Evening star., 1942-05-29
Dozen Senate Democrats Revolt
At Bureaus Use of War Powers
Conflicting Predictions, 'UnworkobIe' Orders
Called Result of Abdicotion of Authority

Congressional revolt against the
way Government bureaus have ex-
ercised some Of the broad war pow
ers delegated to them developed in
the Senate yesterday, when a dozen
Democrats spoke out in criticism of
proposed new restrictions on COM
mercial delivery trucks, and the con-
f1icting forecasts of the rubber tire
outlook.
Most of the debate revolved around
an o. D. T. rule, due to- start July
/, that when a truck goes out to
deliver goods 1t must obtain a re-
turn load.
Senators Smith of South Carolina,
McKellar. OF Tennessee and George
Of Georgia, all Democrats, joined in
picturing the order as unavoidable.
Senator George said he had con-
ferred with o. D. T. officials, and
predicted either the effective date
would be postponed, or the order re-
vised to reduce the total mileage of
trucks. without making return loads
mandatory.
Senator Smith brought in the rub
Der situation. citing the Presidents
optimistic prediction In the face OF
warnings from his subordinates that
there is no prospect Of new tires for
civilians.
Likened to Predestination.
Whom are we to believer" asked
the South Carolinian. What does
the public think about the situation?
1t is like what they said about the
old doctrine Of predestination:
1T can and I can't
I will and won't.
I'll be damned If I do
And damned if don't"
Senator Pepper, Democrat Of
Florida. said the return-load order
on trucks reminded him of the or
dinance said to have been enacted
in the pioneer days in the West. He
said it read, in substance. like this:
When two trains meet, neither
shall proceed until the other has
passed"
Senator Clark, Democrat. of Mis-
souri,, made this observation:
Did any member of the Senate
ever have any doubt as to what
would happen when the Congress of
the United States deliberately abdi-
Gated not only the authority but the
duty imposed upon it by the Con-
stitution to number Of bureaucrats
in Washington"
Blames Congress Itself.
Senator Smith said he was not
blaming those who have exercised
their great authority and power.
I am blaming us for. delegating to
them power which we should have
reserved to ourselves. However, we
have reached a condition which is
actually threatening the unity of
the American people"
The South Carolinian declared
his mail frightens him, as people
ask the question, What are they
doing this for?" He said they need
not only an explanation, but a
plausible one" II the laws were
understandable, the people would
willingly cooperate, he added.
This brought Senator OMahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming to his feet
to point out that orders of war
agencies, while having the force of
law, are issued without public hear
ing and without proper review of
the conditions, whereas II Congress
were exercising these powers there
would be full hearings.
Backing and Filling Charges.
Senator OMahoney continued:
In the case of the orders affect
ing transportation, going to the
very fundamentals of our whole
economy in every community of the
land, the decisions were made with
out consideration of the results
which would flow from the action.
The consequence is that when
members of the Senate and mem
bers Of the House of Representa-
tives, hearing from their constitu-
ents as to the effect such orders,
issued privately, are having upon
our economy, make complaint, then
the bureaus have to back up, re-
consider, promise one Senator that
the order will not 60 into effect
until later, perhaps, and promise
another Senator there will be q
modification.
What the modification will be
no one knows. OF course our sys-
tenn of Legislation is defective but
it is democratic. The system of de-
partmental legislation is also de-
fective, and it is not democratic.
So was very much interested when
the Senator from Illinois this after
noon rose, speaking on behalf of
300 newspapers in his State, which
have not as yet been given an op-
portunity to appear before the bu-
reau heads. They would be heard
without question by a Senate COM
mittee."
Lucas Cites Papers Case.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, Of Illinois
had taken the floor earlier to tell Of
the effect Of some Of the transporta-
ton orders on Q group Of SIT news.
papers In 10 Nidwogtern States.