Evening star., 1934-11-30
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

As the December IS installment due
date will still flnd Uncle Sans war
debtors in default, the flotation OF
Finland's new per cent $4,000, 900
loan comes along just in time to re-
mind delinquent nations OF the ad-
vantage of clean slate in the Amer
ican money market. Finland, as the
only debtor country that has met all
its payments, is immune from the pro-
visions of the johnson act prohibit
ing fresh financing in the United
States by countries in full or partial
default on previous obligations. The
Firms are using the proceeds OF their
new American loan to redeem some
outstanding bond issues here. Their
international trade balance Is so IA
vorable that they are now in position
to curtail their foreign Indebtedness.
Finland'S debt is bagatelle compared
to the billions owing us from the
rest of Europe, but washington feels
that she has done amazingly well and
shown big debtor countries a way that
some Of them, with the proper will,
might well have emulated. The latest
suggestions of debt cancellation, made
by National Research Council head
ed by President Hutchins OF the Uni
versity Of Chicago, do not stir much
enthusiasm in administration quarters.
They will evoke even less approval in
Congress, which, in enacting the en-
barge against defaulters, once again
recorded its stern anti-cancellationis
attitude.
Senator Robert r. Wagner, Demo-
crat, OF New York is in Europe look
ing Informally into social security
systems, including especially unem-
ployment and health insurance and
old-age pensions. The Old World Is
far ahead of the United States In such
legislation. Senator Wagner pro-
spectively will have charge of President
Roosevelt's unemployment insurance
program in the Senate. Wagner has
been active throughout his congress
sional career in labor legislation and is
recognized as the Senate's expert au-
thority in that field.
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When Paul Atlee Walker, chairman
of the Telephone Division of the Fed
eral Communications Commission, in
augurates the big investigation of A.
T. & T. early in 1885, he will tackle
a Job in which he has already had
wide practical experience. While
chairman of the State Corporation
Commission Of Oklahoma, which cor
responds to what in many States Is
known as q Public Service Commission,
he presided over q sweeping inquiry
into the operations of the South
western Bell Telephone Co., an A. T. &
T. subsidiary. Certain phases Of that
investigation, which concerns mainly
rates, are still pending. Mr.. Walker Is
of Virginia Quaker stock, a Phi. D.. OF
the University of Chicago and World
War veteran. He was active as law
yer and educator before joining the
Oklahoma Corporation Commission in
1881. While in that position his ac-
tivities ranged all over the utility
field, especially with regard to rate
structures.
Capital friends mourn the recent
passing of "Bilr' Brigham, former
Washington correspondent of the
Boston Evening Transcript and presi-
dent of the Gridiron Club about 10
years ago. He was in his 69th year
and active until the last as . Tran
script editorial writer. An astute
analyst of politics, Brigham was for
years the confidant Of New England
members Of Congress, who valued his
keen Interpretation Of the national
scene. A native BoStonian and lover
of animals, especially dogs, Brigham
took time of from journalism In re-
cent years to direct the affairs of the
Massachusetts, Animal Rescue League.
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Among recovery enterprises which
the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States d now boosting is ex-
pansion of the American merchant
marine. The chambers special COM