Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1954-01-29
PRESIDENTS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
is MEETING MIXED REACTIONS

President Eisenhowers press conference
Of January 18th, his first this year, was an
interesting one-not only because Of what
he had to say about current issues, but be-
cause it clearly revealed his philosophy of
government and his attitude toward the
worlds number one job.
The President, naturally, said that he
thought that his program, as laid down in
the State OF the Union address and follow
ing messages on specific problems, was right,
even though parts of it, notably the flexible
farm price support plan, may be politically
unWlSe in this election year. Then he said
significantly, that he will not exert any
unusual pressure on Congress to adopt his
program. No part of it, he continued, will
be pressed as must" legislation In sum,
the chief executive took the position that he
has done his duty in proposing a broad pro-
gram and that the rest is up to Congress.
What this seems to mean is that Mr..
Eisenhower believes in strict interpreta-
ton Of the Constitution, at least so far as
the division OF powers, prerOgatives and re-
SponSlbllltieS between the executive and the
legislative branches are concerned. And that
marks quite a change from the Roosevelt
Truman attitudes. Mr.. Roosevelt, especial
ly, worked to make the Presidency dominate
the government in all it's branches. The
must label was always attached to i'm
IL
his lieutenants did not hesitate to use great
pressure in order to overcome Congression-
al OppQSIt0n-ln cluding that very effective
weapon, patronage. Members of his own
party who opposed him were given the cold
shoulder come election time He would some
times go to extraordinary lengths-as in his
unsuccessful tight to increase the size of
the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Eisenhower, obviously, is trying to
compromise and reconcile divergent views
IN friendly fashion. AS he has said, his
Administration does not threaten ANYONE.
and wants to work to the legitimate good of
everyone. And he does not claim that his
ideas are necessarily the only sound ones.
AS for his legislative program, it faces
hard going in some respects, easy going in
others. The State of the Union message was
generally well received. On the one hand.
1t disappointed some of his conservative
supporters, who felt that it was too middle
Ot-the-road, and stemmed from a mistaken
policy of trying to offer everybody some
thing On the other hand, the so-called Glib
eraF' groups could find almost nothing good
about 1t. But it is fair to say that both of
THESE viewpoints are held by minoritiesA and
JhaC most commentators thought the mess
age excellent-particularIy in its moderate.
high-minded tone.
Biggest Congressional uprOars will occur
over the proposed changes in farm price
supports and the Taft-Hartley law. Some in
Huential Republicans from farm states at
once came out against the Presidents plan
Tor flexible supports ranging from Is per
cent to 80 per cent of parity. Senator Nc
Carthy, for instance wants fixed supports
going from 80 per cent to 100 per cent and
Senator Jenner is reported to favor a boost
TO 10 per cent. AS for Taft Hartley, unions
ana management will fight some of the prO-
posals. The most important projects change
here IS the requirement that strike votes be
taken among the rank and file of union mem
oershTp, in secret elections under govern
ment supervision.
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HOW TO MEASURE PRICES