Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12

C~@~@0~~~
Eisenhower and Vice President
Nixon.
The Congress-:
Eager to Go
A distinctive feature Of the
American system Of government
IS the principle Of co-equal, but
separate. branches Of government
sharing responsibility.
On occasion, however, this CO.
equality is a matter Of theory only.
At such times one Of the "oper-
ating" Observation-Disclosures or
executive - becomes substantially
stronger than the other. For in
stance. during the administration
Of q strong President-a Jackson,
a Lincoln. or q Roosevelt-con-
gressional authority and initiative
often will become subordinated to
the executive.
Then there are times when most
Of the Federal authority seems to
reside on Capitol Hill, as 1t did
for many years after the Civil
War and again following World
War /. Last week, as the S5th
Congress began its second session,
1t appeared that the United States
again was entering q period Of
Congress-dominated government.
The outlook is that in the
period ahead. although the basic
source Of government policy will
continue to be the White
House. the labels on many major
programs. as finally enacted will
read: Made on Capitol Hill"
There doubtless viii be broad
modification Of White House pro-
grams, extensions and expansions.
and. more rarely, outright con-
gressional challenge Of Mr.. Eisen-
hower's proposals.
A diStillation Of the comments
by returning congressional leaders
and catalog Of the items the
legislators regard as pressing
enough to offer as proposed legis-
lation on the opening days of the
new session give a picture of the
form these notifications, ex.
tensions and challenges may take:
DEFENSE
In his State-of-the- Union mes
sage. Mr.. Eisenhower promised
to supply detailed blueprints of
what he wants in the way of
defense reorganization. There
were hints in the message that
he will not ask for a single chief
Of staff. although there is a size
able bloc in Congress who favor
just that. Mr.. Eisenhower doubt
less will get reorganization. but
the imprint of the will of Congress
will be Enthusiastically clear.
The President will ask about
$40 billion for defense. but Con-
greSs seems to be in a mood to
give him more and insist that he
spend it. In the first three days
OF the new session. 10 Sputnik-
inspired bills we're introduced,
asking for science academies,
committees on outer space, SCI
ence scholarship programs. etc.
FOREIGN POLICY
There is a cautious, yet discern
ible feeling on Capitol Hill that
the deepening impasSe with Russia
on every front of the cold war
may eventually demand another
attempt at negotiation Of major
differences.
Although the actual construction
Of a foreign policy is q response
bility Of the Executive, the con-
tinued inflexibility Of the approach
of Secretary Dulles may tempt
some liberal members Of Congress
to try to take over the foreign
policy initiative.
FOREIGN AID
Mr.. Eisenhower's insistence on
mutual security as q vital arm Of
national defense again will en-
counter determined opposition in
Congress. He is expected to ask
for about 81 billion in military
and economic aid. but win be
fortunate II he receives an amount
within SIS billion Of that.
Even some old friends of earlier
programs are growing cool to
aid. especially economic aid. This
is an election year, and when the
pressure comes for defense funds,
many members may remind them
selves that few votes are won or
lost on the foreign aid issue.
EDUCATION
There are widespread differ
ences Of opinion on Capitol Hill
regarding the Administrations 81
billion. four-year program for aid
to education. Some think it's Just
right; others say it's not nearly
enough: still others are suspicious
of any plan for Federal aid to
education. Even among those who
favor some program. there is
considerable disagreement over
details.
1t is generally accepted that
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