THE NEW CONGRESS MEETS

In the atmosphere of an approaching Presidential election, when every opportunity will be seized for manufacturing campaign material and when everyone except a few embarrassingly outspoken men will be trying to avoid the truly decisive issues, the Seventieth Congress is being called to order. Its debates, and legislation, which in spite of all this must deal with important problems, will be the products of what amounts to three-party politicts at work in a system designed for two parties.

The Republicans still maintain a clear majority in the House, but they have been reduced to a margin of one in the Senate, where the fighting will take place. This margin, however, is fictional, for the six insurgents Senators from the Northwest will only vote with the party when it suits their particular interests. In addition to this, Smith and Vare are to be denied their seats for some months pending investigation of charges of corrupt practices, in spite of the fact that the alleged illegalities took place in the primaries and that with these charges known they have been elected by the people of their states.

Under the best of circumstances, if they can capture the lone Farm-Laborite and hold the "radicals" in line, the Republicans will be able to do no more than tie them opponents and to pass any legislation they must count upon the Vice-President, who as a possible Presidential candidate will be reluctant to commit himself on any important issue.

The real power is therefore in the hands of the radical farm bloc, who will be in a position to force through drastic legislation, such as farm relief and the curtailment of judicial favor to issue injunctions in labor disputes.

But the Democrats who will have a majority most of the time are looking forward to 1928. The role of the Opposition is to oppose and they will not be willing to accept responsibility for clear-cut legislation. So the new Congress promises to be more interesting than fruitful.