The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-07-16
WASHINGTON WARS AND
WORRIES
By ]. r. Jones

Washington, D. c., July 12-
Strife and confusion reign in Wash
ington. Nevertheless Congress con-
tinues to support the Presidents
war policies and programs.
However, Congress has laid aside
the rubber stamps with which 1t put
the okeh on recommendations and
orders from the White House for so
many years.
The Presidents veto of the Smith
Connally labor bill was ."the straw
that broke the camel's back" Con-
gress broke all speed records in over
riding the President.
Both Houses have expressed pos
tive opposition to the New Deal ideas
about subsidies to finance food price
roll backs.
War Food Administrator Chester
C. Davis was drafted" by the Presi-
dent three months ago. Now, ninety
days later, his resignation has been
accepted by the President in letter
which confirms newspaper reports of
bad feeling" between the two men.
Vice President Wallace is usually
as meek as kitten, but he showed
claws when he scratched Secretary
of Commerce Jesse Jones. The V. P.
surprised even the President who
said that the newspaper accounts OF
the row between the two Administra-
ton Chiefs was all news to him.
Congress is going to adjourn for
recess and it has approved a plan
by which the Democrats, or Repub-
licans, can recall Congress, without
an order from the President. The
statement of Speaker Rayburn that
this unusual procedure of Congress
to return to Washington whenever
the guard" they have left in the
Capital calls them back is not a
SLAP at President Roosevelt, but
it is pleasant reading.
3 The fact is that both Houses of
Congress did take 'slap" at the
President.
1t Looks Like A Showdown
When President Roosevelt first
came into Office 10 years ago he exer-
cised all the rights and privileges
of the presidency, and as the New
Deal began to materialize he asked
increased powers from the Legisla-
tive branch of the Government. The
country was in the throes of a de-
preston and his requests were grant
ed by friendly Congress. The only
defeat the President encountered
was in the Supreme Court fight. But
Mr. Roosevelt is always resourceful
and he finally won that battle as is
proved by scrutiny of the Court as
it stands today.
The President had positive views
about neutrality and other pre-war
issues and he argued Congress into
the support of his plans. When the
United States actually entered the
war he assumed the position as Com
mander-in-Chief of the Legislative
branch of the Government, and he
held his hold over Congress until the
Republicans made heavy gains in
the last election. That is the historic
cal sketch that brings this summary
up to date.
Congress has served notice on the
President that it is now an indepen-
dent Constitutional branch of the
Government. The first blunt chal-
lenge to the Chief was the overriding
of his veto of the Anti-Strike bill. A
week later came the tussle over the
143 million dollar urgent deficiency
bill carrying SO million of emergency
funds for the Presidents use; also
billion dollar bill for 1S war ag-
encies including OPA, owl, and
BEW; and a Labor Department Fed
eral Security Agency bill carrying
one billion dollars. The big Agricul-
tural Department measure and In
terror Department bill were all dis
cussed and changed in both Houses
of Congress. The result was that
these five appropriation bills were
thrown into Conference Committees
of the Senate and House. They were
not approved when the fiscal year
ended June 80. Thus the President
found many additional reasons to
complain about COMPETENCY"
Smaller War Plants