Evening star., 1939-12-31

OF all the controversial issues now
scheduled to come before the third ses-
sion of the Seventy-sixth Congress.
which will convene Wednesday, only one,
the proposed extension Of the Reciprocal
Trade Agreements Act, threatens a
fundamental division in Democratic
ranks.
On other problems, while there is and
will be wide differences of opinion, ami
cable compromises are probable. Presi-
dent Roosevelt and other party leaders,
regardless Of past disagreements. want
to present, specifically at least, a united
front for the 1910 elections.
The Republicans, in the Senate under
the astute leadership of Senator McNary
of oregon and in the House under the
drilling of Representative Martin Of
Massachusetts,, will add to their political
record of opposition to the Roosevelt
regime. They realize that the outcome
not only Of the congressional, senatorial
and national elections, but Of the local
contests for coroner, sheriff, county judge
and so on will depend to large extent
on whether or not the voters are per-
suaded to approve or disapprove the
course of the National Government dur
ing the past seven years. AS the minor
ity party, they must continue to attack.
The Democrats, as the majority party,
must make show of defending and re-
vising the New Deal.
On most of the issues, the effective de-
bate will be on questions of degree
rather than kind There will be no seri-
Gus attempt to repeal any New Deal
law, and Mr.. Roosevelt Is not expected
to demand any novel legislation, such
as the now repealed undistributed profits
tax and the unfortunate Supreme Court
enlargement plan of 1887. Strictly
speaking, the Trade Agreements Act,
which will expire June H. is not an ex-
ception, but it could be revised to such
a degree that it would lose its present
effectiveness. This would be true, for
instance, if it were rewritten to stipulate
congressional or even Senate approval
of the pacts negotiated by the State De-
partment. The President has announced
that he will seek extension of the act,
Democrats succeed IN forcing drastic
revision of the law before agreeing to
continue it, the result would be major
defeat for Mr.. Roosevelt and Secretary
of State Cordell Hull.
Defense and Economy Big Issues.
More spectacular and with more pub
lie interest will be the debates on ex-
pansion Of national defense and at
tempts to cut down Federal expendi-
lures In the permanent establishments
and the relief or emergency agencies.
In his messages to Congress next week,
the first on the "state of the Union" and
the other containing his budget recon-
mendations, President Roosevelt is ex-
pected to ask for defense appropriations
Of more than $4,000, 900 900. For the cur
rent fiscal year Congress appropriated
| 81, CSC, 900 900, and the President an
nounced several months ago that the
European war had necessitated unau-
thorized expenditures of an additional
$272, 900 900. Congress undoubtedly will
appropriate this latter amount, bringing
the total authorized expenditure to ST.
922,0O0.000. Hints have been dropped
from official quarters that at least $780,
100000 more will be requested for next
year, which would bring the total for
next year to almost $2,500, 100000.
II the recommendation are kept ia
| this amount, there win be slight opposi-