Evening star., 1943-08-18
Curb on Presidents
Powers Demanded al
Western Conference


MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18-Repre-
sentative Andersen, Republican, of
Minnesota, chairman of a confer
ence of members of Congress and
citizens on Washington's admins
tration of the home front, said today
the opinion of speakers clearly
demonstrated a common problem
unwise and detrimental rule by
WaG<ngton bureaucracy"
He listed, as demands of the
speakers for farm, business and pro-
fessional groups:
81. That Congress recover the
legislative powers heretofore granted
to the executive.
%. The discharge of hundreds of
inexperienced policy making bu-
reaucrats. to be replaced by expert
enced men from agriculture, busi-
ness and professions.
"3. The cancellation of Federal
policies which are now crushing
business and jeopardizing the pro-
duction of food"
$500 at Conference.
The two-day conference ended
yesterday. In attendance were 16
members of Congress-14 Repub-
licans, a Progressive and Farmer
Laborite-and representatives of the
farmer. business and professional
man. Representative Andersen esti-
mated the total attendance of four
sessions at $500.
The conference was called, Mr.
Andersen said, after several North
west trade groups asked him to
organize meeting so farmers, buSi-
ness and professional men could ap-
pear personally before the members
of Congress while they were on their
home grounds and tell of their
troubles with directives and per-
sonnel of Washington home front
war bureaus. Congress is in recess
until September IA.
Mr.. Andersen said Is of the Al
members of Congress in Iowa, Wis
consin. Minnesota and the Dakotas
approved the proposal of a confer
ence, including one of the four
Democrats in the five-State delega-
tion, Senator Gillette of Iowa.
so Speakers Heard.
At the final session, the members
OF Congress, who listened to upward
OF so speakers during the two days,
summarized informally to the con-
ference their impressions, but made
no formal, joint expression nor did
the groups attending adopt resolu-
tions. A suggestion by Representa-
tive Mundt, Republican, of South
Dakota that the conference take
some united formal stand was not
acted upon. Mr.. Andersen said the
information gathered would be used
by the members of Congress as back
ground for individual action upon
their return to Washington.
Informal summaries made to the
conference included:
Representative Gale, Republican.
of Minnesota: I'VE need to concen-
trate food administration in a single
authority"
Representative Judd, Republican
OF Minnesota: What you have told
us will encourage us to continue
what Congress started before the
current recess when hierarchy in
Washington was so strongly jolted
during June and July. Millions of
Americans are more incensed at
their government than they are at
the Axis"
Fears Food Famine.
Representative Andres sen: "If
there are not some changes, the
East is going to suffer a food fam
inc next spring"
Representative Stevenson, Repub-
lican. of Wisconsin: Il have been
listening to these complaints against
Washington bureaucracy by small
business all year and I am glad to
see that the people are at last get
ting together to complain about it,
Representative Cunningham. Re-
publican, Of Iowa: Il am greatly
encouraged to observe the interest
of the people in seeing that free
enterprise is retained and their rec
ognition of this trend to State
socialism"