The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-29
WHOLE CAPITAL
IS INTRIGUED BY
UNIQUE BUDGET
All Washington Anxious to
Find How PattonS
Get AIOng.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON. July 29.-The
smallest budget ever to dominate
the attention Of official Washing
ton had congressman busily adding
and subtraCting TO-DAY.
With as much interest as it has
displayed IN nine and ten billion
dollar budgets. the capital is try
ing to figure out the S1207.60 al
l0Wance on which Rep. Nat Patton,
a hrst-tcrmer from Texas, says he
and his family lived their first four
months in Washington.
Details Of the Patton ~budgetary
problem have been laid before the
Black lobby committee.
Rep. Patton testified that ne pur-
chased four baby bonds for $1,000
during his first four months in Of
fee. that his salary in that period
was s2206. and that he had not a
penny of outside income. He adds,
however, that ne brought 5000 cash
with him from home, that he cashec
a s30l6O mileage check allowed him
by Congress, and that he collect
ed a note for about 500.
Eyerybody's Interested
The S32O6. 5000, s3O1.6O and 500
add up to s42O7.6O. SUbtracting the
S30OG for bonds leaves Sl2O760.
The committee is interested be-
cause Eugene C. Sellers, NRA en-
ploye from Texas, has testified that
Patton visited John c.. Carpenter,
president Of Texas Power and Light,
the day before the House voted on
the holding company bill; that he
left carrying a neWspaper-wrapped
parcel which was too small and TOO
soft to contain a cigar box, which
Patton said it did; and that Pat
tons nephew voiced suspicion after
the Congressman, two days later
(Which would be July p, displayed
a government bond and said ne had
Just purchased it.
Committee Is Puzzled
Patton denies buying a bond in
June or July.
So for the present at least The
committee is interesting itself in
the SI2O7.6O four-month budget.
I'VE are puzzled as to how you
could get along" said Senator
Gibson CR., VT.
This is the problem.
Patton and his wife and three
children came up from Texas to-
gether. There was a boy of college
age, a daughter Bessie, since mar
ried, and my baby girl Bonnie"
who is II.
The boy, Nat Jr.. spent most Of
January with the others. Bessie was
a member Of the family till the end
of March. For the last few months
there have been just the three. Two
boys are in college in Texas.
$50 a Month Rent
The Pattons pay $50 a month for
an apartment at George Washing
ton Inn, opposite the House Office
Building. Mrs. Patton is a frugal
girl her husband says, and does
her own cooking. The rent includes
electricity and gas for cooking, but
not the telephone.
Patton told the committee he
couldn't eat steaks and such
heavy food" and took Carpenter
for lunch to a restaurant where
they could get corn bread, cabbage
and hog jOwlS. At another time. he
said, they went up to a grocery
store and bought a weeks supply Of
substantial food
With that hint the budget makers
are writing down about $40 a week
for the Pattons' groceries. A quart
of milk daily, occasional cream. but
ter and eggs would be about $40 a
month additional at Washington
prices.
Telephones cost S4.10 a month for
so calls.
Working Close Quarters
Patton had about $500 a month
to go on after paying for his bonds.
and with rent and food deducted
he had s156 a month left, or ap-
prOXimately $50 a week.
He drove a 1888 Chevrolet. and
the budget makers write down $3.50
a week for gasoline. Laundry
probably cost $3.50 a week. For
lunches. cigars. and so forth.
they write down $3.50 a week. and
ouOrbar & for iDcidau+a1S sucb &c