Evening star., 1940-09-24


mer since total David Lawrence.
war" began in Europe, Mr. Roosevelt
said there was no need for Congress
to be in Washington. He said this
on June and June H. But the
Republican party protested effec-
lively and Congress since that time
has authorized billions for a COM
plete reorganization and expansion
Of our defenses, and a peacetime
conscription law has been passed.
Mr.. Roosevelt, too, has since said
publicly that events are so grave
that he has no time for political
debate with the opponent and that
he cannot go more than II hours
travel distance from Washington
by rail.
The truth is Mr.. Roosevelt regards
Congress as superfluous and un-
necessary. He thinks he can take
care of everything himself without
Congress. AS for laws that may be
needed to meet sudden emer-
gencies. Mr.. Roosevelt has already
violated the laws of the United
States In sending so overage de-
stroyers to England and has not
even asked Congress to ratlfy his
action to make it legal, So it can
hardly be expected that if anything
else requiring legislation comes up,
he will call Congress back.
Next Session in January.
It has been said again and again
that vast powers can be delegated
to a President without fear of die
tatorship because at any time Con-
gress can be called back and these
powers revoked. But if public senti-
ment were critical of a President,
and even if there were a unanimous
desire on the part of members OF
Congress themselves to come back
into session, the Chief Executive,
fearing a revocation of his powers,
could actually keep Congress from
coming into session until the date
of the opening of the next regular
session. which in this case is Janu-
ary. 194l. Even the call for an
extra session usually means giving
notice of 10 days and in times like
these. when Mr.. Roosevelt does not
feel he can be away even II hours
distance by rail, it would seem that
a delay of 10 days could be of criti-
cal importance to the safety Of the
Nation.
Mr.. Roosevelt is acclaimed as a
man of great "experience' but he
would have sent Congress home this
summer and would have delayed
defense preparations had it not
been for the vigorous protest of
the Republican party in both houses
Of Congress.
There IS an alternate course avail
able. 1t is, as the Republican lead
ers propose. that Congress shall not
formally adjourn but 60 into three
day recesses, subject to the call of
the presiding officers of each house.
But this displeases the administra-
tion because all pending legislation
Including the Logan-Walter bill
which is aimed at dictatorship by
Government bureaus and boards
would stay alive and subject to
action at any time. An adjourn
ment, on the other hand, kills at
once all legislation on the calendar
enacted by either the House or
Senate, or recommended by con-
gressional committees since the pres
ent Congress elected in November,
1898, came into session in Janu-
ary, 1899.
This is the real reason for Mr..
Roosevelt's persistent interest in
forcing adjournment now.
Permits Recess Appointments.
Also. there is the matter of recess
appointments. He could not, for
instance, fill certain vacancies like
the craftsmanship of the National
Labor Relations Board without run
ming the gantlet of senatorial
confirmation if the Senate we're to
remain in session. The moment ad-
iournment comes, he can make a
lot of appointments and get num-
Der Of officials grooved in KEY posi-
tions between now and January
before Congress meets again. And
a lot of damage to the economic
system can be done in three months
nowadays by left wing radicals in
Government posts. When Congress
is in session these are a bit re-
strained. With Congress home,
these left wingers become reckless.
The whole face of world affairs
and Americas whole outlook there
on has been changed in less than
three months. It's a long time to
be without a legislative body which
cannot be called into session except
by one man
The American people have
chance to avert even three months
dictatorship by telegraphing, writ
Ing or telephoning to their member
of Congress urging them to take
three-day recesses instead of an ad-
journment. If the members refuse
to pay heed to their constituents,
the people can apply remedy by
electing a new Congress on No
vember S. A vote for adjournment
now is vote for the principle of
dictatorship and vote for con-
gressional recesses is vote to keep
representative government, in Amer
lea. Even in the midst of bombs
and war in Britain, even though
the Prime Minister already has
virtually complete control, Mr.
Churchill has not asked Parliament