ON THE WANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 48, 26 February 1935, Page 7

ON THE WANE.

Weakening of Mr. Roosevelt's Predominance. TURBULENT CONGRESS. LONDON, February 25. The President of the United States, Mr. Roosevelt, to-day does not fill the public eye with the same com>pleteness as a year ago, says the Washington correspondent of "The Times." Mr. Koosevclt still retains strength derived from his own qualities, reinforced by the fact that no great public: figure is opposing him, but he has not last ye'ar's all-sufficing predominance. The new Congress is. turbulent and undecided. The Senate, in spite of the open threat of a veto, and supported by a majority of single-vote Labour federations, claims payment at prevailing rates of wages for relief works instead of the "smaller security wage." Supporters of the original bill declare that such rates will restrict the numbers benefiting by the proposed expenditure of £800,000,000. Furthermore, Mr. Roosevelt is determined that the Federal Government "must and shall quit this relief business." The bill is destined to taper off direct aid and absorb the unemployed in public works, at rates sufficiently high for decent subsistence, but marginally low enough compared with current rates to prevent competing with and delaying the revival of private employment. The action of the Senate may or may not produce a crisis, but certainly it will produce confusion. If Mr. Roosevelt takes his troubles to the country l>y means of the radio he may find the answer to be not that instant, unanimous applause to which formerly ho has been accustomed.