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The Senate. In the old Senate, 29 Democrats had to revolt before the Administration's control was broken. Now it would take only 22 Democrats, fewer than revolted more than once last session. Beyond this arithmetic, election psychology was seen reaching far into Senators' hearts. The Purge failed. The people voted against a rubber-stamp Congress. All but the most sycophantic Senators were seen boldly voting their convictions. In the Senate even more than in the House, observers anticipated Congress becoming the Legislative Branch once more instead of an echo of the Executive.
The New Deal's hope was that, with their party's power threatened, all Democrats wrould feel more like pulling together.
Legislation. Whether or not actual coalitions of Republicans and conservative Democrats are formed, the 76th Congress looked by every outward sign certain to defeat as follows: 1) Reorganization of the Government, 2) Regional Planning, 3) Any other major Roosevelt reforms.
Conversely, no repeal of any New Deal measures appeared likely because 1) the elections reflected no criticism of New Deal objectives; 2) President Roosevelt still has veto powers.
Sure to be agitated and perhaps passed are: 1) Amendment of the Corrupt Practices Act (governing elections to Congress) ; 2) Investigation of WPA and PWA for political pressuring, with special attention to WPA's Harry Hopkins and Aubrey Williams; 3) Revision of NLRA, with new-consideration for employers; 4) Extension of Social Security, to head off the demands of old age pension lobbyists;* 5) Revision of crop control and subsidies.
Likely to result from the new line-up in Congress: 1) A tax bill less onerous than would have been expected (if a new one is now written) ; 2) Railroad legislation more helpful to owners than the last Congress would have passed; 3) Withdrawal of the President's discretionary powers over moneys voted, especially for Relief and Recovery; 4) Some gesture toward economy and Budget-balancing.
New Faces. Should the President call the 75th Congress into special session before January 3, when the 76th comes into being, three new faces would appear in the Senate: Miss Gladys Pyle of South Dakota, Alex G. Barry of Oregon. Thomas M. Storke of California. The first two were elected to fill vacancies which expire within the year. California's Storke, a publisher from Santa Barbara, was appointed last week by Republican Governor Merriam to replace outgoing old Senator McAdoo who resigned to start running the Round-the-World Steamship Line for the Maritime Commission. Senator-Designate Storke, an archconservative, was Governor Merriam's parting insult to the "radical" Democrats who ran him out of office.
In the Senate after January 3. one smiling new Republican face will be that of John Danaher of Connecticut, Yale 1920, a patient, industrious young (39) party wheelhorse whose Labor background (his father was counsel for the Connecticut A. F. of L.) stood him in good stead this year.