Evening star., 1932-02-04
POWER SEEN
| IN ADMINISTRATION
New Treasury Chief Praised
by Democrats as Well
as Own Party.

Back Of the appointment OF Andrew
w Mellon to be Ambassador to Great
Britain Is the story Of the remarkable
position won by Ogden L. Mills, who
becomes the new Secretary Of the
Treasury.
Mr.. Mills was one of the earliest
Hoover men in the last campaign He
accepted with good grace the fact that
his superior did not Irtire with the end
of the Coolidge administration but
STAYED on at the head of the Treasury
Then he proceeded to work just as hard
as If he had full power in the Treasury
And Mr.. Mellon gave his Undersecretary
such full sway that In the last few
months it has been commented upon
on Capitol Hill that the biggest man
and the most active behind the whole
Hoover administration was Ogden Mills.
Mr.. Melons age and quiet manner
worked against his assuming a fight'ng
position in the battle between Mr.
Hoover and Congress. But Ogden Mills
reliShed IT, He was once on the Ways
and Means Committee himself. Out
spoken, frank and persuasive, the Un-
dersecretary has spent many hours at
the Capitol and has won friends among
the Democratic members.
Praised by Democrat
A Democratic Senator, who must be
unnamed, said recently that he be-
lieved Mr.. Mills one of the most capable
officers the Government had had in
many years and that his knowledge OF
the Treasury and fiscal problems was
amazing in its detail and scope.
Most Of the newspaper men OF
Washington formed favorable impress
sion of Mr.. Mills during the mora
torium negotiations last Summer, He
took them into his confidence and dis
cuSsed the most delicate phases Of the
problem with an ease and vet with a
clarity which few had observed since
the days when Charles Evans Hughes
unfolded intricate problems OF diplo-
macy in the Department Of States re-
lations with the press.
Mr. Mellon has looked forward to re-
tirement from the Treasury but not
until Mr.. Mills captured the situation
and revealed his grasp Of the fiscal
problems OF the Government did Mr.
was alwave outstanding Mr Mel
Ions own preference. a feeling on the
part Of bankers and business men that
the aged Secretary was a bulwark OF
confidence and that his resignation
would be viewed as sign Of weakness
in the Hoover administration.
Informed on Situation.
Now. however, Mr. Mellon goes to
another field OF service at time when
international finance and the settle
ment of European problems have a di-
rect bearing on Americas s eConomiS
future. Mr. Mellon was abroad dur
ing the moratorium negotiations last
Summer and relished the contact with
Europe's statesmen. Prior to this, be
had considerable experience with for
eign ENJOYS in the days OF the World
War Debt Funding Commission. Mr..
Mellon is amply able to care for the
social side of the London portfolio,
which always requires a man Of con-
siderable means Recently, too. when
Henry Fletcher was being mentioned
for the post, it was suggested that Penn
Svlvania had not had the ambassador
ship to Great Britain in many years.
Mr MELONS business experience will
enable him to cope with the economic
questions which are so dominant in
foreign diplomacy today He will be
buttressed by an able staff in the en-
baSsy and who can take care Of the
diplomatic detail and guide him in the
amenities.
With all due respect to the men who
have won their way upward in the
diplomatic service. the fact remains
that successful American business mer
do make Ambassadors. whether it is
Republican or Democratic admins
tration that sends them abroad
Banking knowledge Needed.
Charles G. Dawes, who has just re-
tired as Ambassador to Great Britain
is banker, and his knowledge Of the
reparations problems has been espe-
CiaIly helpful to the American Govern
ment. This type Of question is one
which the experienced business mar
can tackle with relative ease.
Mr. Mellon will be at home in Lon
don; Mr.. Mills will be at ease in the
Treasury. The exchange ridS the ad-
ministration Of some thornS in Con-
gress and at the same time puts at the
helm Of the Treasury some one that
Congress rather likes. The Hoover ad-
ministration will benefit by the trans
fer on Capitol Hill and in Europe.