, 1934-12-16
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

1N1 0AC Va AAA0AG Va WIG 100
adroit who had put too much in
writing or talked 700 mach in the
presence Of outsiders. Like early
martyrs fed to the lions they made
good entertainment while they
lasted. The martyrs became ham,
burger and the exposed lobbyists
lost their Jobs-and the show was
over.
There has been pressure for years
"a force all lobbyists TO register
their names and connections with
the proper Congressional authorit-
les so al may see who they are.
That Is about as far as Congress
or the administration-could 70 II
It goes hunting lobbyists. 1t is en-
tirely legal for any firm or individ-
ual 10 be represented in Washing
ton, as elsewhere. 1t would take
a brave law-drafter to write a law
defining lobbying and its fine
points.
Registration would be annoying
TO the boys but II wouldn't put the
bulk Of them out Of business.
President Roosevelt took a cut at
the trade last year when ne de-
creed Democratic national. state
and county committeeman, etc,
would have 10 choose between their
party affiliations and Washington
lobbying.
Public Works Administrator lexis
and others, taking a cue from the
boss, decreed their doors were clos
ed 10 business representatives OF
this nature.
Most OF the men FDR was aiming
at resigned their political connec-
tons. Some didn't. All seemingly
are stiI doing business at the same
old stand. and very well. thank
YOU. They adopted an attitude
there weren't no law agin it-and
the gravy Is very rich.
Loans-Do not get the idea there
are no dangerous Hobbies at work
IN Washington. There are, and
There always have been. At this
moment their number Is legion. as
the saying goes.
The big question, always present,
Il how many legislators and how
many government officials a smart
AlDJArN NnA oNhN " NA4AAllH anu
dining-or better.
Perhaps Congress should inveSti-
gate the suSceptibilities OF its own
members. or pass a law making II
illegal for a member OF Congress
TO accept free food. drinks and
or entertainment and. naturally.
loans.
Notes.-The Treasury Department
put out an Official figure the other
day that tells a whole story when
lined up alongside three other fig
ures.
III 1888 a grand total OF $3.50 los
individuals paid all the income tax
Uncle Sam received. Right now
there are approximately l8.000,O00
living on fedreal relief. Around
%. 100000 voters went 10 the polls
last month. Current population
usually is estimated at about $780,
O00. 600.
More succinctly. five relief-bene-
filters for every taxpayer. ASSum-
ing they are adults, all six are en-
titled to vote.
Some OF Washington'S keeneSt
analysts have decided this ratio
points the national trend for the
immediate future-not By the same
Z differential. Of course, because half
the dole-dependentS probably are
minors.
Here Is their line OF reasoning:
The needy are content to let the
national debt pile skyward so long
al Is means their food and shelter.
The taxpayer may complain but he
Is In the minority. He car be voted
down. This enables the New Deal
10 90 ahead with its big pump
printing act. For the present there
Il no need to tinker with the dollar
Of initiate via the printing press.
Payment, as usual. comes later.
In this connection economic au-
thoritieS have been ~streSsing a
premise recently that Uncle sam
Il far from laundering in debt.
Comparisons with England and
France-on a basis OF debt VS.. ma
tions wealth-would permit us TO
put many more billions on the cuff.
Construction - A large slice OF
Public Works funds Is 70 be de-
voted to new federal buildings in
Washington. "A new Interior De-
partment building to cost $1,000
600 Il near the construction stage.
Plans for a Navy Department are
forming. The War Department
needs a building.
Rental cost OF buildings to house
the numerous New Deal agencies
would amortize the cost Of new
buildings. Federal activities are
scattered throughout Washington
In unsuitable structures many OF
which would be more useful as the
apartment houses they were de-
signed TO be.
Notes-Farm bloc leaders shy
away from Wallace's plan 70 con-
troll all farm products and a fight
over the new AAA / in prospect .
Farmers kick against high prices
resulting from NRA. Senator
| David a. Reed will practice law In
Washington and Pittsburgh.
1
Cash-Rep. Wright Patman OF
Texas. arch-advocate OF the paid
Up bonus. Is preparing to steal n
leaf from the diary Of those aStute
nursemaids Of Democracy. Jim Far
ley and Emil Hurja.
During the recent campaign Far
ley and Hurja. from National De-
m~ocratic headquarters here. saw TO
II that every district learned Just
how much federal aid money had
been pumped into Il BY the New
Deal. Senatorial and CongrcSSion-
al contests made and broke on
those figures.
Nov Patman has prepared an
| elaborate breakdown showing how
many World War veterans there
1 are fp parh state and hru mtfrh