Evening star., 1939-01-01

and equally mo- ''
mentous era in our search for sound
and lasting economic recovery.
say new era because the sub
stantial gains made by the Republi-
can party in both the House and
Senate in the November election
! reflect growing sentiment for a
change Of pace; for less experiment
tation with temporary economic
stimulants, and for greater effort to
find more permanent solutions.
For the next two years, however,
the responsibility of accomplishing
these results will continue to rest
primarily on the shoulders of the
administration, for the reason that,
while the Republicans will be in a
position to function more effectively
in offering constructive criticism,
the Democrats still have majorities
that will place the reins in their
hands in most cases.
Spending Curb Predicted.
Many observers expect, and prob
ably will see, sufficient number of
constitutional Democrats join with
the Republicans to put the brakes
on blank check spending, and to
prevent any further trend toward
Capitalization of power in executive
agencies. 1t must be remembered,
however, that the veto power. with
a two thirds vote required to over
ride. will still leave the ultimate de-
cision with the President on major
issues.
But, while 1t will not be the job
of the Republicans to take the in
itiative in presenting the legislative
program. they have splendid op-
portunity-one feel confident
they will eXercise-to strengthen
the renewed confidence the voters
have so recently shown In tn party.
They can do this by offering
sound amendments to administra-
ton measures.
The American people are devoting
deeper study than ever before to
governmental problems. They will
keep their eyes trained on develop
ments in the new Congress, and
will render their verdict in 1910
as to which party pursued the wiser
course during the next two years.
Since it is the province of the
party IN power to outline the pro-
gram for the session, it would be
putting the cart before the horse
to attempt to map out objectives
of the minority until the admins
tration reveals what it will ask Con-
gress to do. Necessarily. the Re-
publican plan of procedure will have
to be developed as the various bills
are presented by the Democrats.
Therefore, am in no sense at
tempting to speak for the Republi-
can membership.
Recession Seen Vote Influence.
I have some wel.-defined personal
views, however, as to the path this
Congress should follow in seeking
a way out of the new depression
in which the Nation found itself
a little more than a year ago, after
a short lived upward trend And
incidentally. am satisfied it was
that recession of last winter. de-
spite several years of heavy New
Deal spending and lending, that
prompted the voters to send many
new faces to Congress this year.
do not wish to be understood
as regarding everything that has
been done in the last six years as q
failure. On the contrary, I am sure
that Republicans generally join in
recognition of the desirability of
the goal toward which much of this
legislation was aimed. They differ
decidedly, however, as to the
methods by which the objectives
were sought in many cases.
And the fact remains that, after
six years in which the administra-
ton has had overwhelming majori-
ties to insure passage OF nearly every
phase of its program, to give the
President and his emergency agen-
cies wide latitude in the expendi-
ture of huge relief appropriations
we still have widespread unemploy-
ment; still have approximately
100000 persons on w. P. A. relief
rolls; still see the wheels of pri-
vate industry turning slowly, and
the farmers again suffering from
low prices under an unsatisfactory
agricultural control program. And
we have. in addition, the enlarged
public debt resulting from these
efforts, to be reckoned with in the
f,,t r1Ncn fN An hi11inY,c
Favors Tapering Relief.
So much for the past and the
present. What about the future?
Speaking for myself, know we can
not make sudden and drastic cuts
in relief funds until we have found
the permanent solution by, getting
private industry going so that it can
absorb the idle, but we must taper
it off and look more earnestly for
the permanent solution. There is
something else we must do immedi-
ately, and that is divorce relief as
completely as possible from politics
Two big steps in that direction would
be to provide for non-partisan con-
troll and the placing of more respon-
sibility in State and local agencies.
Meanwhile, the special Senate
Committee on Unemployment should
turn promptly to the task Of finding
means to stimulate private employ
ment.
Few questions awaiting this Con-
gress are more important than the
farm problem, and a satisfactory
solution of this issue would 60 a
long way toward putting the whole
economic structure on its feet, be-
cause the Nation as a whole cannot
be prosperous while the farm pop
ulation is receiving such poor prices
for the basic commodities. If the
farmers purchasing power can be
restored by revision of the crop con-
troll law, 1t will be reflected In more
rapid recovery in the industrial and
! urban regions.
We must think more of the needs
of the small farmer. We must pro-
tect the American market for the
American farmer and in this con y.