, 1935-02-14

National Commander Belgrano
probably will deny this vehemently
but medicine Is being mixed or
Capitol Hill which requires Legion
support as an essential ingredien'
OF the prescription.
Cancellation Of interest or bonus
loans to date Is said to be the lure
held out as against immediate cash
payment. This would help all World
War veterans who have borrowed
up to the so per cent allowed. be-
cause otherwise the interest would
eat up most OF their remaining mon
ey by ls45.
Choice - Already the New Deal
has showed one block under the
bonus j%uggernaut. 1t Is almost GER
tain the Vinson bill. which directs
the Treasury 70 find ways anc
means OF raising the two billion
odd dollars necessary for immediate
payment. will be reported out by the
House Ways and Means committee
instead OF the Patman bill. which
would pay off In printing press
currency.
II bad should come to worse
from the White House view - and
the Vinson bill passed, Secretary Of
the Treasury Morgenthau could
promptly advise congress that the
only way the veterans draft could
be met would be through special
taxes. Congress hardly would dare
slap an extra 2 billion on the
country.
Representative Fred VinSon OF
Kentucky is a member Of the Ways
and Means committee while Repre-.
resentative Wright Patman OF Texas
Is not. which Is one reason why VIM
sons bill probably will be the COM
choice.
Optimists-Mr. Roosevelt, getting
back 70 the reported compromise,
has said he would oppose cancella-
ton Of interest on a public debt for
any organized authority.
u will be up 70 him TO change his
mind - assuming he has the oppor-
- but some OF his most in
terested advisers think he could
be persuaded.
The New Deal is out 10 beat cash
payment 81 all costs. Veteran poll
are Of the opinion that the
impending bonus fight will be the
biggest one OF all. II II Is beaten
they predict IL viii not be reSurrect-
cd for some time. II isn't the first
time that's been said.
Narrow - II q bonus bill rides
through both houses despite every
thing the administration can do TO
stop 1t. and President Roosevelt is
forced 70 use his veto power, the ad-
mlniStration will then be up against
D very close count OF noses.
Senate leaders tell the White
he could command sure
margin Of three votes TO sustain a
veto. but that would be hewing too
close TO the line for comfort and
he doesn't want TO risk II.
A digest OF the nations neWspa-
pers, prepared In the u. 8. Veterans
Administration, shows about two
thirds OF the papers to be against
the cash bonus editorially. That
doesn't stop many thousands Of vet
Grams from writing in TO their SEN
atorS and congressman demanding
action.
SLOW $50 Federal Housing Admins
TRAITOR James Moffett Is wondering
who has been inspiring recent stories
he was twitching to resign.
some OF his friends suspect Off
IN other branches OF the New
Deal but they haven't been able 10
pick up any truly definite clues.
In private conversation, however.
they are willing 10 name four men.
They say each would like TO see
Moffett out or be in his shoes but
they can't make up their minds
which one to pick as the villain.
Moffett insists he isn't going 10
resign until he has made the hous-
Ing job 60. That's a big order which
would keep him around Washington
Tor many moons. Most optimistic
reports are that II will be Septem-
Der before any new home. building
81 consequence starts under direc.
Ton OF FLA = and IL the bankers
generally continue TO render only lin
service TO the cause it will be later
than that.
Success - II Moffett hasn't been
abe to set any records yet with new
construction, he at least has sue
ceeded In getting business men en-
thuSiaStic about his modernization
ana repair drive. Actual govern
ment loans for such work are SIN :
oit short OF 100000 but the men
VINO make The assorted equipment
ana material YOU put into a mod
tfnlzaticn job report they have dome
about 1926. 000,0 1000 additional bust
ness with folks able to pay cash.
The section of the HOUSING Act
permitting federal guarantee Of re-
loVlElpg loans expires December 81
a movement already Is afoot
among the industrialists TO drive or
congress a little later for extension
of this section.
II isn't the business they get from
ne government : guaranteed loans
hat interests them so much. What
Lhey want is 10 keep FLA peRging
away with publicity. The latter il
what has done the trick for them.
N~iyisection - Manufacturers and
other employers are putting their
heads together in the hope OF beat
ng the proposed payroll tax to raise
an Unemployment insurance fund.
The question is raised whether this
AK Is constitutional. the point be-
.ng that II Is not for revenue pur-
poses but Is a device to coerce the
states to enact social security legis-