ROOSEVELT'S PRESTIGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 10

ROOSEVELT'S PRESTIGE

The authority and leadership of President Roosevelt is being challenged in the most direct way by Congress on the veterans' bonus issue. Whether the Senate will defy him as the House of Representatives has just done remains to be seen, but the action of the House in overriding his veto in face of his personal appeal—an action almost unprecedented indicates the rapid decline of the President's prestige in recent months. In the elections last November the Roosevelt policies were upheld by overwhelming majorities. Mr. Roosevelt started the new year with the country and the Legislature solidly behind him. Ifc seemed he had only to direct and Congress would implement his will. But it has gradually become apparent'that he is no longer so sure of himself or of the efficacy of the New Deal. He has lost decision and drive. Instead of controlling Congress and harnessing it to his chariot, as previously with less favourable majorities he had been able to do, he left Congress to its own devices and now it has taken its head. It has been strengthened in its assertion of independence by the increasing doubts throughout the country as to the wisdom of the new policies and the accumulating evidence of their failure in many directions. As the Americans put it, Congress first tasted blood in its rejection of the President's recommendation of adherence to the World Court. Next it proceeded to select and 1 pass against the opposition of White House the Patman veterans' bonus bill. Now the House of Representatives has overridden the President's veto, as it did a year ago, but not on that occasion after the President's personal appearance in Congress. The bill itself is a thoroughly irresponsible measure and fully deserves Mr. Roosevelt's veto. It proposes that the bonus due to war veterans in 1945 should be met at once by the payment of 2,200,000,000 dollars, the sum to be found by the issue of new currency—United States notes. In spite of a provision in the bill permitting the Government to contract other currency media to "prevent undue expansion" or a rise in prices above the 1921-29 level, the risk of dangerous inflation is undeniable and the President's opposition is more than justified. It is to be hoped enough Senators recall their responsibility to prevent such a measure becoming law.