, 1934-11-26
WASHINGTON
Nv GENRE Durno

by Ge0rge Dunno
Welt - Congressional investiga-
ton Of waste-and graft--in fed
eral relief administration Ia re-
garded as almost N certainty o. o
result OF Senator B0rah's recent
blasts.
Relief Administrator Harry Hop
kins has announced he would like
20 clear the situation up once and
for NIL, and has asked Borah for
proof or his charges. The Idaho
Lone Wolf B far too shrewd q
campaigner to expose his ammu-
niticn to possible dampening In
advance. IT'S q safe bet the senator
will continue TO fire carefully
spaced volleys at FERA between
nov and Ja~nuary-but carefully re-
frain from revealing the sources
Of his information. TO do so would
B epoor publicity technique.
Borah lis an old hand nc starting
investigations. He has an uncanny
ability to detect public suspicious
before trey crystalline and start
the ball rolling. He can always be
certain that once he gets II under
way his mail win he full or new
tips and actual information from
disgruntled officials and alarmed
citizens. There win be much chaff
but almost invariably some wheat.
Erroru-Entirely disinterested OBJ
servers who have been out through
the country Tn recent weeks bring
back reports 70 washington that q
lot Of government money Is being
tossed around very c~arelessly.
Those who have looked over certain
states even talk about outright
graft.
Hopkins finds himself In rather
Ia tough spot. From President
Roosevelt down the New Deal pro-
claimed repeatedly that no one
would starve. Hopkins was given
the JOB OF getting action. and get
ting II quick. He did. but naturally
he was forced to adopt the trial.
hy-error system about which New
/ Dealers have talked so much.
NOW the opposition is fishing for
! errors. It would seem they are going
to catch enough to fill ct least
one skillet.
Impartial students agree that
Senator Borah made w unfair
charge against FERA In his recent
radio address. Borah compared ad-
ministrative costs OF government
relief with Red Cross costs In the
Mississippi flood disaster, etc.
The senator neglected 10 point
out that In disaster relief efforts,
doctors, nurses and other relief
workers donate their services be-
cause Of the temporary nature OF
the situation, while the Army in
variably loans tents. cots. blankets.
etc. with national relief imposed
on him as q seemingly permanent
proposition Hopkins must pay his
workers and buy his supplies.
At this writing 1t seems prob
able Hopkins organization will
stress this comparison in defense
and fall back heavily on the need
for spending speed 10 avoid human
suffertng-with accounting as M
aftermath.
Toss The political phenomenon
most noticeable In the current at
tack on relief expenditures lies IN
the fact that no finger is pointed
nc President Roosevelt. Although
FDR appointed Hopkins and sup
posedly approved his method Of
approach, any blame will accrue TO
Hopkins alone. The White House
reposes inside or a charmed circle.
Even before the voice OF the people
spoke so loudly on November 8
none Of the administrators critics
dared lay any blame for anything
directly on the presidents door
step.
All or the onslaughts directed at
the New Deal thus far nave aim
ed at subordinstes. Opponents con-
centrate their fire on administra-
tive aides rs II they had been
elected by the people rather than
appointed by Mr.. Roosevelt wit
ness Moley. Tugwell. wallace.
Ickes. Farley and johnson. to
name only Q few.
II a heel Of Achilles is ever
found. the champion may take q
toss.
GambIe-The closer washington
analysts folio wdevelopments at the
Anglo-American- Japanese naval
gathering In London. the more they
are becoming convinced that the
real seat Of negotiations Is right
here in washington-with Japan
csc Ambassador Saito functioning
as all-important delegate.
Developments OF the past few
days point more sharply than ever
10 a single stumbling block In the
way or a new naval limitation
agreement. That Is the conflict in
position between the United States
and Japan. Should an accord be
reached here, Great Britain would
find II easy to fall I'm line.
incidentally. you would have TO
be acquainted with japanese eti-
Quette to know that Saito Is gam
bling his future diplomatic career
on the chance Of reaching a naval
understanding with our state and
Navy Departments.
saito knows the Navy problem
better than Ambassador Matsu-
daira. who Is functioning In Lon
don. Sait0 had a hand In neeo-
tiating both the London and
washington treaties and he spent