, 1935-03-31
WASHINGTON
BY George Dunno

NAAl RAA1AA1E@ "a -
Disinterested lawyeB-guided sole
ly BY the text Of the order-believe
that Mr.. RooSevelt's signature gave
the relief head a large chunk OF au-
thority over the new work-relief pro-
gram. This Is supposted by MI.
Hopkins presence on the President ;
Florida expedition and word that he
Is 10 play an important role In all
Federal Housing activities.
Sweeping-The president author
ICES Hopkins in this order either 10
purchase real or personal property
or to take over by the power Of emin-
ent domain 'in connection with the
construction or carrying on OF any
project or program financed by al
locations, allotmentS. or transfers
made, or to be made" under the
terms Of the expiring National In
dustrial Recovery Act "or acts sup
p~lementing the appropriations here
tofore made therefor"
That last line sounds very much
like the impending S4,88O,OOO.OOO
work-relief bill-according 10 the
lawyers-even though Hopkins mod
eStly disclaims any such intention.
The terms OF the executive order
appear broad enough TO enable Hop
kins to take over from tublic Works
Administrator Ickes such vital prof.
ects of the new schedule as Slum
clearance and any other building
operations which require the govern
ment TO acquire land. Furthermore.
Hopkins has the sweeping right TO
sell any security acquired or any
property so constructed or acquired
or TO lease any such property with
or without the privilege OF purchase,
and TO administer or TO direct the
administration Of such property
Ansver-Criticism from business
men has been growing that the ad-
ministration is too much a one man
show. Word keeps seeping back 70
Washington that FDR should do two
things-put bigger and better men
in some Of the key jobs and give them
more authority TO act on their own
than the present incumbents en-
Joy.
The presidents friends get annoy
ed when this suggestion Is advanced.
AS they tell 1t. Mr.. Roosevelt has
selected his su~bordinates because he
liked them and thought them cap
able. III they didn't prove able 70
stand the gaff, he has taken general
direction Of their work on his own
overloaded shoulders rather than
fire them. It is pointed out that even
those who have been eaSed out still
swear by him.
It's suggested that the executive
order OF March 6 augmenting
Hopkins powers 80 was a partial an
swer to the critics.
Bosses - Informed sources say
that another name will be coming
TO the fore again in connection with
FDR's mysterious work-relief pro-
gram. The gentleman In question
Is Frank Walker - erstwhile dem
Ocratic national treasurer and di-
rector OF the national emergency
council - recently mentioned in
this column as the man who was
still trying to coordinate the New
Deal behind the scenes.
Anyone who wants a cut of the
81 $3.50, DOC. 900 outlay should not fail
TO drop his card also In the office Of
Rear Admiral Christian Joy Peo-
piles - Chief Of Secretary Morgen-
thau's Procurement. Division. With
Morgenthau and Postmaster Gener-
al Jim Farley behind him. Peoples
Is expected to have plenty TO say
about federal building projects IN
the future.
Secretary of Interior Ickes isn't
out Of the picture despite contrary
reports. The w~ork-relief bill extends
the life OF the Public Works Admin
istration he has tended so careful
~. More than half of the original
$50, 100000 public works approp-
ration is still unexpended. Some
OF the projects started will need
further nourishment from the new
appropriation.
Roses-Harry Hopkins can't tell
yet how he's coming out In the Ohio
relief rumpus.
Federal Relief headquarters here
is encouraged because most of the
Ohio newspapers are backing Hop
kins in his row with Governor Mar
tin Davey over alleged political
manipulation and in~efficiency In
state relief administration.
On the other hand reliable OBJ
servers report that Davey may
make successful political capital OF
the mess They get word that his
indignant counter-attack on Hop
kins is making a hit with many
OhioanS. They warn that the Ohio
faculty for transforming rocks
thrown from Washington into roses
Jolly-Senator Nicely OF West Vir-
ginia-a strong labor man-Sponsors
a report from Interstate Commerce
Committee recommending passage
Of the Black 30-hour week bill. A
minority report disputes al his
points.
The bills prospects aren't overly
bright. The administration Is dead
set against 1t. Industry Is fighting
IL and legislators r Indifferent "a
II except when prodded by the AFL
Yet IL has the markings OF a Jolly
row-in which Section IA and the
Wagner bill will be involved.
Faster-State Department trade
experts harp on the stumbling block
OF unsteady c~urrencies as q reason
why more progress Is not made in
tariff agreements. This attitude has
no apparent effect on treasury pol
icy. The AAA people also talk OF
the difficulty Of opening up foreign
markets because Of exchange OBJ
stacles. Critics Of AAA regard this
abb with suspicion. They say farm
products are coming into the coun-
try faster than they are going out,
.Notes-Talk OF consolidating hous-