, 1934-12-24
WASHINGTON
BY George Durn0

90 AAA&AA 10AAA4 0NNGa 4AC1A HAS IMNE
been most exclusive but word comes
out via the grapevine that some
gentlemen who are fairly well known
nationally figure 10 be singed.
Highly sensational testimony has
been taken IN the past couple OF
weeks.
If the allegations OF certain wit
neSSeS prove TO be true, there will
be work for the District OF Column
bia grand jury. Committeeman are
moving cautiously. because they
naturally don't want to beSmirch
the regulations Of innocent men.
Hair-rising disclosures are said
to have been obtained from Frank
+. Speicher, puncture-proof tire
tube representative. Speicher's tes-
tlmony was badly wanted last spring
when the Military Affairs Commit
tee first started probing methods of
awarding Army contracts. He could
nol be found. Department OF Jus
tice agents located a man by the
same name who was engaged in
the sametype OF business, but after
being dragged TO WASHINGTON he
was able TO establish proof OF mis-
taken identity.
They wanted Speicher turned up
voluntarily early this month. He IS
said TO have filled the record with
very robust language in the course
OF his revelations concerning con
tract awards.
And Speicher seems 10 know his
Army. Entirely apart from his Com
mittee appearance several weeks
ago. at a time many people thought
Major General Hugh A. Drum was
going to be elevated from Deputy
Chief OF Staff TO succeed General
Douglas Macarthur as chief, Spell
cher assured his intimates that
Drum was headed Tor Hawaii. The
general left last week.
housekeeping interests operat-
ing Shipping Board vessels on con-
tract have il in for the Interna-
ticnal Mercantile Marine and the
Post Office department. They claim
they are being crucified and they
have taken their lament direct TO
the White House.
Matters came 10 a head when the
Post Office department agreed 10
extend the /. M. MS Baltimore Mail
contract route TO make London a
port of call. The Line now operates
from Baltimore to Hamburg with an
optional stop at Hayre.
Such government-owned lines as
the American Hampton Roads and
Yankee and Oriole Lines contend
| they will be Put out OF business.
Freight viii be diverted from New
York TO Baltimore, they say, be-
cause II car clear through the lat
ter point from all parts OF the
central freight rel at 3 cents per
100 pounds cheaper. IT Is claimed
further that Boston, Portland. Me-,
Philadelphia and Newport News,
Va, will suffer because the govern
m~ent-owned lines nov making
those ports will be forced TO fold
up If the Baltimore Mail Line is
permitted TO compete with them to
London. Mail Line boats arc cap
able OF is knots as against los for
the government-owned ships.
Those who should know al the
Post Office Department say the
Baltimore Line got its extension at
/ the urgent inSistence" of Secretary
Of Commerce Dan Roper. The OUT
come OF the protest may reveal
many things.
BIocked-Prcsident Roosevelt has
the money boys all Id a lather. In
anticipation OF his forthcoming
message 10 Congress FDR Is col
Letting viewpoints from widely as
sorted schools OF thought concern
ing international exchange and
domestic currency.
The annoying thing Is that all Mr..
Roosevelt does Is listen. After the
men he calls in have finished X
pounding their monetary philoso-
ply he gives nary a hint as TO what
effect, If any, II has had on his line
OF thought.
A typical recent caller was Rene
Leon, the New York silver expert,
Leon Is an intlationiSt identified
more or less with the Committee
for the Nation. He regards the gold
bloc problem and the Far Eastern
silver problem as jointly acute and
thinks steps should be taken by the
government to forestall any threats
from either sector. But he got no
mixing or what the president may
be planning.
Meanwhile the senate silver bloc
is preparing 10 force EDR's hand II
he doesn't voluntarily initiate that
metal.
Dole-It seems only Yesterday
although II was back In 1880. 81 and
32-that big business was moaning
piouSly about the inlquitieS OF a
federal dole system. The u. >.
Chamber Of Commerce and such
pointed out carefully and frequently
how the cole would destroy a mans
moral fibre and turn a large sec
ton OF the cnuntry'S population
into wilfEl laggards.
Since representatives OF the u.
5. Chamber and the National AS
ISOLATION OF manufacturers, meeting
at White Sulphur Springs to draft
! a program OF cooperation with the
New Deal, decided the dole was
pretty necessary after all, the pros
poets for legislation are brighter.
Since 1892, OF course, there has
been growing demand for unem-
| ployment insurance. IL probably will
be enacted into law at the coming
SeSSion-and in such form that the
employers will have 10 contribute
a definite percentage TO its main
tenance.
Notes-Best opinion looks for a
compromise between the admins
tration and business despite yawn-
ing differences. Tariff favors are
shifting from manufacturers to
agriculture. "A fight looms UP on
world court and neutrality ques-
tons Real estate mortgage reform
Is on the way. .InflationistS are
confident that 1900. 900. 900 will be
issued somehow. Relations with
Soviet Russia : not so good as
expected.