The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-25
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT s. ALLEN.


w fact stood out with striking
force at the Mayors Conference
here:
The overwhelming majority of
municipal executives are ardent adj
vocates of Federal relief.
Squarely up against the impoSSi-
bic task of stretching depression
riddled treasures to cover even
meager relief needs, most mayors
and city managers are joining no
Liberty League chorus about lex
cessive government expenditures.
To them, Federal funds have been
literal life-savers, rescuing their
communities from financial collapse
and civil disturbance Their big
demand was for MORE govern
ment money.
The most rousing moment Of the
three-day meeting occurred when
Relief Administrator Harry Hop
kinS, diScarding his prepared manu-
script, declared that the Govern
ment of the United States has put
its hand to this pillow lof relief and
it is never going to be taken away"
With a few exceptions the city
fathers attending the conference
consider unemployment a perma-
nent problem.
Baltimore's Mayor, Howard jack
son, talking Informally to a group of
colleagues. voiced the idea in these
words: Il look forward to a steady
and strong improvement in business
in every line and at the same time a
practically undiminished number of
unemployed"
archaeological developments and
the increasing mechanization of
production were held responsible for
this condition.
Next to the mayors demand for
more government money was their
clamor for lOng-range relief pol
icy. Washington'S policy of shift
ing to a different plan every year
first direct relief. then the CWA,
then back to the dole, and now the
PWA-makeS for waste and inef1-
cheney.
They want to see a permanent
Federal relief program, combining
all these formulas if necessary, but
one which the cities can be sure OF
and base their plans upon.
A HEARING which will materially
~ affect the future of television
and cheap telephone communication
opens here today. (Monday0
The Federal Communications
Commission is rehearing the petit
ton of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Co. to lay coaXial cable
between New York and Philadelphia.
Made of one wire inside a large
cable, instead Of the usual twisted
wires, a coaXial will carry about 240
telephone messages simultaneously
with about 240O telegraph messages.
Also it will carry simultaneously the
thousands of impulses needed for the
dots and lines Of television.
Last April, the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph was given per-
mission to lay the cable provided it
allowed other scientists the privilege
of its use for television experimental
ton. In huff. A. T. and 7. with
drew the application, demanded a
monopoly or nothing.
Members of the Federal Com
munications Commission believe the
company fears that laying the new
cable will prove how cheap tele-
! phone costs can be made, thus lead
the wholesale lowering of rates.
Public criticism of the company
has been expressed by Commission
er Paul Walker, in charge of the
S75O,0O0 Senate investigation of the
A. T. and rs telephone monopoly.
He claims the coaXial cable is test
ing the sincerity" of the companys
expressed aim to cooperate for the
benefit of science, cheaper rates and
the public
Meanwhile the entire question is
up again before a none too friendly
commission.
NOte-No coaXial cable has ever
before been constructed anywhere
in the world.
XTISCONSIN, with IA mayors,
w had the largest representa-
ton of any state at the Mayors
Conference in Washington.
Oldest city executive in point Of
service was Charles S. Ashley,
mayor of New Bedford, Conn, for
80 years. Next oldest was Daniel
w. Hoan, Socialist mayor of Mil
Waukee for 20 years. Youngest in
service was Harold H Burton, elect
ed to the mayoralty Of Cleveland,
O., the fifth of this month.
Copyright. 1885 BY United Feature