The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-24
(lo1lIIi'i99q6fljij Sig
National Topics Interpreted "a fFYR1FFYf8
by William Bruckart ASp<T41F
by William Bruckart

not SO fearful Of the law as they
would be If it were enacted as a per-
manent policy. Their only concern
now is, and they seem justified in it,
over the question whether the emer-
gency provisions will be withdrawn at
the proper time. The law provides
that its emergency sections may be
withdrawn by Presidential proclama-
ton, which would be an action restor-
ing the former currency basis. If the
currency issued under its provisions is
taken out of circulation slowly there
ought not to be any bad effects, accord
ing to the experts on money questions
President Roosevelt is going for
ward in carrying out his promises to
reorganize the gov
Carries Out eminent as though
His Promises he intended to &C.
complish something.
Heads are falling everywhere; new
faces are appearing with a suddenness
that is quite unusual even after
change in administration, and plans
are being formulated that are an
nounced as definitely In the direction
of money saving in the cost Of govern
ment.
1t must be stated, however, that the
appointments thus far, for the most
part, have been generally recognized
as 'plums." They are the higher-ups.
Some animosity is being aroused, and
it is possible that it will spread to con-
gress where politicians want, and are
counting upon, their share of the pie.
Riffs may result. At any rate, the
President has moved boldly on his ap-
pointments, thus far, just as he moved
with holiness in dealing with the bank
ing crisis.
Attention should be called, in pass
ing, however, that in the banking
crisis, Secretary Woodin relied to an
amazing extent upon the advice and
cooperation of the men who had pre-
coded him in charge of the treasury.
Ogden L. Mills, former secretary, has
participated in all of the many confer
ences: Arthur A. Ballantine, former I'M
der secretary. has been at Mr.. Woodin's
elbow throughout the crisis, and John
Douglas, the fiscal assistant secretary,
has been on the job night and day.
Respecting this sharing of the labor,
there is gossip around Washington that
Mr.. Mills and his associates had
worked out the program for closing the
banks and for their reopening on
new basis, just as has been done. but
that President Roosevelt, while still
President-elect, declined to sanction
the plan. None knows, of course,
whether this is true. It can be dis
missed. therefore, as being among the
things that are most interesting, If true.
The new administration, apparently,
is going to have nothing to do with crop
price sterilization.
No Crop Price Henry -Morgenthau,
Sterilization Jr.. who is the new
chairman of the Fed
eral Farm board, is dead set against 1t.
He wants to get the government out
of the field as quickly as he can. And
with the power he is understood to
have from the hands Of the President,
there remains little chance that ME-
Morgenthau contemplates INDUCING In
any operations such as the previous
Farm board employed to keep prices
up.
It might be said in connection with
Mr.. Morgenthau's appointment, that
eventually he will blossom out as the
agricultural spokesman for the Presl-
dent. He may even overshadow the
secretary of agriculture, Henry A. Wal
lace. That, of course, is guess, but
President Roosevelt wants to amalga-
mate all of the various agencies having
to do with farm credit and make them
function as one unit. Supervision OF
this work is slated to be placed in Mr..
Morgenthau's hands, and it takes no
stretch of the imagination to foresee
the trend of events.
There ought to be some benefits OBJ
tainable by the merger which Presi-
dent Roosevelt has planned. One good
result is readily discernible: under the
plan, the farmer having dealings with
the government over federal farm
loan. a loan to cooperative, seed or
feed loans or any of the other numer-
Gus types of business concerning cred
it, would be able to go to one regional
office and take care of one proposition
or several, if need be. 1t would have
the effect of concentrating that phase
of the farmers relationship with the
government.
Of course, one of the reasons why
the Encouragement was planned, 1t was
stated. is to effect savings of govern
ment money. The President thinks
such an organization will not be so
expensive to operate. But 1t remains
to be seen whether this will be true.
The experienced observers in wash
ington take the position that it is easy
to see where savings can be made In
eliminating useless or surplus agencies
of the government. Yet, 1t is not SO
easy to attain those savings. Payrolls
in government offices, once established,
A.