Chessboard

One day last week President Roosevelt held a long and earnest conference with his leader in the Senate, hardworking, humorless Joseph Taylor Robinson from Arkansas. Long sessions of Congress always make trouble for an Administration, and the President wants Congress adjourned somewhere between May 1 and May 15. Together President and Senator surveyed the calendar of Congress as if it were a chessboard, saw it littered with pieces of legislation, some to be moved to victory, others to be left dead when the board is arbitrarily swept clean by adjournment. Like two chessmasters they ticked off the bills that the Administration feels must be passed by some means or other before the game ends.

Tariff. At the top of the list stood the bill, introduced only a week before, giving the President authority to bargain with foreign nations for reciprocal tariff reductions, to reduce any U. S. tariff as much as 50%. Republicans are already stirring up a battle against it. The President felt he must get it on the books quickly to start tariff bargaining this summer and reinforce his other recovery measures by a trade revival. Last week Secretaries Hull, Wallace and Roper all appeared before Congressional committees to plead for its prompt passage.

Taxes. Second important measure that the Administration is. bent on having is the bill to plug income tax law leaks. A good talking point for next autumn's campaign, it will add $258,000,000 to the government's revenue. Already through the House, the tax bill now reposes in the Senate Finance Committee.

Appropriations. Third absolute essential before the close of Congress is passage of all nine appropriation bills to finance the government during the next fiscal year. All but two of these bills have passed the House. Only five have passed the Senate. The danger with appropriation bills is that, if delayed, they breed last-day filibusters.

This year there is another danger. The Senate added to the Independent Offices bill a juicy amendment for $354,000,000 for veterans' pensions and pay cut restorations, a sum that would upset the President's well-laid budget plans. Last week Representatives were jubilating at the chance of accepting the Senate's amendment.

After these three prime requisites the President and Senator Robinson made out a list of bills which the Administration earnestly desires but which are less essential to its program:

Exchange regulation. The President wanted passed a bill "against well-recognized evils of the Exchange.'' Senator Robinson at first intimated that its passage at this session was not guaranteed. But when the White House consented to accept amendments to ease the drastic provisions of the first draft. Senator Robinson changed his mind and swung his followers into line.

Telephone & Telegraph. A Communications Commission with power over telephone, telegraph and cable companies similar to that of the Interstate Commerce Commission over railroads has been formally recommended by the President. But it can wait.

NRA Licenses. Unless Congress extends for another year the power of the President to license firms to do business under NRA, this club, so far unused, will vanish into thin air June 16.

Airmail. A measure for restoring the airmail to commercial operators is now urgently needed since the Army Air Corps' mail service, proving too deadly, has been drastically curtailed (see p. 53).

Such was the program which the President decided ought to be got through Congress in two months' time. Few notable measures were missing from it.

Omissions: St. Lawrence Waterway. This treaty which the Senate has been debating since January will come to a vote this week. The vote will be close, and the President will have to accept the outcome.

Philippine Independence. The passage of this bill, soon and with comparatively little opposition, is expected.

Labor. Up to last week the President had not taken a stand for or against Senator Wagner's bill to set up a permanent Labor Board (see p. 11). Nonetheless Washington would not be surprised to see the bill pass, with some amendments that would not completely outlaw company unions. The bill fits in with the President's idea of the New Deal, but whether it will fit in with his legislative program is another matter.

Food & Drugs. Rex Tugwell, bright young braintruster, has been anxious to get a bill passed to censor the labeling and advertising of foods, drugs and cosmetics. He was for months sure of the President's hearty support. However, Congress has not shown much interest. A big food & drug lobby is fighting the bill, and the President has not gone to bat for it. Its chances of passage are fading.

Amended Securities Act. When Congress assembled the President was definitely against modification of the Securities Act. Now some of his advisers would welcome it, as a means of getting private capital flowing to provide more employment. But the President has not yet publicly changed his mind.

30-Hour Week. Fortnight ago the President told the 3.500 members of industry's code authorities that he was opposed to arbitrary flat reduction of the work week for all industry. Yet Congressmen are much inclined to favor a bill for a 30-hour week. If it were passed allowing no exceptions the President would veto it. If it were passed allowing him wide discretion in its application, he might accept it.

Soldier Bonus. Last important omission from the President's legislative program was the bill for paying the veterans' bonus in greenbacks. The President had promised to veto it if passed. So last week the House took him at his word and in boisterous session passed (295-10-125) the bill, 231 Democrats deserting the Administration. All of which made no difference to the President since the bill could not. he was confident, be passed over his veto, must therefore die on the chessboard when Congress adjourned.

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