WORK OF CONGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1938, Page 5

WORK OF CONGRESS

SURVEY OF LEGISLATION

RELATIONS WITH PRESIDENT.

OUTSTANDING POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

WASHINGTON, June 9. The Australian Associated Press says that the with the work of Congress this session virtually completed and the adjournment a matter of only a few days, legislators are feverishly meeting in session day and night in order to clean up the calendar and returr home to prepare for the November elections. The legislative and political situation is probably more complicated than at any time since President Roosevelt assumed the presidency. It is from the viewpoint of all observers President Roosevelt versus the field. Is the President still the most important question of the hour for

Americans? President Roosevelt comes from the present session of Congress with more accomplished than

his enemies predicted, after the reorganisation defeat in April and much less than he or his .proponents hoped and expected. The President’s achievements include a comprehensive Farm Bill, extensive naval expansion, an important extension of housing, large relief and pump priming expenditures. His defeats include a tax measure with undivided profits and capital gains levies virtually expunged and a complete reversal of the Government reorganisation plan. His partial defeats include the Wages and Hours Bill, which, although passed by Congress is so deadlocked in Congress that a compromise, seriously reducing its value, may be necessary in order to secure its approval.

The question may well be asked, what is the real status of the emigres-’ sional revolt against President Roosevelt or has there actually been a revolt? There has been a revolt but President Roosevelt rernains the key entity of his party and his programme for this session of Congress unquestionably was achieved in principle. The primaries of the Democratic Party to date do not yet indicate an important trend. The candidates he supported in Oregon and Florida were victorious but his candidate at lowa was defeated, It is freely predicted the Democrats may lose twenty to eighty seats in the House. A large loss would seriously reflect on President Roosevelt’s position but the .best opinion holds that he will retain a sufficient majority in both houses to carry on successfully. "Politics will not defeat! President Roosevelt but an intensification of recession beyond Novembei’ will.” This seems to be the consensus of opinion of impartial onlookers. Washington has been the scene of straw polls by several agencies which indicate a diminution in President Roosevelt’s popular strength but he still remains fifty-one per cent popu-

lar choice. President Roosevelt’s chief instrumentality in combatting recession is his 3,700,000,000 dollar relief spending. If it fails it is expected the Democratic Party will be swept out in 1940. Meantime, an extraordinary twist is given to relief expenditures. It is alleged that relief monies are beingspent in large quantities in support of President Roosevelt congressional candidates in many States.

A charge has been heard that President Roosevelt is 'attempting a “purge” of at least seven of nine Democratic senators coming up for election in November because they voted against the Supreme Court enlargement. It is, of course, impossible for the Democrats to lose control of the Senate at the November elections but political realists insist that it will probably be a more serious matter for President Roosevelt if the anti-New Deal Democrats in both houses of Congress retain or grow in numbers than if the Democrats lose a considerable number of seats to the Republicans. Another important aspect of the situation is the unabated war between business and President Roosevelt. A

biographer, Emil Ludwig, whose ’“Life of Roosevelt" has just been published states that hysterical hatred of President Roosevelt by business and Wall Street groups still persists. Mr Ludwig suggests the rich hate President Roose-, velt because they recall with shame their passionate surrender to him in, 1933, when they appealed to him to dictate and save their fortunes. This may be a bit of psychological exaggeration. A less inspired student of the American political and economic scene must content himself with the simpler observation that President Roosevelt and business both uncompromisingly maintain a determination to go their different ways. It is this which unquestionably produces the uncertainty responsible for the retardation of American recovery. Widespread confidence which is considered most vital is the missing factor leading to prosperity. It seems impossible of attainment while the Administration and business are so bitterly estranged.