The Key West citizen., 1953-07-24
THE WORLD
TO-DAY
By JAMES MARLoW

putting off until next year what
II didn't do this year. From the
standpoint Of lawmaking, this was
| an undistinguished year. There's
mo guarantee next year win be any
more productive.
This years legislative dreariness
was obscured by the lightning
flashes Of personality which illum'
mated the Capitol from time tc
thine and gave 1t = hveliness
iotherwise lacking.
/ There was the picture Of Presi'
dent Eisenhower, new in his job,
trying to push and pull his Repub'
Ilican-controlled Congress along the
jroad he wanted it to travel while
stiH learning how to deal with the
lawmakers.
individuals like Sen. Joseph Nc.
Carthy lR-Wis1 looking for sub.
lversives and aging Rep. Daniel A.
Reed (R-NYl fighting against ex.
tension Of the excess profits tax
Ilent color 10 the show.
There was also TIE very human
drama Of Eisenhower and Sen. Tatt
(R- -Ohio), who had been rivals for
the Republican nomination in 81
learning to work together in 50
If the congressional performance
was slow this year, it could be
excused on the ground that a new
administration was trying to get
adjusted to its new responsibilities,
and was feeling It's way along.
Next year II win have no such
excuse. Next year the Republican
administration can be fairly judged
on its performance. And 1t will
have . particularly good reason
for wanting to put on q satisfactory
lone In 1854.
Next year Is m election year, the
first time the Republicans have
ihad to face the judgment Of the
voters since taking Office in Janu.
larry 1858. All 4ss House seats and
lone-third Of the 96 Senate seats are
at stake in the elections Of Novem.
lber 1854.
AT present the Republican ma
ljorities are 50 hair-thin that a few
changes in the 1854 election re.
suits could give the Democrats
control Of Congress.
| This would mean for Presideni
Eisenhower, still in charge of the
Iexecutiye branch Of the govern.
ment, that for the following 1--WE
years he'd have to depend upon /
Democratic-cOntrolled Congress fol
the success Of any programs be
loffered.
It Is one Of the political legends,
mot necessarily true at al, tha,
members Of Congress, more CON
sciohs Of the voters, always do
more in an election year.
Actually the 1854 election results
may be determined by factors mol
at all connected with the record
Established by Congress perhaps
lby events not even dreamed Of q
this moment.
For instance, II the elections
were being held this November
and II the Eisenhower administra
ltion had managed to get Z truce
lin Korea, the Republicans probably
would be swept back into Office
The same may not be true II
November 1854. For In that yeal
1.-THE results Of the truce possibly
drawn out, frustrating peace nego
ltiations and even ugly develop
lments might sway the voters ii.
Iother way.
So Eisenhower win have his
hands full in "a, not only in tryini
Ito lead his Republicans in Congress
Ito a good showing, but in making
Ia record for his Republican admin
Ilistration in foreign affairs as well
/ This year the biggest single piecI
Iof controversial legislation was ol
lgiving the states rights, out to theiI
historic boundaries, to the oil Il
lthe waters off their shores. AnC
! Eisenhower succeeded, after . BIT
ter struggle, in getting the excess
profits tax extended another Si1
months.
4 He seems reasonably sure, be
fore this session Of Congress ends
Iof getting the reciprocal trade
agreement program extended an
other year. And before it quits thil
year Congress has some other
lpieces Of ''must'' legislation on its
2l0. 900 European refugees over 4
three.year period; authority fOr
Eisenhower to send surplus food
abroad in an emergency.
But put off un.l next year, with
no certainty Of achievement, are
changes In the Tatt-Hartley Act;
the question Of statehood for Ha-
waii and Alaska.
And the Republicans win have
to find ways Of raising money to
meet government expenses and
deciding whether to scuttle foreign
aid, 4 step which might wreck
Eisenhower's foreign program.