The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-22
HAPPY To SEE
FOES AID FOES,
He AYERS
"KinqfiSh" Issues Statement
Filled With Satire Aimed
at President, FERA
BY LEWIS E. WHITE

BY LEWIS E. WHITE
In a statement dripping with
satire, Senator Huey p. Long of
Louisiana today expressed his
pleasure that the Federal Govern
ment has come to the financial
aid of the antiLong New orleans
city government. He said:
81 want the Federal Govern
ment to give my enemies this
help.
you know, I am a true,
genuine, political Christian. I
love to see my enemies help my
enemies"
His statement came as result
of the announcement that the
FERA will operate nine city de-
partments in New Orleans which
owes all city employees two
months back salary. The Fed
eral Government already has
taken over the city's garbage col
lection to safeguard public health
during a strike of city employees.
The employees walked out yester-
day and the strike was settled last
night.
Money Ready
Frank H. Peterman, Louisiana
State director of the FERA, told
city officials at New Orleans that
he would have the money to meet
the pay rolls today,
The Federal aid will enable
Mayor T. SemmeS Walmsley's
city government to stave off sur
rendering to the Kingfish's State
political organization.
The city treasury is empty.
This is blamed by Mayor VANS
ley, political foe of Senator Long,
on the Kingfish's spite" laws.
Mr.. Peterman also is a political
enemy of the Senator. Said Sen
ator Long:
81 thank 'em (the Federal
GOvernment) for it, but I want
the Administration to help all
! the cities, now that they've
started this practice.
: Il understand Roosevelt told
'em that as long as they are
anti-LOng they can get help.
What a fine precedent Mr..
Roosevelt is establishing. He's
going to have all the cities of
the country declaring them
selves bankrupt so they can
come to the Federal Govern.
lment for financial aid. And,
If Roosevelt does it in this
case, he'll have to take over
the pay roll of every other city
that comes in and says it is
bankrupt. .
81 have no objection to the
Federal Administration giving
New Orleans this help. 1t will
relieve the good people down
there of paying taxes. The
Federal Administration has
done things lots less worthy.
I'm glad to have the Federal
Administration do this for my
enemies. The Federal Govern
ment can raise the money, but
the city can't. The President
has got five billion dollars, so
he can afford to take over the
debts of the cities. That's
good way for him to spend
that five billion dollars"
SPITE LAWS? WHAT?
To the claim that his spite"
laws have caused this financial
strife in New Orleans, the Louisi-
ana Senator said:
81 don't know what they're
talking about. We have a law
down there that says that be-
fore a city can borrow any
money it must have the APP
prOval of the State board. We
gave New Orleans the right to
borrow whatever it wants, but
the trouble is that the city
can't borrow any mOney-nO-
body will lend the city any. 1t
already has gone into court and
declared itself a bankrupt. It's
all because Of the rotten ad-
1niniStratiOn there.
Nov you take the State gov
eminent there. We have more
money than we know what to do
with. We're in marvellous shape.
If those fellows running that
city of New Orleans would run it
like we run the State they
; wouldn't be in such bad shape
as they are now"