, 1934-12-10
WASHINGTON
BY GeorRe Dunno

wv
BY George Dunno
AuthOrity-There are more ways
OF choking a cat than with butter.
The same general idea might be
applied to the current New Deal
row-much Smoo led over but still
notwithstanding control Of the
new recovery program congress is
about TO be asked TO endorse.
Housing, particularly the low
cost type. is going to be a most in
tegral part OF the coming drive 70
kick heavy industry out Of the
doldrums. As reported here very
recently. there was talk within the
official Washington family OF either
consolidating all building activities
under a single emergency direction
or setting up a new cabinet office
which mould take care Of such work
and a lot more.
Because OF the publicity given the
rift between Public Works Admin
istrator Ickes and Federal Housing
Administrator Moffett over which
should build and how. both of
these plans are now said 10 be out
Of the window. Willy White House
coordinators have still a new
scheme they hope will enforce
peace.
The idea Is to set up a Housing
Authority talthough IL may en-
erge finally under a different
nance. This authority would be a
sort OF advisory and coordinating
committee SuperimpoSed OF Public
Works, Federal Housing. Federal
Relief and all the other agencies
having anything to do with spend
ing government moiIty fUr cons
trucion purposes .
And here Is the pay-oif. On this
super-committee would be placed
such sociologically-minded mem
berS OF congress as, for instance,
Senator Bob Wagner. Cd Of New
York. ana Senator Bob LaFollette,
prog OF Wisconsin.
This would serve TO keep the in
dividually ambitious members Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's official family al
ways conscious OF the will OF Capt.
tol Hill from whence all appropria-
tons flow. If you get the idea, the
various New Dealers involved might
challenge the edictS OF Coordination
Donald Richberg-unless the Pres
ident himself stepped in-but they
would listen with respect TO a
supervisory committee which in
cluded prominent members OF
congress.
Under this plan Ickes would on
tinue TO control Slum-clearance.
Moffet twould still have charge
or steaming up the financially-able
TO build their own nests, Hopkins
would take over subsistence home
stealing, and the fifty-odd minor
agencies would continue TO func-
tion as usual. The Authority
would be- standing BY at all times
TO see that lone OF the boys step
on each others toes.
SwansOng-ThOse who know SEN
ator William K Borah Of Idaho
best, say he Is taking his last shot
at recognizing the republican
party TO fit his personal measure
ments. Also they say he Is sort OF
whistling past a graveyard.
Borah always has known how 10
command fronts page publicity. He
has become known as The Lone
Wolf from Idaho. Quite a few
Washington observers are wonder
ing whether the subriouet should
be changed 10 Sick Wolf They
say he's scared about his own
political future and Is hiding the
fact with a mighty beating Of the
tom-t0m.
A canvass OF Progressive Repub-
leans show he is standing almost
alone. Senator Gerald Nye OF North
Dakota Is about the only one who
continues TO take counsel from the
oracle. Nye Is making a name for
himself but he Is not outstanding
on the republican side Of the cor
ReckOnings-Couzens OF Michigan
Is mad at BOrah because back In
1924 the wealthy Detroiter offered
support the Idahoan for pres
ident with all the cash and polite
al responsiveness az his command
Borah promised TO take the propo-
sition under advisement but for
got 10 give an answer one way or
the other. LaFollette OF Wisconsin
aloof from Borah as a re-
suit OF another occurrence in "a
.orah was among those who urged
Bob's father to run for pres
Ident on a third party ticket, but
he hibernated in Idaho during the
campaign.
HI johnson OF California has
never forgotten the way Borah
dramatically announced to Theo-
1ore Roosevelt back in 1912: Colo
mel, we have come to the parting
~ the uravxn Rorah rGp1 IN eat