The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-25


 was>1 discovery that the point passing system of fixing steel prices, so bitterly denounced by the federal trade commission Tn 1924, had beNn slipped into the steel code. 1Mae was a variation of the old "Pktsburgh plus" sys- tenn. Roosevelt, had not realized this when he signed 1t, and prob- ably Johnson had not either. But anyway the president blamed Johnson for not having this properly explained when the steel code was sent over to the White House.
 FIR TOPS MIRA
 So Roosevelt had the federal trade commission draw up an executive order giving it the power to overule the MIRA. The commission now may not only haul an industry into court, but also the code authority under which the industry operates. It gives the federal trade commits sion supreme power over the MIRA.
 Johnson did his best to kill this. He told Roosevelt bluntly that such power in tho hands of the federal trade commission meant the end of the MIRA. The Blue Eagle, he said, might as we'll fold its wings. CutthrOat competition and business uncer. tainty, he said, would come back.
 But despite this, the order went through. And 1t was most cleverly worded document. It gives the trade commission power to crack down on mono polies which are soaking the public, but at the same time permits monopolies at the ex- pense of the little fellow where those monopolies can be kept under government control. A lot of little fellows are going to be squeezed out, but in the long run business-if the trade commits sion has anything to do with it will come more and more un- der the government.
 If properly handled it will be a new economic creed under the New Deal.
 PHI BETA KAPPA
 President Roosevelt is the proud possessor of a Phi Beta Kappa key. but he makes no sec- ret of the fact that he did not win it for brilliant scholarship.
 How he got the prized schol- asic award he once revealed to two other distinguished wearers of the little gold insigna, Gov ernor Cross of Connecticut, and former Governor Pollard, of Virginia. Tho three were par tictpating in a gathering at the University of Virginia. Reminis- cing over their own college days. they suddenly discovered that each wore 8 Phi Beta Kappa key.
 "TO be really frank with yOu," the president laughed, "I didn't get mine until 25 years after I finished school"
 Governor Cross, a former Yale professor, and Governor Pollard burst out laughing.
 "YOu have nothing on me-" the former said. 'I had to wait that long until got minc."
 Well, did a little better" :. Governor Pollard boasted. "I got mine 20 years after I finished school"
 t4 MERRY-GO-RCUND
 Pennsylvania's Senator "Pud- dler Jim" Davis had a hard time with his voluminous harangue against the St Lawrence water way. He wrote tho speech at home, then fearful that his staff would get hold of 1t and do some extensive editing, carried 1t around for days until he could get the senate floor. Brilliant Rex Tugwell, assistant secretary of agriculture, is due for promotion. The department of agriculture appropriation bill carries an item of $10,000 as sal ary Tor a new post of under secretary of agriculture. If the allowance Is approved, Tug well will get the job. The question of U. S. adherence to the world court, a hardy con- gressional perennial for many years, will not bloom at this ses- sion. Senate republican and democratic leaders have quietly agreed to let the court continue to gather dust in a foreign rela- tions committee pigeon hole.
 West Virginia's quiet, hard working Democratic Senator M. M. Nicely has just scored big victory in his home state. |. The legislature was considering a sales tax. which Nicely vigor- ously opposed as matter of principle. He rushed home, entered the fracas and sue ceeded in killing the bill. .. :. The Railroad Brotherhoods have filed charges with Federal Rail- Co-Ordinator Joe Eastman al- leging that the Pennsylvania railroad is secretly organizing a company union' in violation of the emergency railroad trans portation act. Spokesmen for undertakers are demanding drastic revision of the cemetery code on the ground that 1t con- tains provisions which would drive them out of business. :. Representative Louis T. McFad- den, Pennsylvania republican, who several years ago demanded the impeachment of President Hoover because of his German war debt moratorium, Is the hero of a recent issue of 'The Libera- tor"-official organ of the Fas- cist Silver Shirts of America, .. The number quotes McFad- den extensively in support of Adolf Hitler.
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