Evening star., 1939-02-26
Economic, Not Statute Law.

Economic, Not Statute Law.
Unfortunately, the debt limit isn't
regulated alone by statute" he said.
1T is governed by the immutable
economic law. 1t takes more than
an act Of Congress TO create solvency
in Government. The notion that
sll is we'll if We simply vote to per-
init larger debts is merely wishful
thinking. We cannot much longer
escape the penalty of our prof1igacy.
We cannot much longer spend S15,-
600 minute and take in $4,000 and
forget the difference, on the theory
that a debt limit is solely depend
ent on an act of Congress"
The Michigan Senator was ex-
tremely critical of the Hopkins ad-
dress on the ground it made no tan
glble proposals for restoration of
business confidence and recovery.
He added:
"The Hopkins statement is long
overdue. hope it means more than
the other breathing spell promises
which, heretofore, have no sooner
been uttered than broken. 1t will
take more than sympathetic Ian
guage to give American business the
confidence which is a prerequisite
to recovery. What business needs
is q few tangible proofs that it is
no longer in the administration
doghouse.
Il am sorry to say there is no
tangible encouragement in a speech
Hro
one hand and indorses deficit spend
ing on the other hand. 1t doesn't
help the railroads to give them an
oral benedictiOn in one breath and
then give them an Amlie on the
Interstate Commerce Comission in
the next breath.
IF Mr.. Hopkins will reduce his
conversation to a concrete and helv
full formula which means what it
says, think he can be sure of great
hospitality in both Congress and
the country"
The nomination of former Repre-
sentative Thomas R. Amlie of Wis
consln to the I. c. C. has aroused
strong opposition because of his
earlier advocacy of Government
ownership of the railroads and many
forms of industry. The nomination
has been before subcommittee of
the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee, which held hearings on
1t. The subcommittee, it is reported,
may report adversely on the nomi-
nation, either 3 to 2, or even 4 tol.
Ihere was suggestion yesterday
that an effort would be made to get
Secretary Hopkins to approach the
president on his return to Washing
ton to withdraw the Amlie appoint
ment. Such action, it was said,
would be regarded as an earnest
indication that the administration
really intends to do all it can to re-
store business confidence.
Mr.. Hopkins, in his address. also
stressed the need for peace between
the American Federation of Labor
and the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, headed by William
Green and John L. Lewis, respec-
lively. He declared it was to the
interest of business, as we'll as labor.
to have these organizations settle
their differences. President Roose-
vtlt followed up the Hopkins address
yesterday with the dispatch of iden-
tic letters to Mr.. Green and Mr..
Lewis strongly urging that they ap-
point committees to negotiate a
peace.
Wagner Act Changes Offered.
The A. F.. of l.. has formulated a
hist Of amendments to the Wagner
Labor Relations Act, and these were
introduced in the Senate by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts.
These amendments are intended to
give the A. F.. of l.. a better break"
In the administration of that act,
which the federation charges has
been entirely in favor of the c. I. o.
Senator Burke, Democrat, of Ne
braska, a critic of the National
Labor Relations Board, has offered
a series OF even more drastic amend
ments.
1t was announced yesterday by
Chairman Thomas of the Senate
Labor Committee that hearings on
the proposed Wagner Act amend
ments will start on March 10. The
administration so far has opposed
amendments to the act. Secretary
Hopkins in his address made no
mention of amendments.
Some sections of business have
been strongly in favor of amend
ments of the Wagner Act and also
of revamping of the membership
OF the Labor Board. If Mr.. Hopkins