The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-02-14
Starts Something

:no bored into positions OF respon-
s;bilitv In so doing, the New YORK
Souse member has stirred up YER
;t.bIa avalanche of reviews, sur
COWS and explorations of what IS
Going on of a socialistic nature IN
the Government. Mr.. Fish charg-
cd on the floor of the house that
come of the New Dealers were
making cash contributions to the
areds" and proceeded to name
them.
The house speech of Mr.. Fish in
a general way called attention to
tbe various movements going on
that can properly be described as
radical in every respect. His at
tack directed the attention of OBJ
servers here to some phase of adj
.ministration policies that thus far
have excited little comment.
For many months, of course, the
activities of the Agricultural Adj
iustment administration have been
subjected to the criticism that they
constitute RECOMMENDATION of tn 9
farmers, that is, general program
that holds down good farmers to
the level of the haphazard type In
the agricultural industry. Likewise
there have been attacks on the
methods employed by the recon-
struction finance corporation which
dominates the affairs of some four
thousand banks as a result of loans
to them and is gradually expand
ing its sphere of influence among
other industries to which loans
have been made.
The senate committee on NUM-
tions, headed by Senator Nye of N.
Dakota, appears to be headed for
a recommendation that all NUM-
tions and ship yards be govern
ment controlled if not government
owned, and only a few days ago
the congress enacted a law ex-
tending for two years the opera
tions of the Reconstruction Finance
corporation so that it may continue
the government influence it has
welded heretofore.
On top of these, Mr.. Roosevelt
has asked the congress to appro-
pirate almost $4,000, 200, 900 for his
use in the general recovery pro-
gram and has virtually demanded
that this fund be made available to
him without strings attached. In
} other words, the President desires
to enpend this money as he sees
fit, whether it meets with congress
sional approval or not.
We hear also much discussion of
administration policies and legis-
lative proposals providing penal
ties of a serious character as pun
ishment for. those who dare to go
contrary tos the general recovery
laws advanced by the President
These penalties, fines for the most
part, are being described in some
quarters as a form of Hitler ter
rorism. The administration stands
on the ground that it must have
complete dominance if its schemes
are to be successful, but the fact
remains that it is prepared by vir-
tue of the punishment available for
its use to take away vast sums of
money from the industry or midi
yidual which objects to government
methods. There is arising more
and more criticism of the extreme
punishment employed in the New
Deal legislation and unless / miss
my guess badly this feature of the
New Deal will flare back upon its
sponsors in a manner most unwel-
come to the brain trusters.
New Arguments
In connection with the Presi-
dents plan to have congress pro-
vide him with the $4,000, 900. 900
fund to use in his discretion, oppo-
sltlon has arisen with some new
arguments. While the President
constantly is repeating his asser-
ton that the administrative branch
OF the government can accomplish
more with a free hand than by
having the money earmarked by
congress for specific use, critics
are charging that the Presidents
proposal means putting the govern
ment further into business. For
example, the senate appropriations
committee uncovered information
the other day while considering
the $5,000,000,O 900 bill that indica.
yea the existence of plan bv
"nicn the federal government
would engage in the distribution
ana sale of gasoline.
II lakes no stretch of the imagi-
haI,on to see how this move links
WIN the previous efforts of Secre-
sary iekes, as oil administrator to
sUntroi the whole oil industry By
ne distribution and sale of gaso-
lae, the government can enforce
Equations by competition which
sne supreme court said were un-
Constitutional. Its control would be
exercised through damming up the
SUCKS OF gasoline and oil COM
p anies privately owned, would find
themselves l at the mercy of govern
Hent bureaucrats.
mere are many other features
VI sne $5,Oo0,0OO,OOO bill against
h Snlch fire of the opposition has
s oeeh directed, but it seems safe to