Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-07
What Was Done

On the basis Of cold statistics,
Congress did not do as well by the
President under Democratic leader
ship in 1855 as it did under Repub-
hcan auspices in 1854. This was q
quantitative analysis, and to good
extent it was qualitative also.
Last year, the President made 232
legislative requests to Congress and
got favorable action on $50 of them
for a batting average" of .646.
This year he asked Congress for
POT favors, large and small, and was
granted SO, an average of .463. But
there was a hidden factor, that Of
partial progress on some items the
President had requested.
In 1854, uncompleted legislation
died with the close of the 83d
Congress. This year. however.
partial progress was made on 81
presidential requests, and these
pending items will hold over for
the second session that opens next
January.
The most help given the Presi-
dent was in foreign affairs, the
least help in domestic matters.
This pattern was quite in keeping
with the growing tendency of
American partisan politics to stop
at the low-water mark.
. Foreign policy: The President
got what he wanted, was spared
what he did not want. -Four major
treaties were approved by the Sem
ate: On mutual defense in South.
east Asia and with Nationalist
China, on rearming West Germany,
and on ending the four-power &C.
cupation of Austria. In a>maneuver
that was morally effective if not
legally necessary, the Senate gave
him authority to intervene if trouble
should break out in the Formosa
strait. And when the Chief Ex-
ecutive went to Geneva last month.
he took with him almost unanimous
congressional support. This last
action not only strengthened the
Presidents hand. but spotlighted
the size and inetfectivenesS of the
corpora's guard MCCARTHY. Jen-
ner, Malone) which is all that re-
mains of the once powerful Repub-
lican right wing in the Senate
o Foreign aid: The President
Jared less well, but still not badly.
He lost something over a half a bill
lion dollars of the money he. ORR
ginally requested, but Congress
found MIN some previously appro-
priated (but unobligatedD funds
that brought the total up to slightly
over SO billion-about a quarter of
a billion dollars less than he had
asked for.
Q Foreign trade: Mr.. Eisenhower
finally got from the Democratic 84th
what he could not get from the Re-
publican 83d Congress-power to
cut most tariffs by Is per cent in
three annual increments. In adj
dition, reciprocal trade legislation
was extended for three years.
. Armed forces: Congress author
lied a four-year draft extension
and a reserve plan of questionable
effectiveness. 1t also okayed the
administration reductions in Army
and Navy manpower and an in
crease in Air Force personnel.
. Government personnel. The
big achievement was a pay raise
for nearly everyone. Congress voted
itself so per cent increase, and
boosted judges pay equally in most
cases. Postal workers got an aver
age 8 per cent boost. and classified
civil servants won an increase Of
about rs per cent.
Q TdreS: Congress approved ex-
tension of excise taxes and the
present corporation levy (52 per
cent? until next April. But an in.
dividual income tax cut was dis
approved.
Q Farm and labor: The Demo-
Gratis failed for the second year to
get high, rigid price supports on
key crops, and the President 'von
his point for flexible props. 3ut
the Democrats scored on minimum
wages by giving the President
more than he wanted The Chef
Executive sought boost from IS
cents to 80 cents, and Congress
gave him 81.
0 Appropriations Here Mr. Eli
senhower Jared not badly at all.
He asked for about $54 billion and
received about $52.2 billion, in-
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