The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-28

Washington, May 2S-It now
seems almost certain that big,
bland Jim Farley will step out of
his job as postmaster very soon
after congress adjourns.
There are several reasons for
this. One Is that Jim Is spending
considerably more than his cab
met salary. And although some
people around Jim may have
made money, he himself is not o
wealthy man.
Another reason is the necessity
to trim political fences in prep
aration for the 1886 campaign.
AS continuing chairman of the
democratic national committee.
Jim will give all his time to this.
Then there is the very import
ant reason that Jim has become
something Of q political liabil-
ity in the New d a cabinet.
Resentment against him is con-
siderable in almost every part
Of the country. A lot Of people
think there is real smoke behind
the Huey Long charges.
And finally, Jim is just plain
tired. He il tired of taking the
rap for o lot OF things for which
he is not responsible. He is tired
Of being the presidents trigger
man.
The man who is first in line
to succeed Jim is his good friend
Frank Walker, now head OF the
national m erg ncy council.
Frank never liked this job much.
He is too placid, too generous,
overflows with too much OF the
milk Of human kindness. But II
he wants the more restful post
Office job he probably can get
it.
Labor Sop
The administration is quietly
trying to placate labor leaders
on the work-relief wage sched-
ule of $19 to $94 a month.
The laborites are up in arms
over this low level and are put
ting the heat on their congress
sional friends to make 1t pub
lie issue. This the administration
is most anxious to avoid, since
the question is political dyna-
mite.
In an effort to forestall an
open fight, Harry Hopkins has
been comforting secretly with
union leaders and assuring them
that the announced wOrk. relief
wage schedule will not be allow
ed to undermine prevailing pay
levels.
At one meeting with leaders
of the building trades unions,
Hopkins pointed out that the
presidents order specifically en-
powered Hopkins to set aside
promulgated wage rates wher-
ever he deemed that desirable.
In other words, the schedule
Is to be q sort of general yard.
stick, not an ironclad rule.
Hopkins also stressed the fact
that fedcrally financed public
work projects are exempted
from the work relief wage
schedule.
The implication of Hopkins
explanation amounts to this:
That in localities where
labor Is organized and can en-
force its emands, prevailing
wages will be paid. But where
an opposite situation prevails,
pay will be based on the work.
relief schedule.
The Law
Department of Justice ofiicials
are shaking their heads IN
Amusement over the proposal
advanced by one of their own
district attorneys for bringing Q
Chinaman TO justice.
A dispute between two China
men became q cause OF alarm
TO Peirson M. Hall, u. 8. dis
trict attorney for Los Angeles
county. The dispute was over the
alleged sale Of q woman by one
to the other. The more culpable
OF the two had fed to China to
escape the clutches of the law.
Hall began burning MP the
wires 10 washington, demanding
action, declaring q tong war was
impending. Justice ofIIcIaIs said
that ought 90 BE the business Of
local police, but asked Hall what
ne would recommend.
He urged that q department Of
justice investigator be dispatched
promptly across the Pacific 10
bring the Chinaman back 70 Cal.
ifornla. After bringing him back,
Hall proposed court action to
Aarsan4 14ls..