, 1935-07-31
WASHINGTON
BY Ksay Tucker

HAAChas- 4O0AS DOD LA EO1~
lette's antics puzzle the New Deal
ers. They can't determine whether
the black-haired progressive is q
friend or foe, despite his known
friendlineSs toward the presidents
program.
1t was Senator La Follette's mob
nization CT 20 senatorial soak-the-
richers which forced congress TO take
the presidents taxation message SER
i0uSly and put 1t on the calendar for
this session. The democrats would
have liked TO forget 1t. Then Mr.. La
Fcllette precipitated a showdown on
the banking bill after differences
between the Glass group and the ad-
ministration were on their way to q
quiet burial.
Although Senator Fletcher had
threatened TO introduce amend
ments remaking the banking bill
nearer to the presidents desire. he
weakened at the last minute. He
agreed TO withhold them. But Sena-
tor La Toilette wouldn't permit this
backdown. threatening to present the
amendments himself. Friends like
that are sometimes embarrassing.
Shifts-Claude Bowers Is wasted
material as ambassador to Spain,
just when the administration Is
coming under fire and needs spell
binders. Bowers Is to be shifted back
TO Washington. Whether he lands in
the Cabinet depends upon many
contingencies. but an opening will
appear when Jim Farley resigns
and they are great friends. Uncle
Dan Roper insists that he isn't to
become Postmaster General but Is to
remain as head OF the department OF
commerce.
In the senate II was asked why
Comptroller General McCarl
couldn't be fitted up in the COM
merce building instead OF In a cost
ly new building-the argument be-
ing that there isn't any commerce
any more anyhow. McCarl was dem
led his proposed s11, 0O0. 900 building
tentatively. The matter went ito
conference where the real decisions
are now made.
FrC1en-The SEC has almost
wound UP two difficult Jobs which
had to be laid aside while II tan
gled with bulls and bears over mean
er matters. Chairman Kennedy
wants them disposed OF before he
wrestles with utility holding com
| panieS.
The commission Il cleaning out
cver-the-counter dealers, whose
ranks are reputed to number many
gyp operators. More than 5000 appli-
cations for registration have been
received. and one-third OF the appli-
cants showed complete ignorance Of
the laws requirements. II they scld
On that basis, their customers paid
and paid and paid.
The commission viii soon promu-
gate regulations defining "pegging,
fixing and stabilizing legitimate
operations. The law 1orbids "manip-
ulatiOn," but Mr.. Rennedyis experts
find It hard &c distinguish one acti-
witty from the other. Final ruling may
strengthen the market and thaw out
what Sir Willmott Lewis calls Gods
frozen people" Mote: Sir Willmott
IS Washington correspondent for the
London TImes.')
Security-President Roosevelt Is
extraordinarily fond Of Homer Cum
mings but recent Developments
strengthen the suspicion that there
may be a complete reorganization OF
the Department Of Justice. A likely
bet in case Mr.. Cummings should
step out in Ferdinand Pecora, star
investigator.
Mr.. Roosevelt Is dangling high
stakes before Mr.. Pecora's eyes TO
tempt him 70 undertake the inves-
tigation Of the A.T& Il. Nothing less
than the post OF chief legal officer
OF the country would persuade the
brilliant New Yorker TO quit his
S22-500 Iudgeship. "Ferd" admits he
would enjoy the work OF digging in
&c the A.T& T.. but he Is So
ole and seeks security.
The president has another arRu-
ment up his sleeve. Mr.. Pecora be-
lieves that a denomination by Tam
many next fall is a certainty. But
graveyard reports to the White
House have it that the Wirwam
plans 70 sidetrack him. They have
ltos forgiven him for bucking them
ofi Jim Farley's Fusion ticket in
1882. So MI. Pecora,s future may
lie in Washington rather than New
York
Senate-It was "in conferences"
that Vice President Garner was put
On the mileage list. Vice Presidents
heretofore have paid their " way.
but now they have been raised to
an equality with senator's and rep
resentatives. From Texas to WASH
ington and back Is quite an item.
snd Jack is thrifty, with Mrs. Gar
ner also on the payroll for years as
q very capable secretary.
Mr.. Garner. by the way, looks for
early adjournment-aDd nobody Is