CONGRESS CHECK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 5

CONGRESS CHECK

AIMS OF ROOSEVELT SESSION OF STALEMATE INSURGENT OEMOCRATS BIG-SEEN DING PROG RAM ME (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United J?ress Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 7, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 5. The session of Congress, which ended to-day, was an embittered political (prelude to 1940—seven months of spreading and spectacularly successful rebellion against President Roosevelt’s Administration. It was largely a session of legislative stagnation. It found the Administration with sufficient committee power to advance iits legislation, tout facing, in the House of Representatives and the Senate, a coalition of Republicans and insurgent Democrats with sufficient votes to cripple or, towards the close, to kill the proposals. Thus it was largely ■ a -session-of- stalemate and, for President Roosevelt, a session of frustration.

The coalition finally dealt a major ■blow to (President Roosevelt’s economic philosophy toy killing the proposal for £772,000,000 Of Federal loans for, it was asserted, self-liquidating projects. Further, the coalition fought to a standstill ithe Administration's proposal to revise the Neutrality Act in the interests of the democracies, surrounded the dispensation of relief money with highly restrictive requirements, and cut the relief appropriations.

The motive of some members of the coalition was to stop President Roosevelt and to make certain that there would Ibe no third term. With others this was combined with growing repugnance towards the Administration legislation, especially the spending bijLs. Roots of the Revolt The roots of the revolt, according to some, lay in the Court Reorganisation Bill, toy which President Roosevelt in 1937 proposed to break the Supreme Court’s opposition to the New Deal legislation. The 'break in the party was widened as a result of an attempt to purge some members in the last primary elections. Anti . Administration Democrats ibegan the session determined not only to prevent a third term toy President Roosevelt, tout to wrest from the 'President his power to name the 1940 Democrat nominee. The revolt was directed principally at the Administration’s fiscal policies, but towards the end it was eating away at other Administration measures. Even the discussion on foreign policy was not free from domestic toitterness.

However, the Administration’s record is hardly (barren. Paradoxically, while the outstanding event was the rejection, of the lending programme, the session produced history’s highest peace-time appropriations, the figure exceeding £2,600,000,000, ‘ -this toeing £400,000,000 over 1938. The gigantic rearmament programme, which Congress enthusiastically supported, and the farm 'relief programme account chiefly for the increase.

Also, President .Roosevelt received limited power to reorganise the executive (branch of government. International Scene Although domestic .wrangling Wandi-, capped the Administration in foreign affairs, members devoted more time and thought to the international scene than any Congress since the Great War. The Legislature did not see eye to eye with the Administration regarding the attitude to tlhe European crisis, but the session ended with certain Republican and Democrat leaders, notaibly .Senators Pittman and Vandenber a in accord on what may he one of the most important moves ever taken toy the United States abroad—the termination of the commercial treaty with Japan. Moreover, while Congress refused to' accede to the Administrations desire to amend the ‘Neutrality Act, '.the leaders promised President Roosevelt that the neutrality legislation would be among the first subjects discussed when Congress reassembles in January. The Republicans and Democrats appear to toe looking through the same glasses as regards Japan and, as soon as they reconvene, they will probably discuss the question of an embargo order and introduce it, if approved, immediately tlhe treaty expires on January 26. Cotton for Rubber Important fruits of 'the session were the agreement for the exchange of 175,000,0001 b. of British rubber ifor 600!000 bales of cotton to toe held for war emergency, treaties with Panama for the defence of the Panama Canal, and 'the establishment of naval 'bases at Midway, Johnstone, Palmyra, Kodiac and Sitka Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The project for the fortification of Guam was Shelved for fear that it would provoke Japan. The session ended with the Republicans a force for the first time since the New Deal 'began, and jubilant at their prospects, and the Democrat breach wider.

The Administration's foes 'have obviously igaiined powerful recruits. President Roosevelt’s supporters predict, however, that some of these will be lost 'when the insurgent legislators get home and start talking to their constituents, particularly on the question of the United States taking a stronger stand to avert a world war. They may find that the average Americans support President Roosevelt’s views greater than, they thought. The seventy-sixth Congress was adjourned sine die to-night.