Evening star., 1935-05-18

House announced emphatically that
the bonus was not discussed, nor was
any legislative business mentioned
throughout the trip.
Yet some of those who went along
returned to the Capitol and informed
their Republican pals privately that
Mr.. Roosevelt had read portions of
| proposed bonus message to them. They
even went so far as to say Republicans
would have hard time voting against
the President in view of arguments
he expected to make.
The publication Of these reports
aroused the White House to further
emphatic denials. Again the question
was who should be believed, II any
one.
Truth Serum Needed.
The situation OF the N. r. A. bill
is a case in point. Senators wrangled
for months about it, refusing to agree
on anything. Their vehemence indi-
Gated some Of them would rather lay
down their lives than permit its con-
tinuance. Yet few days ago the
| Senate passed an authorization con-
tinuing it for 10 months without any
discussion whatever and without
record vote.
| Tricky administration leaders slipped
out the word that the House would
stand by President Roosevelt and con-
tinue it for two years. Thus, the issue
would be put up to the Senate again
in peculiar way, so the Senate would
have to give in eventually to the
President for two-year lease.
Then Administration Leader Pat
Harrison arose and announced he
lDould not be party to slipping
anything like that oper on the
Senate. Those behind Harrison
insisted he may hare had his fin
gers crossed at the time. But the
point is the condition of Washing
ton affairs is developing to place
Uhere truth serum might be OF use.
One explanation for all this is that
Washington has been teeming under
meath with politics to an extent
usually reserved for presidential cam
paign years. In fact, the campaign OF
1896 has opened year ahead of time.
Pitch Reached Too Soon.
Opposition tactics have tended lately
| to put and keep the New Deal on trial
constantly, and the New Dealers are
fighting back. The job against the
administration is being done not only
by the Republicans but by such out
standing hecklers as Long, Coughlin,
the American Liberty League, the
Chamber Of Commerce, etc.
Wise politicians in all camps believe
the fever pitch is being reached too
soon. Privately, they do not believe
the opposition momentum can con-
! tinue to grow for the next Is months
until election.
Hidden away in the auto strike
settlement are some provisions which
virtually wreck the Auto Labor Board.
The board chairman, Leo Wolman, has
been vacationing out Of town during
the strike. In his absence the Labor
Department fixed up settlement
which may permit Mr.. Wolman to take
a permanent vacation.
Hereafter, grievances Of discharged
workmen will be settled directly
between the employees and the
companies. This takes away the main
business of the board Furthermore,
the agreement says that seniority
rules will also be agreed upon directly,
without Intervention by the board.
| LabOrites May Gain.
On top of this, A. r. Of L. locals In
several auto plants have served notice
that if the Wolman board tries to call
an election among the men to choose
bargaining representatives, they will
call their men out again.
The agreement does not grant union
recognition, but may permit the
Laborites to get somewhere If they
show reasonableness and RESPONSE
bility.