San Bernardino Sun, 11 February 1933
DICTATORSHIP
PLAN TO MEET
G.O.P. ATTACK
Garner Scheme Giving Boundless
Authority to President Hit
By Republican Leaders
HOOVER’S HELP SOLICITED
Minority Party Sees Threats to
Government if Executive
Can Set Aside Laws
BY CECIL B. DICKSON
(Associated Press Writer)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 – A compromise on the extent of power Congress will give President-elect Roosevelt to reorganize the Government appeared certain tonight after opposition to according him almost autocratic authority had been expressed in a spirited debate by both House Democrats and Republicans.
Speaker Garner’s proposal to “go the limit” in turning over to Mr. Roosevelt all the power possible within the constitution also appeared destined for stiff Republican opposition in the Senate.
Several Bourbons
Attack Proposals
Bitter partisan debate in which several Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the Garner proposal threw its advocates back momentarily in the House, until the Democratic leaders forced the treasury-post office department supply bill to conference, for the elimination of House and Senate differences.
It is to this measure, which already contains Senate amendments to empower the incoming President to carry out broad readjustment of the Government, that efforts will be made to attach the Garner proposal.
Hoover Influence
Claimed By Snell
Meanwhile, Republican congressional leaders intimated after conferences at the White House that President Hoover did not approve giving the extension of authority advocated by Democratic House leaders to his successor.
Representatives Snell of New York, minority House leader, and Wood, of Indiana, ranking Republican on the appropriations committee, talked with Mr. Hoover and said they voiced to him their opposition to the Garner proposition. “I stated my opposition and so did Snell,” Wood said, “and I think he (the President) is in agreement.”
In announcing his position, Speaker Garner said: “I want to give the President unlimited power to reduce the cost of Government. Practical experience hag shown that Congress is not going to do it. Unless we let the President have the power we cannot redeem the Democratic platform pledge for a 25 per cent cut in Government costs.” The limit, he added, “is the constitution.”