Evening star., 1933-02-06
The Political Mill
By C. Could L;ncoln.

woman In MS caDlOet! 1ue only place
so far with which q woman's name
has been widely mentioned In the office
of Secretary Of Labor. Miss Frances
Perkins Of New York. who has been for
several years commissioner OF the New
York State Industrial Commission, 1t
has been claimed would be the selec-
ton of Mr.. Roosevelt for this place, the
first woman to break into the charmed
circles of the cabinet as an actual cabi-
net officer. Mr.. Roosevelt has been re-
ported as definitely and firmly positive
that he would give the women Of the
country this recognition. Furthermore.
he is reported as believing that Miss
Perkins can fill the place of Secretary
of Labor acceptably and with ability.
Organized labor In this country, how
ever, has not taken kindly to the pro-
posal to place a woman at the head
of the Department of Labor. Some OF
their leaders have protested vigorously
to Mr.. Roosevelt. Democratic Senators
have told Mr.. Roosevelt that he would
make q mistake If he named even a
woman Of Miss Perkins attainments to
head the Department Of Labor and
thereby established precedent that
might give that post in the future to
women. Nothing, they have said, could
make the labor leaders sorer at a time
when the new administration may need
the real support of labor. With condi-
tions in this country as they are, un-
employment great and wages declining
the Federal Department Of Labor and
its head may have to play an extremely
important part in the next year or two
Those who are opposing woman fol
the job of Secretary of Labor say that
it is no time now to make experiments
to determine how effective woman
may be in the cabinet or to make the
leaders of organized labor angry.
***
At least two men have been strongly
urged upon MIR. Roosevelt for appoint
ment as head of the Labor Depart
ment. One of them is Daniel ]. Tobin
president of the Teamsters and Chauf-
feurs' Union, an American Federation OF
Labor candidate for the place, and the
ether is Edward Keating, publisher OF
Labor, the official organ OF the railroad
brotherhoods. Now 1t Is reported that
Mr.. Roosevelt may tender the post te
William Green, president Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. Whether this
has been done, or whether Mr.. Green
would accept, has not been disclosed
Mr.. Green at the time of Mr.. Roose-
velt's last visit to Washington called
upon the Presddent-elect and declared
that the American Federation Of Labor
has but one candidate" Mr.. Tobin
Mr.. Tobin, however, has not been con-
sidered particularly fitted for the post
by number of the Roosevelt advisers.
Supporters of Mr.. Keating say that
he is eminently fitted for the Office
of Secretary of Labor, and that If he
were appointed and the President-elect
should appoint as Assistant Secretary
of Labor an outstanding American Fed
Grafton Of Labor man, he would bring
about harmonious adjustment Of the
wrangle which has arisen over filling
this post. If Miss Perkins gets the
mination of Mr.. Roosevelt himself tc
give this office to a woman, to have
a woman in the cabinet. Miss Perkins
is q native of Boston and has devoted
her life to the study Of sociology ano
labor problems. She married Paul VIII
son and has one daughter.
X
Members of the House of Representa-
tives on Saturday made it clear that
they do not intend to reduce their
own salaries-$9, 900 per annum. There
may be wide difference Of opinion
regarding what the size of the salary
of members of the Senate and House
should be, but 1t is difficult to see
how members Of Congress can demand
a further reduction of the salaries OF
the Government employes-which are
so much smaller than their own that
it is no joke-without at least agreeing
to a cut in their own pay. If the cost
of living has gone down, and If it is
economic, then the argument which
of the Federal Government applies with
gress. In Great Britain there are two
houses of Parliament, the House OF
Lords and the House of Commons. The
members of the Upper House of the
British Parliament receive no salary
The members of the House of Com
mons are paid at the rate of 400 pounds
a year, plus their travelling expenses
This used to amount in salary to about
$4,000 a year, but since the British
pound has appreciated in value the
salaries have deprecated, too.
Those who oppose the reduction of
salaries Of members Of the House and
Senate in this country insist that 1t
would be to make rich mans club
Of the Congress. Well, in the British
House of Commons there are plenty
of members of moderate means, and
the Labor party has had a very con-
siderable percentage Of the member
ship; indeed, for time the Labor
party dominated the government. 1t
is true that members of the British
House of Commons may not be so con-
tinuously in session in London as the
Congress Is in Washington. But II the
opinion was taken generally it might
be found that the people of this coun-
try would welcome shorter sessions of
the National Legislature. The maxi
mum duration Of Parliament in Great
Britain is five years. Congress in the
United States Is elected every two years
that is, the entire membership Of the
House and one-third of the Senate
membership. In Great Britain, If the
party in power falls, then q new election
is held for the House of Commons
without delay.
X II
The House finally passed the inde-
pendent Offices appropriation bill with
cut in the item for the Federal Trade
Commission SO wide as to make that
organization almost ineffective II the
cut Is not remedied in the Senate. The
enemies Of the Trade Commission-and
they are considerable in number-suc-
ceeded in reversing the action of the
committee of the whole in the House,
which voted to restore to the bill $301,-
600 Of the $599, 800 by Which the Ap-
preparations Committee reduced the
budget estimates for the commission.
They won out by a mere handful of
votes, however, and a change Of nine
votes would have given the victory to
the friends Of the commission. While
a great many of the Republican MEM
bers Of the House voted against the
commission, there were lot of Demo-
Gratis who took shot at the agency,