, 1935-02-01
WASHINGTON
BY George Durn0

ny OCUAkc DuEhho
VetO-The Donus boys are well on
the way TO beating themselves 10
death.
With a crocodile tear in each eye,
the Roosevelt administration has
been SurreptitiouSly slipping one
faction a Shillelah one minute and
tossing a truncheon TO the other
side Immediately thereafter.
II Is amazing how the lads are
smashing away at each others
conkS-and incidentally the pros
pect OF any bonus legislation this
session.
Some observers at this stage are
inclined TO doubt that the question
Of immediate cash payment will get
TO a final vote in the light OF re-
cent developments on Capitol Hill.
Other think the handwriting on
the wall finally will get large enough
for both sides TO read and that
thereafter a bonus bill Of sorts viii
pass.
But should the latter school Of
thought be correct, affairs have
reached a stage now where a preSi-
dental veto looks like a highboard
fence to a low hurdler.
Kilkenny-The American Legion
and the Veterans Of Foreign Wars
are at odds over whether the Vim
son bill or the Patman bill should
be reported out in the House. Le-
giOn Commander Frank Belgrano.
supporting the VinSon measure. is
being attacked by Patman. who has
the solid backing OF the VFW.
There are a lot Of Inducements
IT, this squabhle between the two
organizations upon which the brunt
OF the fight for cash payment must
fall. WV always has been for a
cash bonus. The Legion has blown
hot and cold on the Subject-moSt-
ly cold until last falls convention.
Being a smaller organization,
VFW did not want TO see the Le-
gion grab credit for steering any
bonus bill through congress. A
special press agent "a hired TO
din home the fact that VIEW
had been carrying the ball from the
start. Furthermore, many members
Of this organization looked SuSpic-
lousy at the Legion's new COM
mander because IN private life he
had been connected with the Clan
mini banking interests In Califor-
MIA. They couldn't get 1t out OF
their hesds that all bankers were
supposed TO be opposed TO the bonus
observation-disclosures, true 70
the charge from his convention.
also moved into town. He, too.
brought along : special press agent.
The monographs have been
grinding furiously The Vinson bill
preSumes that congress will pro-
vide some method Of taxation TO
make the two billion dollar pay
ment. Patman'S measure which
passed the house last year-would
perform the trick by simply print
ing new money TO the amount
needed.
Naturally. the administration
wants to see the Vinson bill re-
ported out. If l. is, goodbye bonus.
Mr.. Roosevelt will demand that
congress produce the extra revenue
needed-and the boys aren't in a
position to do that. II the Patrnan
bill comes out New Deal strategy
moves to the senate, where a
Straight-out initiation bill OF its
nature could improbably pass.
Barrier-Senators OF both politi-
cal faiths whose economic views
aren't quite 80 ebullient as those
OF the Brain TrusterS don't see
much chance OF stopping the steam
roller this session.
They have, however, hit on the
idea of getting important members
Of Mr.. RooSevelt's official family
on record as to just how far FDR
intends to 20 with his prospective
grants OF new AUTHORITY. Then the
record would stand as a sort OF
barrier beyond which the White
House could not pass without lay
ing itself open to criticism.
This Is going 70 be a good trick
if il works. Much depends on how
good certain senator's are as cross
examiners and how adroit cabinet
officers and other officials are as
witnesses.
Massiye-Senator Carter Glass,
D) of Va. and Senator James
Couzens. CR) Of Mich, are more
o. less leading the movement TO put
all New Deal legislation through
the sieve before II reaches n IIooT
for a final vote
These two and their colleagues
will see TO il that full committee
hearings are held on all vital
measures. They consider that the
crisis has passed and there Is no
longer any need for blind passage
of emergency legislation. The not
cir provision of the Recovery Act,
recently kicked out by the Supreme
Court because Of bad wording, Is
cited as an example OF the evils OF
undue haste in doing the masters
bidding.
yet il Is more or less significant
that hearings before the senate
Appropriations committee on the
1880 On! 000 works relief bill were
closed to the public on a straight
party vote. the Republicans voting
Tor open doors and Chairman
Glass joining his fellow democrats
for privacy. When the hearings arc
complete they will be put In printed
form and made publc-but this
will make one consolidated story
a fine campaign book-whereas had
the press been permitted TO cover
the daily testimony there would
have been piecemeal stories on
what President Roosevelt proposed
to do with all that money.
Building Powerful aid TO the
mortgage market IAN now be given
oy RFC. wit hits authority TO use
si00, O00. 900. for buying stock, notes,
and debentures Of mortgage loan
companies. trust companies, saw
ings and loan associations, etc.