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Show Economic Highlights Every President, according to Aiiierioan political tradition, is givtn a "coiiiiressional honeymoon' that is, lor a certain period of time, loi.g or sh-rt as Vne case may te, nis suggestions and re-qutscs re-qutscs of Congress are received witn almost unanimous appeal and are enacted into law. He is faced by no major detections from his tarty ranks, and his fkor leaders need give but little effort to keeping keep-ing "tne boys in line." m our recent history, the shortest short-est honeyrrjoon was that of President Pres-ident Hoover, who had to deal with a hostde Congress within two years aiter his election a circumstance that had much to do with his crushing defeat when he ran for reelection. Longest honeymoon has been that of President Roosevelt. For four years, every major policy he advocated was approved with a minimum of debate. He received a j set-backs from Congress. In such matters as disbursement cf government money, he was given almost a free hand. He had bills written by his advisors, sent them to Congress ar.d saw them made into law within a few days. Never was the authority cf the Executive sj badened. Tj say that this honeymoon is now ever is simpiy to state an obvious ob-vious fact, apparent to both the friends and opponents of the New Deal. Cause of the split was the Oou'i't. LM1. Ultimate effects of the split are today the subject for guessing, forecasting and editorializing; editorial-izing; by everyone in the country wno takes an interest in politics. The death of Senator Robinson who, through his great pers.nal popularity, ability and mastery of the complicated parliamentary technique, was able to keep the Senate running like a well-oiled Administrative machine for four years was a serious blow ta the President. But the seeds of discontent dis-content have been brewing for a Ung time. Even had Mr. Robinson secured the passage of the Court bill, which is extremely doubtful, the breach between C-ngress and the White House would inevitably have widened. Faced with no effective ef-fective Republican opposition, the overwhelming Democratic majority has been gradually breaking into a number of opposed, restive factions. fac-tions. The upshot of this, as the Washington Wash-ington columnists have' been writing, writ-ing, is clear. The Court Bill perhaps the most important piece of legislation pr. posed by the Administration Ad-ministration is definitely dead. There will be no increase in 'Supreme 'Su-preme Court membership, no proctor, proc-tor, and no increase in the membership mem-bership of the lower Federal courts unless a definite need f.r judges is shown. It is probable that a bill will be offered whereby the progress cf cases involving Constitutional Con-stitutional questions from District Courts t; the Supreme Court, will be expedited, and the Attorney General will be empowered to appear ap-pear in lower court cases when the constituionality of a Feders.? law' is questioned. These minor reforms have long been advocated by conservatives and liberals alike, and will not stir opposition. Furthermore, the other "must" bills on the Administration's five-point five-point legislative program fr this session are definitely in danger the chances, say the experts, are against them passing. These bills would fix minimum wages and'1 maximum hours for industry in inter-state commerce; reorganize the government departments and bureaus; provide for low!-cost housing; hous-ing; plug up loopholes in the tax laws, and set up a new farmi plan, based on the "ever normal granary." gran-ary." Potent remark came recently frcm Representative Woodrum, a strong White House adherent, who said that ii tii2 Ad'riinistration insisted in-sisted ci: P 'orirr; a:r ambitious legislative leg-islative program! such as this, "Congress will still be here when the frcst is cn the pumpkin." The revolt, in brief, has reached a highly advanced stage. The effects of this on the country coun-try are gradually becoming clear. First, the chances are strongly against any additional "experimental "experi-mental legislation" on a wide scale. Secor.d, the possibility cf a split in Democratic ranks, that will result re-sult in a new party, with the conservative Southern Democrats joining with the Republicans, becomes be-comes constantly greater. Third, the President's power and hold over Congress is waning. Fourth, as recent surveys, such as that made by Fortune, indicate, the New Deal is slipping in public esteem, es-teem, even though Mr. Roosevelt, as a personality, still commands the admiration of millions cf voters. vot-ers. This is all true, whether Congress Con-gress adjourns tomorrow cr next year. The attitude of the Preside.- t. apparently, is that he will continue to insist on approval of his plans and will oppose, indirectly, indirect-ly, the rencmination of Democrats who are against him. such as Van Nuys and Wheeler. Not since the war has the political situation been so chaotic and so full of dynamite. The air conditioning industry is going ahead fast. According to Business Week, sales for the first five months of this year doubled the same period in 1236. Pents are now at the highest level since 1930 a fact which is partly responsible for the increase in heme building. Retail trade has ben excellent during the summer, and well above last year. |