The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-04-04
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National Topics Interpreted ~ fT1TI6ITI
by William Bruckart ASM=1IN
National Topics Interpreted
by William Bruckart

Washington.-The President has
placed Donald r. Richberg, his
closest adviser, in the JOB as head
of the National Recovery admins
tration. Mr.. Richberg will be the
CHAIRMAN of the national Industrial
Recovery board which has now
been enlarged to the number oil
seven, and it is proposed that this
group, divided between labor and
capital representation, will guide
the policies and programs as well
as the enforcement of NRA.
Richberg's Job
It may be that Mr.. Richberg's
appointment should be given only
passing notice. Political appoint
ments in Washington are many and
the addition of one more normally
would not attract attention. It ap-
pears, however, that IN this partic-
ular instance considerable signifi-
canoe should be attached to the APP
pointment. 1t will have repercus-
sions in more ways than one.
This brings us to the question OF
the future NRA. As we all know
MIRA legislation in the house and
senate is encountering rough sail
ing. There are So many different
ideas being put forward about the
principle of MIRA that thus far it
has been exceedingly difficult to
reconcile them. Since the present
national industrial recovery act
expires by limitation Of law or
June 16, congress faces the neces-
sity of enactment of new legisla-
tion or allowing the present law to
die and the codes under it to fall
apart.
Selection Of Mr.. Richberg on the
basis OF these facts bhen would
seem to indicate that Mr.. Roosevelt:
had picked his best soldier to fight
the battle; that Mr.. Richberg, being
eyes and ears for Mr.. Roosevelt,
would be the individual to guide
the President in choice Of policy
and that his most trusted adviser
would be the man to put forward
details of Che proposed MIRA ex-
tension legislation. The undercur-
rent of gossip around Washington,
however, indicates something else.
In the first instance, Mr.. Rich
berg is in bad with organized labor
and he has shown no disposition,
lately to make peace despite the
fact that he was for years the rep
resentative of railway labor un-
ions.
It will not be forgotten, either,
that such valiant campaigners as
Senator Carter Glass and Senator
Borah, not to mention the alleged
progressive, Senator Nye, are wait
ing for the NRA Legislation in the
senate. Mr.. Richberg's hide will
look to them the same as any 9TH
er hide. It is just possible, there
fore, as some observers have sug-
geste1, that Mr.. Richberg m a y
have been put out as a lamb on the
sacrificial altar.
Indeed, color is lent to the sup
position by the fact that Mr.
Roosevelt has taken little direct
interest in promoting Legislation
extending the life of MIRA. Thus
far he has said that he desires to
have the extension granted, but he
has not turned ON the steam as he
is equipped to do, and as he has
done for bills that were persona,
hobbies with him. 1t is made to ap.
pear, therefore, that perhaps there
will be a disintegration of MIRA as
such and that the functions desired
by the administration to be retain.
ed will be parceled out, some to the
federal trade commission, some tt
the Labor department, and other.
of lesser consequence scattered
elsewhere.
Credit for Home Owners
While we are discussing legisla
tion, it may be well to consider
what is being done about the pro
gram of extending credit to home
owners in cities and towns thru