The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-17

of the one-time czar of the house, is clicking through with Missouri patronage in 8 real way. One of his latest appoint ments is Henry w. Blair, lawyer who becomes assistant attorney general in charge of that his wife is Emily Newell Blair, writer, vice. president of the democratic national com mittee and a big booster for Clarks' campaign.
 OFFICIAL 70. K."
 The question of "specifica- tions' has become all-important in bidding upon government contracts. And with billions to spend, the change of one small point in specifications may mean tremendous profits. Take for instance the bids on army trucks, now the subject of an investigation by a federal grand jury. For years specified tions for army trucks called for Splash oil' fabrication for bearings. General Motors trucks, particularly Chevrolet, were built that way. But the change of two words gave the con tract to Chrysler-until it was stopped from up above, These two words were forced feed" This meant that bearing lubrica- tion was supplied by a copper feed pipe instead of being splashed in by the turn of the motor. =. Charley Curtis, ex- vice president, says: "I am no longer interested in politics. am practicing law and really enjoy it." Real estate interests are panc-stricken for fear gov- ernment construction of low rental apartment houses will scale down their profits. They are waging terrific cam paigns against the presidents public housing program.
 LIQUOR PROBE
 Drys on Capitol Hill plan to demand a congressional investi- gation of liquor profiteering. They are gathering mass of data to support their resolu- tpn, slated for introduction early in the spring. Con- gress is being deluged with com plaints of excessive liquor charges and many vets favors the investigation. "Steve" Early, White House press sec retary, is carving out new niche for himself. Twice within a few days he has been given the job of administering public "spankings' to notables offending the president. first was Harry Woodring, the Pat Hurley of this admin tration, who aroused Roosevelt's ire by writing a magazine ar- ticle acclaiming the eco as a reserve military force. The second was Colonel Charles Au- gustus Lindebergh who broad 'cast to the press 8 telegram he sent Roosevelt protesting his cancellation of airmail contracts. LINDBERGH SPANKED
 The Lindbergh spanking went over big on Capitol Hill, where tIs..i the flyers ys halo long ago Q had had " yora resented ee his spanking. m1IdsF es.p hot ana bitter. His resignation will be enthusiastically accept ed when offered; perhaps even beforeI The code offered by the fishing industry is the latest joke to come out of the MIRA. .>. It's labor provisions cover every class of worker in the in- dustry except the fisherman. Pittsburgh's hard working Laborite Representative Henry Ellenbogen has had to increase his stenographic staff to answer the flood of mail brought by his . Sunday night radio talks. . The widely disputed question of who pays the processing tax, the consumer, the farmer, or the manufacturer, at last may be officially determined. The bureau of agricultural /econom- ics has launched a study of the matter.
 DOUGHNUT CONSCIOUS
 With the cooperation of New York's Tammanyite Representa- tive Sirovich, a Baltimore baker, has launched @ drive to make congress doughnut conscious. =. Once week the Free state baker sends his friend Sir ovich a large flock of doughnuts, and the latter in turn distributes them among his colleagues. A primer for workers, on their rights and privileges under the industrial recovery act. Is being prepared by the MIRA. The booklet Is in response to flood of queries received from workers all over the coun- try and the first printing will be several million copies. Sen- ator Joe Robinson, democratic floor leader, is one of the most eagerly sought after dinner guests in the capital. He has an inexhaustible fund of senatorial anecdotes, which he acts out with gestures and grim aces.
 PRIVATE MONOPOLY
 Gardiner Means, brilliant eco- nomist on the staff of the AAA, is working on a secret study of monopolies for the department of justice. Means. CO., author with A. A. Berle of "The Modern Corporation and Private Property" is credited with know ing more about trusts than any other single person in the coun- try.
 Copyright, 1884, by Unitde
 Feature Syndicate, Inc.)