Evening star., 1933-10-11

One of the numerous contingent Of
former Republican White House secre-
taries who still adorn the Washington
scene buttonholed this observer the
other day and wisecracked: "Well, how
many billions did the President give
away today?" The inquiry had all the
earmarks Of dirty partisan crack,
which it was. Yet it conjured up an
amazing phase of the present situation
general nonchalance among the pop
ulace as to where the money Is coming
from to finance the vast and ever
widening plans of the emergency and
recovery programs. Already. roughly,
they're estimated to call for more than
| 10 billion dollars, and. just as roughly,
people understand that somehow
sooner or later-the taxpayers will have
to foot the bill But there is little or
no evidence of public anxiety on that
score. The subject is hardly mentioned
in the average discussion of the new
deal. It seems to be graphic indication
of the country's unquestioning conf
dence in President Roosevelt. Doubt Is
beginning to find expression as to
whether tax revenue from legalized
liquor Is going to help out to the ex-
tent anticipated. If taxes are too high.
it's feared the bootlegger may find
opportunities to get rich almost as lu-
crative as those he enjoyed under pro-
hibition. with corresponding loss to the
Treasury.
Henry Bruere, president of the Bowery
Savings Bank of New York, President
Roosevelt's credit-expansion liaison OFF,
Ger (the White House doesn't want him
called credit "czar" or "dictator") Is a
Missourian, who reversed the usual pro-
cedure and showed the world. Aged 81.
he has the distinction of being one OF
the few bankers who have kept both a
waistline and sense of humor through
a period admittedly difficult for the pro-
fession. His interests are distinctly
, humanitarian After apprentice work at
five leading universities he plunged into
social welfare work, later making studies
of working -class conditions for the
International Harvester Co. Mr.. Bruere
spent several years In administrative
reorganization work for New York City,
studied municipal conditions in Ger
many. In 19l7-1918 he was financial
adviser to Mexico, and until elected
president of the Bowery Savings Bank
was vice president Of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co. Bruere knows people
and what motivates them uncommonly
we'll. which perhaps accounts Tor his
ability to stimulate and arouse an audi
ence through the most impromptu
speech. He detests the word boss"
which may or may not be significant.
Fondness for early American furniture
is one of his hobbies. His Bowery Bank
office looks as much like the colonial
living room in his own home as good
taste could make it. Mr.. Bruere has
written three books.
DR.. Alexander Sachs, has resigned as
chief economic adviser to N. r. A.,
though Is still on the job. He planned
all along to return to his regular work
as director Of research for the Lehman
Corporation, investment trust subsidiary
Of the Lehman Brothers banking house
in New York, whence Gen. johnson
drafted him. DR.. Sachs has been one
of the real factors in N. r. A. Not
the least of his achievements was his
success in bringing into the organiza.
ton key men of high caliber from all
over the country, representing basic
branches of business. When the time
comes to write Blue Eagle history
Sachs name will. have "red-letter"
prominence in 1t.
Strikes may be q sign that recovery
is really here At least, the brain
trusters are saying that such labor up
heavals as are now rampant always
accompany the end of depressions and
the revival of prosperity. They'll tell
you that every slump in contemporary
American history was followed by ex-
ectly the same sort Of industrial unrest,
and that in each case strikes on an
extensive scale we're the forerunners Of
better and stable times.
While Herbert Hoover was IN Chicago
Last month there Xas a dinner Marty in