, 1935-02-17
WASHINGTON
BY George DurnO

observation-disclosures men are
casting a dubious eye on the plans
Of MeSSGs. Hopkins and Ickes TO move
whole communities OF unemployed
into ready-made villages m rural
sections. They hope the idea viii
work out but they are fearful the
cart has been put before the horse,
As most industrialists nov Serv-
ing the Roosevelt administration
IN advisory capacities see II, the
success Of moving people TO a new
domestic hinges III providing them
with permanent employment on the
spot.
The government has over so i'm
uuStrial- agricultural communities
and subsistence homestead projects
on the fire without definite promise
ol industrial enterprise IN more than
two or three instances.
Abn0rmal-New Dealers have been
preaching decentralization Of pop
ulation and OF industry. The indus
trlalistS agree to 1t AS a fine social
theory. But they believe II Is not
something which can be accomplish
ed overnight to meet an economic
emergency. They see Ii rather as a
problem for long-range planning and
slow evolution over a period OF Is OF
so years.
Employers aren't making open OBJ
iectiOns TO Relief Administrator
Hopkins communities and Public
Works Administrator Ickes' home
steads. but they have in mind the
trials and tribulations Of the Reeds
vile. w. Va, project IN which Mrs.
Roosevelt Is so interested. Congress
blocked erection Of a post office lock-
box factory there because It would
provide unfair competition. Through
strenuous efforts a branch factory
making electric Sweepers Is about
TO be set up instead by private enter
prise.
Generally speaking, history shows
that only the Sweatshop industries
are attracted 10 z desperate pop
ulation. Normal business inquiries
Immediately into availability OF raw
materials. secondary materials.
transportation facilities. etc.
Bait-Secretary Of Commerce Ro-
per's Business Advisory and Plan
ming Council recently made public q
preliminary report on a survey Of the
possibility Of d~ecentralizing indus
try. II recommended establishment
OF a government agency TO admin
ister a S2.500,000 revolving fund for
loans TO encourage moving small in
dustries into rural communities
This suggestion was made prlnct-
pally with the idea OF putting UP q
little bait and seeing how many nib
bleS would be attracted. The council
Is now engaged in a thorough-going
study Of the problem which viii take
six months or more. They intend TO
ascertain what industries want to
de~centralize and what their f.nan-
cial status 5.
Meanwhile some industrialists
with scattered plants who have come
TO Washington ON code business re-
Gently have talked privately about
the deSirability OF concentrating
everything into one big factory. This
usually would be cheaper for the en-
ployer from the standpoint OF. pro-
duction and distribution.
Reversals-The Supreme Courts
gold-clause decision can't satisfy
both sides. Already another demand
Is made for a system that will re-
auire a two-thirds vote in the court
to invalidate a law.
A similar proposal was MADE ten
years ago by Senator Borah, and II
got nowhere. A little examination
showed that IL would place the bal
ance OF power IN the hands OF a MIN
ority. The court can only affirm or
reverse the decree OF a lower court.
II that decree should hold a law un-
constitutional. a minority Of the SUI
preme court could prevent reversal
OF the decision. and thus checkmate
congress. the president and the ma
iority OF the supreme court.
NegrOes-Advocates Of the Town
send Plan To give everybody over 90
years Of age $500 a month TO spend
took another Jolt this past week.
Those who have been holding the
iGea 10 be ridiculOuSly unsOund pass
al the word around quietly 70 south
cln congressman that the plan drew
WV color line. This would man that
1nv southern negro family with a
member past the so mark would get
that $500.
The congressman from south OF
Mason-Dixon who previously had
been interested III the California doc
tors Danacea are loking IN other
directions now. They have visions ol
relnr unable 70 get labor If the
townsend Plan should ever be adopt
ed.
GuyemOr-Some OF Washington ;
most competent ofiStage observers
are putting forward the idea that
President Roosevelt has asked Tor