, 1935-07-08
WASHINGTON
Nv Raw Tucker

C0meuy-AdmlnlSlratlOn hiIaAs
ers aren't any too happy over their
muffing Of the power lobby issue.
They realize now that they let their
mightiest weapon lie idle In the dust
Of a COMMITTEES shell.
On March Is the senate passed
the Norris resolution for investiga-
ton OF the holding company lobby
almost unanimously. Sam Rayburn
Immediately asked unanimous con-
sent for It's passage In the house. But
COP Leader John Taber OF up
state New York-the Carlisle pow
or interests Gibraltar-blocked II
with his lone objection. The resolu-
ticn was promptly forgotten.
Few would have dared 70 vote
against the resolution had the adj
ministration swung behind IL earlier
in the engagement. The inquiry's
revelations might have squeezed the
death sentence" through the house.
Now the somnolent White House
fixers have been put ON the spot
by angry house inquiSitors. Four
months too late the senate starts q
face-saving inquiry OF utility pres
sure and propaganda. AS a senate
wag says, 1T looks like a comedy Of
terrors."
CIinched-Representative Brewster
stepped on tender toes when he
dragged the PaSsamaquoddy project
into the center Of current congress
sional intrigues. It has been Presi-
dent Roosevelt's favorite dream since
lie and Louis Howe sailed the waters
OF Eastport harbor Is years ago.
Mr.. Brewster's moves mystify his
colleagues. AS Maine governor he
ragged up and down the state against
the dominant insult interests. He
attended FOWL sessions" Ct congress-
men scheming to put through the
death sentence" He was Brain
Truster Corcoran's first lieutenant
In cloakroom conspiracies and Skin
mishes. After q week &C home he vot-
ed against execution Of holding ccm-
panies. And Re capped that by charg-
ing that Corcorsn threatened 70
squash the Ouoddy project unless
Brewster stood bv the White House
This sharp-shooting dramatizes
the swashbucklirg strategy indulg-
ed in by both sides these turbulent
days. Everybody Is ~straining to put
something over on somebody else.
Nobody shows any mercy. But Mr..
Brewster wins. They can't back down
on Quoddy now. even though some
engineers call It a chimerical
scheme.
Proxy-Carter Glass win ~de-
bowel"-to use his own Chaucerian
expreSsion-anybody who dares TO
suggest that New York bankers
helped 10 write the omnibus bank
ing BIZ. The opposition has quietly
slung this slur at the 1858 Virginian.
who winccs when he Is called wen
cradle" especially BY the tanalizing
Huey Long.
Whispers that Chase National
Banker Aldrich kept in constant
touch with the bills trainers infur-
late Mr.. Glsss. who is admittedly the
soul OF honor. Alrich did talk to
Senator Townsend Of Delaware In
an attempt to influence the final
draft. But Mr.. Townsend told the
New Yorkri he was opposed to his
request. although he agreed 10 TO
present II 10 the committee.
we rejected II unanimously"
snapped Senator Glass. Then AID
rich tried tc get me on the phone
five times. And I said 10 the girl
IN the com--ittee's office. do you
swear?' 7 could see she didn't 50 ]
asked her TO cuss BY proxy. I told
her TO tell Aldrich II he called me
again to go to hell" The senator
chuckled till his tiny frame shock:
Il think she did. for he didn't call
again"
Wither?-The democrats ablest
political planners are having as
much trouble as republican grass
rcoters In readying up an issue for
1885. The Brain Trusters see small
possibilities Of raising the power Is
sue.
lie nOucE NOtCo Ban1AC 1AANAis
instance. two cities WHICH ought &c
be power-conscious are New York
and Chicago. al Smith. ex-Gov.
Roosevelt and Mayor LaGuardia
Grated on the iniuities OF private
utilities. Sam insult taught the peo-
pic a few lessons along that line in
Chicago. But a majority Of the dem
ocratic delegations from these cities
pumped against the White House
on the Wheeler Rayburn bill. Even
George Norris boys from Nebraska
split three-to-two against the Rose
welt program.
The revise the Constitution slogan
struck a sour note. There has been no
rush TO rally round the Blue Eagle
as against the historic thou-shall-
rot document. Next?
LelsureIy-Uncle Sam win spend a