Evening star., 1933-05-22

Congressional okay Of the Roosevelt
industrial recovery-pubtc works BILL
the last and largest item on the ad-
ministration's program for the present
special session. looks to be just around
the corner. The bill Is scheduled to slide
through the House this week in rapid
order under a special rule limiting de-
bate and precluding amendment. In
the Senate action will be expedited by
the promise and threat of winding up
the session as soon as this bill Is dis
posed Of. The President has asked and
received promises from his lieutenants
in both branches that Congress adjourn
by June 10 at the latest. Mr. Roose-
velt had to cancel his trip to Chicago
this week to open the Century Of
Progress Exposition. but he does not
want to cancel his vacation yachting
trip along the Maine coast in late June.
More than that, he wants the con-
greSsional session behind by the time
the London Economic Conference gets
under way June II. 1t Is asking good
deal Of the Senate to require 1t to come
to a final vote ON the Glass banking
bill. ON the railroad bill and on the in
dustrial recovery public works bill all
in the space Of 18 legislative days. Such
performance would seem to b, a
veritable miracle. But since March 4
the country has seen many miracles.
Congress and the country appear. for
the most part. TO be willing to take
both the Roosevelt control Of industry
proposals and the public works pro-
poSals pretty much OH faith; to give to
the President blanket authority over
capital and labor, and to give to him
virtually blank check SO far as public
works Gre concerned. Big business IS
disposed to take the counsel of those
of it's leaders who are urging that 1t
would be Q tactical mistake to oppose
the bill and that business should go
along with the President, put their fate
in his hands, and cooperate with him
and pray for the best The only real
fight now in sight is on the taxation
aspect of the bill. and that fight will
be staged in the Senate with strong
drive there for temporary" general
manufacturers excise tax in substitu--
tion for the tax expedients preferred
by the House.
4
1t was not so many weeks ago that
it was being freely whispered about the
Capital that Bernard M. Baruch. for
decade pemocracys rich and generous
financial angel. was on the outside look
ing in rather than OH the inside look
ing out so far as the Roosevelt family
circle is concerned. How baseless such
whispers were has been amply shown
by recent events. The Wall Street
finaneier and philanthr0pist Is revealed
as high in the Presidents favor ana
as one Of his most valued advisers. For
the moment Mr.. Baruch appears to
out-top any OF the all-Star aggregation
Of college professors and smart young
lawyers who have been popularity re-
ferred to as the Roosevelt brain trust.
Though the President declines to con-
firm published reports that he has al
ready picked Brig. Gen. Hugh S. john
son, soldier. lawyer and manufactures,
to administer the almost unlimited pow
ers over industry conferred upon the
Government by the pending industrial
regulation bill. nevertheless, the BELIEF
Is persistent that Gen. Johnson will ulti-
mately turn up in this position. Gen.
johnson, who had large hand IN
drafting the bill, has a suite OF Gov
ernment Offices at his disposal and has
leased house here for immediate
occupancy He is q close friend and
associate of Mr Baruch and has baen
acting as q liaison officer between
Baruch and Mr.. Roosevelt. George n.
Peek appointed to administer the farm
relief bill, Is another Baruch protege.
One president Of Antioch College, Of
Yellow Springs. Ohio. attained national
fame in national affairs, He Is Senator
Simeon D. Fess Of the Republican Old
Guard, and champion of the Anti
Saloon League and one-time chairman
Of the Republican National Committee
| Another president of Antioch College
stepped to the center of the national
stage last week when the President an
poupced the appointment Of Dr. Arthur
E. Morgan as chairman Of the Tennes-
see River Valley Commission. which Is
to operate Muscle Shoals and to create
an Industrial empire in the Tennessee
| River Valley. D.. Morgan Is credited
with planning and directing about rs
conservation and food control works,
including the Miami River project near
| Dayton, Ohio, and the Pueblo, Colo
project He = veil acquainted with