, 1935-02-13
WASHINGTON
BY George DurnO

N@ ~
worst Of it is, they feel like a bride
who was deserted deliberately al
just the right time for the broom 10
get all Of the neighbors' sympathy.
Well-informed quarters say the
president chose his time for the
spanking with all OF the threatened
spring strikes in mind. Trouble in
the auto. textile and other industries
will give recovery no push and FDR
is reported 70 be out to stop them
II possible by an appeal to public
opinion.
II will be a case OF Mr.. Roose-
veltis popularity versus the esteem in
which John Citizen generally holds
the union movement. Nj. Roosevelt
has a more effective publicity dep
artment than the A. +. Of L.
Wages-Bill Green and his cohorts
hesitate to turn their guns directly
on the White House, and shots fired
at a shorter range haven't proved q
very effective barrage.
The union boys have run TO con-
gress for help since FDR began
clipping. at their wings but hece
again their success is doubtful.
Senator Carter Glass appropria-
tons committee wrote a prevailing
wage" clause into the $3.50. 000, 900
workrelief bill, but after the White
House switchboard got busy 1t was
reconsidered. If 1t is brought up on
the floor chances are said by leaders
to be against its passage. FDR is
prepared TO make a real issue Of
this proposition II necessary because
he does not think emergency public
works should compete with private
payrolls. He is concerned only about
giving the needy unemployed a job
and bare living wage that will tide
them over until things pick UP.
Dangerous - The building trades
are most fearful Of the administra-
ton plan to pay relief workers only
$50 a month. They have visions Of
a general lowering Of the union wage
scale through auto-suggeStion.
On the other hand. NRA officials
are reporting privately that heavy
industry would start picking up II
only the thousands Of unemployed
union building tradesmen would
work for a lower figure than existing
scales. AS one official said to a
friend: They are NOT working at
the rate Of $l2 a day and are refus-
ing TO accept work at So"
You probably won't e any such
statement made publicly, however.
IL 10 a little too dangerous all
around. But the problem is keeping
New Dealers replenishing the mid
night oil trying to find out whether
the chicken or the egg should come
first
~FRACAS-Meanwhile, government
agencies trying TO stimulate cons
truction work are cycling closely the
internal scrap in the Building Trades
Department Of the A. F. Of L. which
went to court recently. IL Is a
question Of control between IL
unions which feel they were booted
out with Bill Green's connivance
and z unions. headed by the car
penters, bricklayers and electrical
workers, who + now recognized by
national headquarters. Bad blood Is
running IN every vein Of these rival
groups.
Rumors are current among the
leaders Of the II unions who lost
their control Of the Building Trades
Department that a strong move will
be made at the next A. r. OF l..
convention TO unseat Green and his
associates.
How much strength they can
muster is something else again. The
"A. r. Of L. ordinarily puts on a
steam-roller act at convention time
that would have made the old-tIme
political bosses blush.
Recovery-Pending the outcome Of
controversies over the work-relief
bill congress Is passing much cons
tructive legislation at the behest Of
the president. He is winning more
tricks than he loses. He is fond OF
quoting Cousin Theodore: IF I'm
rs per cent right I'm doing pretty
we'll"
Changes in the Home Loan and
Housing systems are all to the good.
They provide means for helping
millions now staggering under too
heavy mortgage costs. Homes can
be saved and new homes acquired
at less cost. Apartment. office and
hotel buildings will be Salvaged. Rail-
roads will be saved. The RFC is al
ready saving them in many cases.
Mining operations are stimulated.
Contractors are perking up as build
ing operations are made feasible.
The aggregate Of fresh business
under the new system Of mortgage
insurance is becoming ar important
item Of recovery.
Swift-The day Senator Adams OF
Colorado almost got over an amend
ment in committee which temporary
" at least would have substituted
A S. $50. 100000 outright dole for the
presidents $3.50. 100000 work-relief
bill, Senator McAdoo Of California
was the administrators big rescue
man. After the amendment once
carried IL was McAdoo's vote on q
hurried reconsideration which Gre
ated a stalemating tie.
McAdoo had Just returned from q
trip around the world that day.
When ne came into committee meet
ing he announced he would not vote
because he was not sufficiently in
formed. Then came the Adams pro-
posal and 1t carried by one vote.
Senator Jimmy Byrnes. Of South
Carolina, White House spokesman IN
the senate. rushed out 70 q phone,
came back for a huddle with Nc
Adco. and the new vote followed
ell in the space Of q couple OF min
|uteS.
II never Saw a man get 20 much
- - - --1-m~n T. al