, 1935-07-01
WASHINGTON
Nv Raw

WASHINGTON
BY Ray Tucker
Personal - President Roosevelt'S
handling OF the taxation problem
has widened The breach between
The White House and capitol hill.
This off-the-record history reads
like political fiction.
Two weeks ago the bosses assured
the boys there would be no tax
proposals except renewal OF nuisance
duties. The first suggestion Of new
taxation came when the president
told the press at Hyde Park that
he was preparing q message, sub
Ject unknown. When some guessed
that II might be on taxes, the re-
porters were informed that the
president was only joking.
But he wasn't. Although leaders
begged him not raise the question
at this time, he replied with a
message emphasizing the social
phases Of his three-point program.
He set no time for action, and the
wise boys PASSED II off as a political
gesture COR 1896. Next he demanded
immediate doings. But when MeSsrs.
Harrison and Robinson threw the
legislative machinery into high gear.
Mr.. Roosevelt laughed az reports
that he was In any hurry.
Finnegan-It may not be so hard
70 follow the unwritten plot II you
keen IN mind certain off-stage cap
ers that we're unrehearsed at the
White House.
Huey Long gave three ironic
cheers for this acceptance Of his
share : the : wealth program. Bill
Bcrah shouted Amen" but with his
tongue IN his capacious cheek, as
usual. Twenty-Five liberal senators
signed a manifesto for an all-Sum-
mer session to carry out the presi-
dents ideas. The progresSives ant
left-wingers we're hogging the lime
light. 50 Mr.. Roosevelt called in his
congressional cast and told them
70 60 ahead with the show.
But this order, duly reported b.
MeSsrS. Harrison and Robinson
angered the conservatives. Even
those who favor the underlying
philosophy deprecated Such haste
AS Whirligig predicted weeks ago
the president wants the taxes but
ne doesn't want To De taxed too
heavily for wanting them. That ex-
plains the Off-again-on-again-gons
again tactics.
HaII!-Many White House aids
heaved a sigh OF relief when Hugh
johnson fell for the Roosevelt
LaGuardia offer TO put the boon
in "boon-doggling" in New York
City. The general had been angling
for several federal posts.
His exit from the Washington
stage was typical. on tie very day
ne took the new job he wrote ar
article assailing the new work
relief program as "~leaf-raking." The
jibe was repeated over the telephone
70 one Of Harry Hopkins assist.
ants, ad he was asked TO guess who
had said II. 20" he replied. some
republican reactionary. I suppose.
mo" came the answer. lit was
made by your new works progress
director in New York City!"
Shunting-Future administration
can take a lesson from the New
Dealers in handling a bonus army
with gloves instead OF guns. It's a
costly and troublesome scheme. a.
a confidential report on theSe
maneuverings reveals. But It's sup
poSed to be better for bonuseers x
draw $40 a month in tropical sur
roundings than TO camp at the
capital and stir up a bonus-mindeo
congress.
More than 5000 bonus marcher.
have hiked 70 washington since Mr.
Roosevelt took office. That Is al
most half the number which set
leo down in alleys and vacant lots
before the eviction some years ago
Such a nucleus would attract many
more thousands II allowed 70 con-
gregate here. They might threaten
serious political embarrassment.
But FERA keeps them on the
move. Some are Shunted TO tranSi-
ems camps roundabout. Others re-
ceive placement In Florida rehabil-
itation camps Some have been en-
rolled In CCC outfits. They &
peaceably enough. but plenty bounce
back after this polite buns rush.
Debtors-The $4,000. 900 600 worth
of potential farm loans "0adine
toward the White House liter
many high officials. They admit
privately that these pending bills
The Bankhead and FraZier-Lemke-
may upset the structure OF large
scale financial aid to hard-up farm
erS.
Despite favorable bookkeeping
PRACTICES the repayment picture OF
farm loans is gloomy. About 40 pei
cent OF borrowers from the S..
0-GO0O. 900 Land Bank fund arr
delinquent. But the hidden catch l
that nobody Is listed as a bad debtor
go long as he pays interest. Onll
80 per cent are cutting down TIT
principal. About SO r keeping uI
interest on another 500. ZOO. 00
block OF loans. Principal payment!
are not due until three years aftel
the loan Is negotiated.
TonUrnce In largely nj faulk Moe