, 1935-09-20
WASHINGTON
Nv Raw Tucker

Hamilton q put over his program
for setting UP an independent federal
agency charged with keeping an eye
on ultimate prices.
DR.. Hamilton, who heads the con-
sumers' protective agency originally
established under NRA, is quietly
bringing into one central group all
the departmental agencies which are
supposed 10 watch over buyers in
terests. Then he hopes TO create q
small board Of review TO pass upon
complaints which may be referred 70
Washington by this inter-depart-
mental board or by regional bodies
set up throughout the country, To-
cal. city and state councils.
What he has In mind Is eventual
creation Of q BODY which will have
the independent status OF the Fed
eral Trade Commission. It's function
would be to safeguard the consumer
against unjustified prices as the
Federal Traders protect them against
harmful products and practices. He
has powerful backing for his idea.
but 1t will probably be a long while
before he makes good on IL. Rising
prices usually mean political pros
perity.
Quit - Although It has been slow
In leaking out, Sue Whites resigna-
ton from DR.. Hamilton's council
discloses the difficulties the New
Dealers face in evolving q practical
program for checking the rise In hv-
ing costs.
Miss White Is q loyal political SOL
der. formerly connected with the
democratic national committee, and
would not have stepped out without
some provocation. AS a consumers
protector she had helped TO build up
the nationwide system OF consumers
councils. They were supposed to &C.
port the trend Of prices. forward
complaints against excessive in
creases and furnish q yardstick for
comparison.
Miss White thought they could
perform a real ard immediate func-
ton. But the Hamilton plan seemed
70 her to jeopardize their activities.
Her superiors took the position that
he county groups investigations and
complaints would ~agg-avate dissatis-
faction and undermine al efforts TO
work toward q permanent solution.
They didn't want 70 stir up trouble
while setting up a l~cng-range pro-
gram. Sc she quit.
United = Private transportation
interests - railroads. trucks, air
lines. waterways and pipe lines -
have Orranl-eu to beat OFF the threat
Of government ownership OF passen-
ger erd freight facilities. II marks
a desperate last stand by these rival
interests to keep an aggressive New
Deal from laying hands on them.
The new organization which viii
soon be born amidst q hlare OF trum-
pets. has built from the grass roots
LID after twelve months Of prepara-
ton. It viii represent individuals.
corner grocers. big shippers. bond
holders and trans port interests. II
will set up a research division to
study how TO divide a constantly
dwindling total or business among a
constantly increasing number OF
competitors 50 that all may survive
and attract new capital. Then 1t
will carry its campaign into every
state and congressional district.
Though the sponsors don't admit
IL publicly, they fear that FDR has
designs or them. and may move 70
take them over when and IN their H.
nancial difficulties force them to sur
render. "A clever railroad lawyer
mas discovered that the Wheeler bill.
instead OF providing simply for gUv-
eminent ownership OF railroads, de-
mands federal ownership OF "all
transport lines" That's why these
traditional enemies have united -
for the first timel
Time - New Deal lawyers have
changed their pace in advancing o
ward the supreme court trenches.
They want to hear the bad - or
good - news as soon as they can.
Instead OF delaying the march Of
crucial cases 49, the processing tax.
Stun clearance. iva, Wagner and
Guffey laws - toward the high tri-
bunal Tor final adjudication, they
are cooperating 70 get quick trials.
Twas solicitors move In refusing 20
oppose a test action was the tipoff.
Behind the scenes ID of J legal lights
are working furiously to prepare ap-
peals. They look for a decision on
some major measures before Christ
mas.
Whereas government attorneys
waddled deliberately IN the first two
years. they now believe a speedy de-
termination viii prove advantageous.
If the court cracks down again. II
will permit congress 70 try to revise
the laws I'm question without unduly
prolonging the next session. II
President Roosevelt decides to ap-
peal from the court 70 the people In
q big way, as he has limited, the ear