Evening star., 1949-03-17
Coalition in Congress
Serves Notice Il Isn't
RUBBER Stamp Affair
But President Did Not
Come OFF Half as Badly
As Some Would Imply
Bp David Lawrence

10 SOItiC WYNN iHuPiy
By David Laurence
The Truman administration has
discovered in the first two months
of it's present term that Con-
gresS does not think a man
date" was given to approve what
ever measures the President rec
ommends, irrespective of their
merits.
A coalition of Republicans and
Democrats has served notice on
the President that the present
Congress is no rubber-stamp
affair. This does not mean that
every issue will find the coalition
operating as it did on the flibuster
problem, but does mean that the
age-old independence of the legis-
lative body has been and will be
asserted.
MI. Truman did not come off
half as badly. however. as some
Senators would imply. While it
is logical for the Democratic lead
er. Senator Lucas, to attempt to
shift the blame for the failure of
the Senate to adopt much more
rigid formula than has been
brought forth in the so-called
compromise, there never was a
time when more than half dozen
Senators were willing really to
vote for cloture by majority rule.
So what finally emerges Is a
plan for a rule which requires a
two thirds vote to close debate on
everything except another change
in the rules. The compromise
doesn't cut off civil rights legisla-
ton at this or any other session.
What is cutting off that prospect
is the presence in the Senate OF a
one-third bloc composed of South
ern Democrats and few Republi-
cans who do not favor Federal in
tervention in the police authority
of the States as guaranteed by the
Constitution.
Applies to All Motions.
But the new rule does some
thing which has not been accom-
plished since 1917. 1t applies clo-
ture to all motions. whether they
are motions Ito take up" or mo-
tions on bills and measures. This
is an administration victory,
though 1t never would have been
possible without the cooperation
of many Northern Republicans.
including Senator Taft of Ohio.
The fact that a coalition exists
is a political fact of far-reaching
significance. 1t is too much to say
that the coalition will oppose all
social welfare legislation. But it
is fair to assume that the same
Southern group which fought
against the prospect Of Federal
Intervention in State matters
will also vote against removal of
that provision Of the Taft-Hartley
law which forbids both unions and
corporations from making political
contributions or expenditures.
The unions want this repealed
80 they can spend millions of
dollars of union dues and assess
ments to- defeat the Southerners
in Democratic primaries. But it is
not likely that the Southern
Democrats will be parties to their
own political destruction by over
looking that feature OF the Taft
Hartley Act.
Will Prevail on Tax Matters.
On tax matters the coalition
will prevail. On Federal aid to
education and in public health
legislation there is no reason to
expect the coalition to be opera
tive. The Southerners, despite the
Misrepresentation made Of their
attitude in recent months because
of the civil rights controversy,
voted for virtually all the New
Deal proposals recommended by
Presidsnt Roosevelt with the ex-
ception of the measure designed
to pack" the Supreme Court OF
the United States so as to in
f1uence its decisions.
The Southern Democrats have
as good a record on the social
welfare legislation Of recent years
as have the Northern Democrats.
The coalition, therefore, will
come into action only when an
attempt is made to introduce state
socialism or to present measures
that seek to establish unions as a
power greater than the Govern
ment itself or than either political
party. Threats of intimidation do
not sit well with the Southern
Democrats. The chances are that
on measures which are put forth
by pressure groups and which are
plainly radical, the coalition not
only will assert itself but will in
crease in strength.
The rejection by a coalition of
Republicans and Democrats OF
the appointment of former Sena-
tor Wallgren to be head of the
National Security Resources
Board is an example Of what may
happen on appointments, but gen.
orally speaking no new party has
been created and the coalition is a
combination of political opponents
bound together temporarily and
occasionally in common cause.
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