Evening star., 1934-08-05
President to Meet Many Problems
On Return From His Vacation Trip

1ONcIIlIIlSnI IOI part OF Llleu LrOuDleS.
Out West they are angered by the
delay in sending out $4,000, 900 in
checks long overdue and sorely
needed. This is money that the
farmers think they actually have con-
tributed through a lower price for
their hogs, resulting from processing
taxes. Worried, officials have taken
to the firing line.
However, strange defensive note
runs through the speeches now being
delivered. They are devoted to at
tacks on attackers and a defense of
the A. A. A plans. Political strate-
giStS are inclined to think that Secre-
tary Wallace and his aides would Gre
ate happier effect by telling of the
positive accomplishments of the farm
program and its possible future use.
Then Harry Hopkins. now touring
Europe, but soon to come home, is
going to find his problem intensified.
Relief rolls are near the depression
peak. The cost of relief to the Fed
eral Government never was so large
as today. Drought had added 1900
900 individuals to the list cared for
by the Treasury. A rise in food prices
is complicating this cost problem
Aubrey Williams, in charge during
Hopkins absence, reports that the
idle will not stand another Winter of
direct relief. They want work, and
he is proposing a new civil works
program. Pressure is growing to bring
together the country's idle factories
and its idle men to turn out goods
needed by those on relief. Industry
opposes this as another entering
wedge to Socialism.
x + X
Coming back on the train from the
West, Harold Ickes, public works ad-
ninistrator, Secretary of the Interior
and oil administrator, has troubles to
recount. Public works continues to
be flop as a large-scale job creator
Lloyd Garrison, young and new to
Federal service, is discovering that his
new National Labor Relations Board
may be factor in mediating labor
disputes, but that it has few very
effective powers. The few that it
thinks it has now are being questioned
y
test. This gives Mr.. Roosevelt some
thing more to think about.
While the President was away his
new chairman of the new Securities
and Exchange Commission, Joseph p.
Kennedy, learned how former Presi-
dent Hoover probably felt at times.
He made his maiden speech on the
subject of stock market regulation,
very friendly in tone, only to have the
market stage its most violent break of
the year. Something more to think
about is provided by the fact that, al
though the securities act has been
modified to meet the objections of
financial leaders, new security issues
are as scarce as ever. Reports say
that the public is slow to buy new
issues of stocks and bonds.
Much has been expected Of James
Mofett, new housing administrator
Now, however, there are hints that the
new Frazier-L -Lemke law, enacted to
help farmers go bankrupt, is having a
depressing effect on the already de-
pressed mortgage market. The sight
Of Congress offering relief to indebted
farmers in the form of a moratorium
on mortgages is expected to prove
diScouraging to the Government in
its present attempt to attract money
back to the mortgage field. Next ses-
sion the national Legislature may
want to help out city debtors.
x
Last Fall, when troubles of this kind
began converging on the White
House. Mr.. Roosevelt countered with
his Civil Works Administration Job
program. Today he is armed with
authority over more billions of Fed
eral funds than he was last October
and November. On July nearly ten
billions were available for spending in
the year ending June 80, 1885. SPEND
ing, particularly in the areas affected
by drought. is due to be stepped up
sharply within the next few weeks
Then, not to be lost sight of. is the
power lodged in the President to in
fluence the eountry's currency. Some
important advisers of Mr.. Roosevelt
are known to feel that it will be
simpler to stimulate activity by none
tary means than it would be to go
through a period of industrial defla-
ton at this time.
tCopyright. 1934)