Evening star., 1944-02-24
BY the Associated rrsss.

nouncentent OF Senator Bdrkleu
OF Kentucky that he will resign
as majority leader In protest
against President Roosepelt's tar
bill Deto tollows:.
New York Herald Tribune dnde-
pendent Republican,
The significance of the resignation
OF Alben w. Barkley as majority
leader of the Senate on the issue of
the Presidents veto of the revenue
bill obviously far transcends the i'm
mediate question of the merits Of
that legislation. :
Two theories have been advanced
to explain this growing rift between
the President and Congress.
One Is that the President has
become so immersed in world affairs
that he has lost touch with public
opinion at home and contact with
those party leaders on whom he
would normally lean for informa-
ton. The other is that he has en-
barked upon deliberate campaign
to discredit the legislative branch as
part Of his fourth term campaign.
Whatever explanation one accepts,
the situation is one which gives
cause for the gravest concern to the
whole country, regardless OF party
lines. Persons who agree fully with
the Presidents foreign policies must
ask themselves whether, In the light
OF the present oisunity which he has
so needlessly provoked, his value as
a party and national leader during
the critical months Immediately
ahead may not have been seriously
impaired. As for re-electing for a
fourth term President so COM
pletely at odds with Congress =
1t would be difficult indeed for the
most loyal defender of the New Deal
to justify.
New York Times independent
Democrat:
The tone even more than the fact
OF Mr.. Roosevelt's veto of the tax
bill has precipitated a crisis IN The
relations between the President and
Congress. 1t has led to the resig-
nation OF Senator Elben w. Barkley.
who, In his own words, has carried
the flag Of the administration" for
the past seven years as majority
leader IN the Senate.
The Presidents unjustified charge
that the tax bill Is "a tax-relief bill
providing relief not for the needy
but for the greedy has provoked
from Senator Barkley the retort
that the veto itself is deliberate
and calculated assault upon the
honesty and integrity of every
member OF the legislature of the
United States
The accusation in the Presidents
veto was an obvious blunder; the
President in his telegram to Sem
ator Barkley has wisely recognized
how essential it is for the sake of
collaboration with the legislative
branches to repair that blunder.
Congress should override the
Presidents veto and enact the tax
bill into law.
Chicago Tribune Republican,:
A special word may be reserved
for Mr.. Barkley 1t is charitable to
believe that he resigned his leader
ship to express his resentment of
the Ill treatment he has received at
the hands Of the President. .
At the same time the fact must
not be overlooked that Mr.. B. has
read the recent election returns
from Kentucky. He knows that his
State has elected Republican Gov
ernor and that the result was con-
frmed in a by-election in a con-
gressional district that hasn't sent
Republican tosCongress since way
back when.
Mr.. B knows the temper of his
constituents. He knows that a con-
spicuous quarrel with Mr.. Roosevelt
won't hurt his chances =.
Chicago Sun independently:
To explain Senator Barkley's
resignation as floor leader and the
angry outbursts of House leaders
then, one must look further afield
(than the tax bilD. We think the
explanation lies in party politics
plus the increasing willingness OF
Congress, under reactionary leader.
ship, to serve the special interest.
Of special groups.
Philadelphia Record dndepend.
ent):
Senator Barkley, a stanch New
Dealer, has held that post for sever
years. He has fought the admins.
ration's fight on all major issues. He
has not succeeded too well. Perhaps
some one else could do a better Job
of bringing the President and Con-
gress together. But the chances are
Barkley will be reelected TODAY,
thus making his resignation" sort
OF political gesture rather than a
complete change of course on his
part
We do not believe that Congress
should be perpetual rubber stamp
for the President. Neither should it
be perpetual road block on the way
to victory on the home front.
Philadelphia Inquirer dndepend-
ent):
We hope it Is a new era, with an
end to presidential efforts to dom
mate Congress and a full recovery
by Congress of the authority it sur
renders to the Executive during the
past decade. But if it is q new era
members of both Senate and House
will have to live up to their great re-
sponsibilities.
The tax bill should be passed over
Mr.. Roosevelts veto. But enactment
of this pitifully inadequate measure
will not solve the Nations clamorous
revenue problem. Congress should
set about without delay to draft an
adequate tax bill carrying a more
equitable distribution of the tax bur-
den.
Senator Barkley has declared his
independence. 1t would be fitting
for his Democratic colleagues to fol-
low his new banner.
Boston Globe dndependent):
Senator Barkley is no soft pedal
performer The fracture may
EDUCATIONAL.