire OF
the country to have correctives ap-
piled. Congress has not done it's jot
at this session. There is much work
to be done. The summer heat is
often disconcerting here, but a re-
cess of a few weeks would take care
of that argument. When autumn
comes, Congress can get to work ano
carry on. The status of bills and
committee reports would remain the
same during the recess.
There is no good reason for wait
ing until next January to do things
which ought to be done at once fol
the benefit of the country as whole
no good reason except few in
dividual conveniences and summer
plans beside which the welfare Of
the Nation is many thousand times
more vital, especially if it be true
that governmental policies have hac
as much to do with delaying recov-
cry as is commonly asserted. The
Republicans have enough strength
to insist on a recess instead of ar
adjournment. If they did nothing
else this session, they would by such
q step justify the protest vote which
-e IL - t. - l.