Evening star., 1942-09-09

Judging from the comments on
capitol Hill, Mr.. Roosevelt has not
only set himself up as an economic
czar put as monarch of everything
else. The deepest kind of resent
ment was expressed both by sup
porters and opponents OF the Ad-
mlnistration.
1t is doubtful whether any message
sent by Mr.. Roosevelt in his entire
career in the White House has oc-
casloned as much feeling, not even
MS famous message demanding that
ne be permitted to appoint an extra
Judge for every member OF the Court
above a certain age-a means of
coercion of the judiciary which led
to the bitterest kind of controversy
In Congress.
The President can hardly have
been given any advance reaction
concerning the reception that his
message would get or he never would
have sent it. For he has introduced
an issue that he cannot very well
avoid hereafter and it may even
grow into a political issue at the
polls this November.
Might Elect Stanch Congress
Republican members were quick to
argue that the President had caused
enough resentment to awaken
reaction among the voters of the
country. If the President really
thinks he is right-that his war
powers give him authority to repeal
an act of Congress whenever he
pleases-then the citizenry might
we'll consider electing Congress
which will assert its prerogatives
and interpose its power OF the purse
and specific legislative authority to
prevent any abuse OF the executive
power.
The Presidents argument that he
wants legislation to control farm
prices but doesn't need it to stabilize
wages is being regarded as merely
device on his part to avoid trouble
with labor union, chiefs who might
block such legislation If sought. But
there are members of Congress who
are in favor of writing such legisla-
tion anyway and it may be that the
President will in the end get the
kind of bill that he would prefer
to veto-for it may contain more
restrictions than he Is anticipating.
The debate on the whole matter
will be revealing. Members OF the
Senate in due time will disclose
what they say was the administra-
tion's own responsibility for the no.
per cent-of-parity farm legislation.
It Is asserted that the administra-
ton itself permitted the provision
to get into the House bill, and only
when it reached the Senate and the
political damage had been done
was the effort made to eliminate it.
Mr.. Roosevelt's conception of con-
stitutional Government as per-
nlitting the Chief Executive to do
about as he pleases in wartime is not
original with him. There are many
New Dealers, who have tenaciously
held that view for several months,
In fact, they have expressed them
selves so positively as to awaken ap-
prehension that the exercise OF
arbitrary power with war as an
excuse was much more In their
minds than has been popularly sup
posed.
Confirms Suspicion.
Ever since the war in Europe
began, the opposition to the ad-
ministration has feared that vir-
tual dictatorship over the economic
system would be developed out oi
the war. powers. The President
latest message was an unnecessary
confirmation of that suspicion ane
will only make it more difiicult t.
preserve national unity.
Word of what the President ha!
threatened-a 22-day ultimatun
and then defiant prediction tina
he would repeal specific statut'
by doing anyway what the status
prohibits-has been widely pub
lished, of course, and while mos
members of Congress have not ye
returned here, those who are Il
Washington undoubtedly reflect tn
general view.
Congress lately has been takin
1t on the chin. 1t has been accuse
of playing politics. 1t has beel
accused of being self interested an