The Bismarck tribune., 1935-03-21
Dehind the Scenes
~ in Washington
WITH RODNEY BUTCHER
(Tribune Washington COrrcspOndentD

NRA Codes Called "Horse Trades With Indus
try" -. !. Other Notables in Battle Cast Some, Sad
to Say, Ignorant Of What It's All About
Washington March 21-A couple of old pals met
when Donald R. Rchberg, the celebrated assistant
cashed during the Senate NRA investigation
Not SO long ago those keen minds were teamed.
That was before the progressves gave Rchberg up
fallen angel.
Richberg labor lawyer and brilliant protagonist
of progressive thought fought many of the old fights at
the side Of the senior Senator LaFoete While the old
man lay sick in 1924, Rchberg and young Bob went to
Cleveland and the third party convention which
nominated their common leader for the presidency.
Next year, when "old Bob died, his son succeeded
him and Don Richberg was his chief legis-
lative adviser Between hem they furnished much of
the brains Of the progressive movement in the Coolidge
and Hoover days.
But hurls harsher questions At
Richberg than LaFoettc, who, with the
Costigan Of Colorado, represents the commit
tee the thought Of progressives that Richbers
has become apologist for administration fail
ures and conservative policies
In past years Rchberg has been agin' the govern
ment. Now he's large part Of It, Progressives have
been both for and agn but become increasingly sour
sCORCHED BY YOUNG BOB
LaFoette describes NF2A codes as a series Of "horse
trades" with industry. with all the David Harums
the other side Of the fence This nasty crack be-
cause Richberg one of NRAs two chief traders
LaFollette thinks Richberg is devious and evasve.
He and Costigan want to know how, with NRA on the
job, unemployment-according to NRA figures-rose
from l060OOO0 at the end of 1888 to 083oOO0 at the
end of 1894.
Then they throw figures back and forth at
each other to prove alternately that NRA has
been grand success and grand flop. They
also prove that there aren't any reliable figures
on unemployment or many other figures TO de-
monstrate what NRA has and hasn't done.
"a prying neWspaperman at about this point dis
covers that NaA has given the senator's booklet Of
cant discoveries and interpretations by NAs research
and planning divsionD
A NEAT COyER-UP
For instance the study showing that wages paid IN
1884 but 60 per cent the 1926 amount whereas
dividends and interest stood at $50 per cent
Hts booklet especially prepared for the committee
and further pyng reveals seemingly deliberate effort
to avoid letting the committee understand too much)
Follettes recitation Of the original announced aim Of
NRA-promoton Of fullest Of production facilities
increased consumption spread Of purchasing power and
so onremnds everybody that the early glorious visions
OF General johnson have yet to be fulfilled.
NOTABLEs IN CAST
Those two old pals, Don and Bob, the stars Of
the show. But the supporting cast IS notable.
The committee room is full, mostly of high NRA
one Of the cigarets hts company makes, and John L.
Lewis Of the miners union and NRA Labor Advisory
Board.
The committee includes many Of the more prominent
senators-Pat Harrison, chairman and administration
leader Hugo Black of daddy to NA because the
administration invented 1t to sidetrack his 30hour week
b Joe Guffey whose political puissance landed him on
the committee despite his newness Jim Couzens cynical
about oil this MIRA business; Arthur Capper, bright and
alert; and Gerald Nye. who helped promote the In
vestigation.
Then there are three would-be shaxp-shoot-
ers-Dan Hastings Harry Byrd. and ~Blind Tenn"
Gore m Of whom would b more effective 4
they weren't 70 densely ignorant about NRA.
Probably owe 1t to Don Rchberg to report his good
natred protest. after the session, about story re-
Gently wrote. He said:
"When refuse 20 70 90 invitations for speeches
every month and make only two or three and you write
that have mania foe making speeches. want to
rmpe your hair"
Copyright, 1885. NEA Service, Incl