The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-02-15
(By Staff Writer)

Washington, Feb. IA. - One
thing which this Congress does
not intend to do if it can possibly
be avoided it to raise taxes.
Already at this session it has
given many indications that it
will go a long way in cutting
down the Presidents requests
for appropriations rather than in
crease the tax load. The situation
holds the possibility of another
violent clash between the Execu-
tive and the Legislative branches
of the Government.
Mr.. Roosevelt expressed him.
self as believing that the MAORI
ty of the people would not ap-
prove the slashing of $67 100000
from his Farm Relief figures. The
House of Representatives did just
that, through a coalition Of Rep
ublicans and conservative Demo
Gratis led by Representative
Woodrum of Virginia. The House
paid no attention to the plea OF
Speaker Bankhead not to strike
out an item of $25, 100000 for
loans to tenant farmers.
Ne better evidence of the genu-
ineness Of the economy wave on
Capitol Hill could be given than
this move to reduce Farm Relief
in an election year. What the
fate of the measure may be in
the Senate remains to be seen.
But the issue has been sharply
joined between the spending bloc
and the economy bloc.
Difference of Opinion
Inside Administration circles
there is a sharp difference Of
opinion on the question Of spend
ing versus economy. The two
chief fiscal advisers of the Presi-
dent are at swords points on ma
tional monetary and economic po-
icies. Governor Mariner S. Ec-
cles of the Federal Reserve Board
is the most ardent advocate Of
free spending in the Executive
group. On the other hand, the
Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Morgenthau. is getting more and
more economy-minded from day
to day.
The President has a great per-
sonal liking for both of those ad-
visers. He sometimes shows signs
of being influenced by Mr.. Ec-
cles, and the next day the Nor
genthau influence seems to be do
minant. It has become a sort of
guessing game among political
observers and Congressional
leaders as to whether the Presi-
dents attitude on any particular
fiscal item will reflect the Treas
ury or the Federal Reserve Bank
In the matter of the Farm Re-
lief appropriation, Mr.. Morgen-
than has so far proved the stron-
ger influence with Congress,
while the President endorses Mr.
Eccles' free spending policy.
Anything may happen at this
session of Congress, except the
early adjournment that the lead
ers were talking about at the be-
ginning of the year. The outlook
now, however, is that no vital
changes will be made in the So
called wagner Act" under which
the National Labor Relations
Board functions. There is too
much dynamite involved.
For the first time in Ameri-
can history the Labor vote has
become something like a unified
bloc. 1t has always been talked
about and frequently has been
bought and paid for, but it has
never been delivered to the buy
ers. Now, in spite of the bitter
quarrel between the two great
groups of organizd labor both
the Federation and the CLIO seem
to be agreed on one point. Each
would like to have the Labor Act
amended so as to prevent the 9TH
er faction from having an advan-
tage. With the two Labor wings
so sharply divided, it does not
seem likely that Congress will
take any action which would
benefit one group over the other
Politically Conscious
Politically, organized labor has
begun sharp-shooting in the Pres
idential campaign. There is nc
way of guessing how large pro-
portion of John L. Lewis's follow
ers are ready to go along with
him in opposition to the renomi-
nation and reelection of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Likewise, no.
body can guess how many mem.
bers of the Federation unions
will go along with William Greer
in standing behind the President
politically. But Labor is more