Evening star., 1947-05-12

the work of Congress and preparing
major legislation.
Before the end of June. the Re-
publican Congress will have put
through a bill liberalizing and re-
adjusting the unbalanced provisions
Of the Wagner Labor Relations
Act, strengthening the Mediation
Service and providing machinery
for the settlement of strikes; a bill
ucing income taxes, bin TO OUT
law the 'portal-to-portal" racket
and extortion and appropriation
bills making the first substantial
reduction In Federal expenses in
nearly IA years.
No Hurry in Legislating.
These accomplishments by them
selves would be enough to take six
months, but other important bills
will have been enacted by July.
Legislation has not been completed
in a hurry either. Exhaustive
hearings lasting six weeks were held
on the labor bills and plenty of
time has been afforded for both
sides in the debates in the Senate.
The tax bill also has required
considerable time for hearings and
debate.
So far as time is concerned, sew
era1 Democrats have been respon-
sible for consuming no small part
of it. 1t was a Democrat, Senator
McKellar of Tennessee, who pre-
cipitated the controversy of several
weeks over the confirmation Of
David Lilienthal; and 1t was the
leadership of two Republicans, SEN
ators Hickenlooper Of Iowa and Van
denberg of Michigan, which pulled
that difficult chestnut out OF the
fire for the administration.
Likewise it was the Truman ad-
ministration which properly enough
introduced into the situation the
Greek Turkish legislation which
was of q highly controversial char
acter and also the European relief
bills. Several Democrats in both
houses, some of them New Dealers,
did all they could to take up time
and sabotage that legislation.
AS for the budget-cutting process,
never in all congressional history
has there been such a concerted
effort by persons In the executive
departments to block legislation.
President Truman has sat idly by
while lobbieS of his own personnel
in the Government departments
have used public funds unlawfully
to try to defeat economy measures.
When the whole story comes out,
Mr.. Trumans record will be vulner-
able, for it was within his power to
stop the intrigue and lobbying that
was carried on In an attempt to
hold appropriations at high levels.
Reorganization Was Problem.
Most perplexing from time-con-
Stunning angle has been the reorgani-
zation law passed in the previous
session by the Democratic majority.
This measure has much merit, but
it took the Republican Congress sew
eral weeks to adjust itself to the
new committee system. This would
have happened If the Democrats
had been in power. Delays of this
kind were inevitable and had moth
ing to do with the capacity Of the
Republican Party to govern.
The story that the Republicans
have been "dawdling" or "muddling"
is one that emanates primarily from
Democratic political sources and the
left wing" generally. Anything to
smear" the majority party is con-
sidered good tactics and perhaps
there are Republicans now who re-
gret that they did not indulge more
in that sort of thing themselves
when they were the minority; but,
unfortunately for them from po-
litical standpoint, the war was on
and the call to patriotism then had
priority.
The Republican majority is max
ing meritorious record, but it could
not possibly pass the labor and tax
bills or cut the budget If it were not
for the help of that staunch group
of patriotic and courageous Senators
from the Democratic Party of the
South. These men. also the targets
of abuse and ridicule by the left
wing" on the radio and in the press,
are not allowing party politics or
petty calls for so-called party regu-
larity" to interfere with perform
ance of their duty.
What America has today in reality
Is not just Republican Congress
but a coalition Congress in which
Republicans and Democrats are
combining in an effort to rid the
Government of graft and favoritism
IN the spending of public money
and to eradicate special privilege
from governmental boards and the
courts.
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