The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-05

Blacks investigating committee
has dug up some dynamite on
the International Mercantile Ma
rine.
The organization - biggest in
American shipping-was a pet of
the shipping board during twelve
lush years under the g. 0. p, re-
ceived more than $20,00O,0O0 in
mail contracts. Admiral H. /.
Cone, holdover president of the
shipping board, even boosted that
he went up to New York last
year to help in the reorganiza-
ton of /, NJ. M.
Despite this fayOritism, the I.
NJ. NJ. has a considerable interest
in fOrcign-Owncd ships and
ship-lines, thereby competing
with the American flag lines, for
which 1t receives government
subsidies.
Among I. NJ. NJ directors and
yice-presidents are Vincent AS
tor, upon whose yacht the pres
ident frequently has gone fish
ing. and Kermit Roosevelt, q
cousin and guest on the yachting
trips. The latter was in Washing
ton recently in an effort to Sc
cue for /. M. NJ. the $1,250,000
mail contract New York to
Buenos Aires.
TOUGH BREAK
Tammany's ambitious Repre-
sentative Sol Bloom, is known
not only as the man who made
George Washington famous" Gas
director of the bi-centenniaD
but also as congress- most deco
rated man.
Recently, his good friend, Ben
ito Mussolini, instructed his
Washington ambassador to pin
q minor Italian medal on Soils
extensively tailored lapel. Short
ly after this Poland did the
same.
The Italian decorating cere-
mony went off very nicely. But
the Polish event-at least as far
as Sol was concerned-was dis
appointing.
After getting the medal at the
Polish embassy, returned to his
Office in the doldrums. His STAN
was surprised.
"Why, what Is the matter?"
they asked. ''Didn't you get the
decoration"
"Oh, yes" Sol replied dolOr-
ously. But not q photographer
was present."
The staff was properly cha
grined. Suggestions were offered
on how to remedy the situation.
Finally, one member hit upon an
ingenious scheme.
ANYTHING TO OBLIGE
He went to telephone and
called up the embassy. The
newspapers, he explained, were
bothering Mr. Bloom for pictures
of the ceremony. 1t was a nuis-
ance, but would it be possible to
re-stage 1t for the press.
Permission was given, a date
set, and the photographers noti-
fed. Sol was there on the dot.
The ceremony was gone through
again, the priced pictures taken,
everybody departed happy.
Several hours later one of the
photographers called up Sol; ex-
pIained he had forgotten to get
the name Of the decoration.
"Just what is it called?" he
asked.
"Well, to tell you the TRUTH"
Sol replied, II don't know. Call
me back later, I'll have to ask
my daughter"
ALL WET
Henry Rainey, silver-crested
speaker of the house and dour
Joe Byrnes, democratic floor
leader, have passed out word that
there will be no stock market
regulation legislation this ses-
sion. According to Roosevelt's
close advisers, however, they are
"all wet"
There are two reasons why
such legislation will be present.
ed: az President Roosevelt
strongly favors 1t; (2) leaders OF
the senate bank investigating
committee, who are pushing the
New York Stock Exchange cx..
pose. are equally determined.
They have some sensational rev.
Citations I'm store and want to fol-
low them with definite legislative
reforms.
Speaker Rainey and Joe
Byrnes have been entrusted with
the job of pushing the session to
a conclusion by May 1; therefore,
want to avoid controversial is
sues.
There is no question that the
White House wants brief ses-
sion and is not looking for any
more fights than it can help.
But stock market regulation is
not exactly in the category Of,
controversial legislation. Senti-
ment is overwhelming to hog-tie
the money-bags of Wall street,
and this Is congressional election
year with members holding their
ground to catch the faintest tre-
NOR as to what the public wants.
PRICE FIXING
The masters of the Blue Eagle
are going in for some vigorous
''soul searching"
1t Is being done very quietly,
with careful stunning of the
front pages. But the proceedings
are none the less thorough and
determined.
One OF the most serious prob.
LENS being Ovcrhauler Is that Of
price fixing. A large number OF
codes have ''Open price" agree
ments, by which the manufac-
turer is required to post his prices