, 1934-12-04
WASHINGTON
By George DurnO

Works Administrator Icks shall 60
ahead with slum clearance and sub
sistence demonstrating for the needy
while Federal Housing Administra-
tor Moffett proceeds with his drive
70 start the financially-able public
fails 10 satisfy important groups
building.
But even this Solomon-like ruling
identified with real estate. They
can't argue that Ickes will be TAX
ing any potential customers away
from Moffett but they still have a
grievance.
Stun rentals constitute the back
bone Of many mortgage structures.
Some sections Of New York's East
Side for instance are far more prof
liable to the property owners than
many OF the better residential sec
tons. Every time PWA condemns
land and erects thereon a model
tenement II will be taking juicy rem
tails out Of a fat landlords pockets
and at times turning into profitable
cash the holdings Of far-sighted
friends Of the Party.
The screams OF those who want
to continue collecting their blood
money will fall on deaf ears 81 far
as IckS Is concerned. He already
has SIS, 000, 900 invested IN slum
clearance and plans to increase the
ante plenty above that. Before
he's through he hopes TO have glori-
fled tenements operating In about
Is cities.
Wherever Uncle Sam becomes q
landlord only 80 per cent OF the
area acquired will be covered by
buildings. The remaining 10 per
cent will be turned into park and
playground. Two, three, and four
story, completely modern apartment
structures are contemplated with
rental az about So O room.
Progress to date has been slow be-
( cause OF the time required for con-
demnation proceedings. After a
site has been selected Il takes 100
days or better to acquire title.
Leaders "A politician who backs
his Judgment with cash and seldom
loses is offering so TO 40 that Rep.
Sam Rayburn OF Texas viii be next
Speaker Of the House. He is back
ing his choice against the field but
getting surprisingly few takers.
The field actually narrows down
to Rep. Joe Byrns Of Tennessee. Al
though precedent dictates that last
sessions majority floor leader should
inherit the S~peakership, many Of the
railbirds are convinced his candi-
dacy Is fading as January approach
eS.
Vice President Garner will be In
town any day now. He is a close
friend Of Rayburn's. Cactus Jack
will deny taking any part in the
House contest but there will be
skeptics who will think he Is yarn
ing a little.
1t Is III the cards that Garner
has been commissioned to sell Byrns
the idea Of leaving Congress alto
gether and becoming Director OF
the Budget. Such a Job will tax the
v. P'S political skill II the situa-
ton Is TO be cleaned up with no
dangerous hard feelings.
On the other hand, If Byrns could
be shown in black and white he
| couldn't be elected Speaker. that
Budget job might suddenly become
attractive. If he makes a run for II
and gets beaten his status in the
House will revert 10 that Of a newly
elected Congressman. When he be-
came Floor Leader he automatical-
~ gave up his committee assign
ments and seniority and he would
have to start all over again at the
bottom OF the heap.
Rep. John Mccormack OF Mass
achusetts is gaining strength stead
ily as a candidate for the Majority
Leadership. His election would
answer the insistence OF northern
and western congressman that all
Of the leadership shall not 60 TO the
south.
During the ~off-season Mccormack
has been active as chairman OF the
UnAmerican Activities Committee
which has been holding hearings in
key cities all over the country.
Back on Nov. 20 this column
tipped you the Rayburn-Mc Cormack
ticket was a good bet. It's a better
one today-although. like horse rae
ing, it's not a sure thing.
NOses-A demand Is being revived
that the q. S. Census Bureau make
a nationwide unemployment count
In 1885. 1t comes mainly from So
clal workers who want the data,
and has support from politicians
who could get some patronage
thereby. Both would like 70 know
accurately what has happened to
city and rual populations during the
depression.
Such a venture would be, IN ef-
feet, a modified decennial census
and would give about 100. 900 tenn
pcrary employment. A bill ordering
II Is expected 70 be introduced early
IN the coming session OF Congress.
Last session a bill was in for an
unemployment Sensus, TO have been
taken starting this past Nov. is.
Howls were raised against II on the
ground that New Dealers were try
ing TO get their hands on 100000
new jobs for distribution 2. election
time.
Accurate figures on unemploy-
ment were last gathered As ~
April l9. 1880. Agencies which have
since estimated 1t periodically have
never agreed. One value OF an Of
fetal census would be to show which
OF the estimating agencies was near
est accurate and furnish them with
q reliable basis for future opera
tons. Unempiovmpnt halre &c