Evening star., 1933-12-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

On the first day Congress Is In ses-
sion there1l be introduced In both
houses the American Legion's so-called
four-point bill. asking for amendment
of the 1888 economy act. 1t is de-
signed to restore to direct service-con-
nected veterans, including those prop
erly service connected by presumption,
the same amount in cash they were
getting before the economy law. The
Legion also asks that disqualification be
provided for all veterans, as under the
old law, except for those who can af-
ford to pay for it. Finally, the bill
seeks Federal care of World War
widows and orphans, on the same plane
as other war widows and orphans. Col.
John Thomas Taylor, the Legions leg
islative ace, is urging department COM
manders and other organization off,
cials to do their utmost to prevent q
food of veterans bills, asking for every
thing under the sun, in order that Con-
gress can concentrate on the four-point
program and the Legion be preserved
from the activities of its overzealous
friends. including some Representatives
and Senator'S. There Is to be no de-
mand for payment Of the bonus bal
ance or any suggestion that the econ
omy act be repealed. The Legion
terms its program sane, sensible and
constructive"
has been restored between Acting Sec
retary Of the Treasury Morgenthau
and the press. The feud which set in
with news censorship" month ago is
a thing Of the past, judged by the
bonhomie that now prevails when Mr.
Morgenthau and the correspondents
foregather at his desk twice a week.
The Acting Secretary himself seems to
feei much more comfortable in the
presence of the scribeS than at first.
Formerly he used to pace the floor of
his office while they put him on the
spot, but now he receives them seated,
and appears to enjoy the contact, even
when it's marked, as it generally is, by
leading questions popped suddenly. The
Acting Secretary is at pains to spill all
the beans he can. Once In 8 while, II
the facts aren't at his tongues tip, he
summons a subordinate familiar with
the subject to help him out.
4 **&
One of the belated secrets about Mr..
Litvinof's recent visit to Washington
has just leaked out. During his trans
atlantic telephone conversation with
Mrs. Litvinoff In Russia he asked: "How
are you getting on with your English?"
The question seemed strange. as Mrs.
Ltvinoff is born Englishwoman. What
the commisSar was referring to Is the
so-called "basic English" now the rage
in Moscow. A Cambridge University
man has introduced the system Of
teaching the language OF Shakespeare
and Milton by the monoSyllabic method.
Mrs. Litvinof is taking lively personal
interest in propagating basic English"
among the Russian masses. The two
young Litvinoffs having taken it up this
Winter, it was about the progress they're
making that their distinguished daddy
asked their mother.
n X \ Il
Former Senator Jim Watson threads
in and out of Washington these days,
but on private legal business, not poll
tics, his friends say. In some quarters
the Hoosier war horse Is still credited
with q gnawing desire to succeed his
fellow Indianian, Everett Sanders, as
Committee and to break back into the
political game by that route. Some
say, too, that Sunny Jim" is yearning
to erupt again along the lines Of his
Chicago speech last Fall, when he urged
| the Republican party to end its truce
with the Roosevelt administration and
| tear the hide off the new deal without
| further ado. If Watson has been ten
dering that advice to Senate and House
Republican leaders, it's evidently gone
unheeded, because the present program
Is to throw no monkey wrenches into
| the recovery machinery. Republicans
will remain militant, vigflant and criti-