Evening star., 1935-03-20
Testifies Before Packed
Session of Senate Inquiry
into New Deal.
SAYS REPORT OF OWN
BOARD MISSED TARGET
Was Crowded Out of Papers by
Others, Veteran Declares.
Denies RancOr.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Clarence Darrow told Senate In
vestieators today that N. r. A. was
taking business away from the little
fellow and giving it to the big ones"
The veteran attorney, appearing
b@ fore the Senate Finance Commit
tee, testified in a low conversational
voice that the Recovery Administra-
tion was increasing the advantage OF
big business.
Big business has all the advan-
tage," he said, land N. r. A. only
has increased that advantage"
Darrow's shaky voice rose for the
first time when he warned that there
will be nothing but masters and
slaves before We get much further
along" Near him in the crowded
hearing room sat Donald r. Richberg,
recovery co-ordinator.
Sees Suffering Growing.
Talking of the concentration of
wealth, Darrow said there was no
question but that the little man has
Su1eI6u SlIlCS lLlc IlduRuldlIOI VI
N. r. A."
Senators and spectators listened in
tently to the 77-year-old lawyers
views based on his experience as
chairman of the N. r. A. Review
Board.
Holding his spectacle case In one
hand. Darrow told how he organized
the Review Board completely separate
from the N. r. A. set-up, to avoid
criticism.
Il had nothing against Gen. john
son. then or since" Darrow said. but
I felt it wouldn't look good to the
public If the Review Board tied up too
closely to the NJ R. A. board
Darrow then described how he re-
ceived three letters requesting speed
in his investigation.
Tells OF Publication.
Talking in conversational voice
and rarely looking at the committee
the lawyer said three weeks
after his first report was delivered to
the President it came out in the
papers one day preceded by the report
of Richberg and followed by Johnson's.
or vice versa. At least they got all
the paper"
Il hadn't been here long enough to
stand in with all the boys" Darrow
added. 1T came out in an unfortunate
way to serve our purpose. But there
were some people who read it."
Darrow added that the experience
was a rather cooling thing"
After that, he said, no more reports
we're delivered to the President.
we didn't think the law required
they be submitted to him, so he could
put them in the closet" Darrow added.
Policy Was Changed.
Following reports. Darrow testified.
were put out in "surreptitious way"
so they got to The newspapers.
Members of the committee laughed
from time to time at Darrow's humor.
We had an appropriation Of s50.-
O0O' he said, 1T looked small, espe-
cially compared with what the N. r. A.
had, but they got here first. We
didn't have expensive Offices, but we
drew our salaries regularly, and when
We found We had only $4,000 left we
decided to quit.
Darrow said he supposed learned
had good time and hold
no grudges."
The lawyer then discussed the tire
business. Smaller tire firms, he said.
are in small towns, adding that the
only way they can sell their product
lis to charge less than the big fellows"
There are lots of small dealers IN
America" Darrow said. but not as
many as there were, and there will
be less and less under present condi-
tons.
But when they're gone. who is going
to buy the rich mans products?'
Darrow said he looked at the whole
industrial question "as fight for life
by these little fellows"
Offers to Answer Questions.
After some time, Darrow said rather
Perhaps 1 have been talking too
long, maybe you would rather ask
some questions"
oCAdtOl SOuAcLlS, hCpuUIlCdii Va
Michigan, asked if he had any specific
cases of oppression of small business.
Darrow mentioned Southern lumber
dealers. but said the committee would
have no trouble getting evidence,
Couzens asked if Darrow would
save" any of N. r. A.
Il don't know that can answer
that" he replied. II wasn't there long
enough to be familiar with it all. But
the basis of it is very bad"
He added that in his view NJ r. A.
did not help labor
Chairman Harrison asked what
would happen if N. r. A. was allowed
to expire.
Il don't believe labor would be
(C0ntinlnd m poua q Cn1i,nnn Al