, 1935-05-28
WASHINGTON
BY Ray Tucker

8@M 4@@@%a
Explosion-New Dealers on Capt.
tol Hill have received confidential
reports on PWA projects which have
shaken their faith-again-in human
nature. For years they have locked
upon Honest Harold" Ickes as a man
who would tolerate no conniving and
could not be hornswoggled.
Now they hear that his department.
Is loaded with anti-New Deal engin-
eers recruited from private utility
ranks who are circumventing both
Mr.. Ickes and the president. They
are supposed TO have altered or
withheld reports recommending con-
struction OF municipal power plants
in cities where private corporations
are charged with exorbitant rates
fer poor service. It's alleged that no
proposal to use federal funds for
establishing a "yardstick" plant can
get by them.
The most serious accusation tells
how mex Of these IckeS engineers en-
tertains the PWA field staff at a
luxurious home near Gettysburg each
weekend. The owner is a vice-preSi-
dent Of the Pennsylvania railroad,
Under his inspiration the party con-
sumes scotch and soda and de-
nounces Mr.. RooSevelt's power poll
cieS. Unless the three anti-New Deal
engineers-their names r known
n fired or muzzled, there will be
an explosion on the senate floor one
CT these days.
Dlet-Scientists al the Depart
ment Of Agriculture are conducting
the most thorough study OF Ameri-
can food that has ever been made,
Their immediate aim Is to discover
low the depression influences what
We eat. but their long-range objec-
tive Is TO obtain information for
guidance in renovating u SSricul-
tural plant. There is no use eX-
panding wheat acreage II year by
year We are eating Jess bread.
Food. they find. is not personal.
You do not ask for roast beef or a
salad because CT your own taste but
because OF economic trends over
which you have no control. But
whether you ask for a steak and po-
.atoes or for a welsh rarebit on your
way home from the theatre In an
eastern city may determine wheth-
er a western farmer will pay off his
mortgage this year. Tickle tastes on
Main Street often determine the fate
OF Kansas farmers.
The depression-and now high
pr1ce-has upset both consumption
and production People N not buy
ing enough milk, vegetables. cereals,
and dried fruits. They r buying
too much OF the filling food-ggs,
fats. fresh fruits. sugar and coffee.
Their purchases OF cheese. iegumeS,
meat and fish are not sufficient 70
furnish an adequate diet or to absorb
the amount Of those foods produced
on our farms.
Slip-A miniature Teapot Dome
scandal was In the making on Capt.
tel Hill until the Interior Depart
ment's congressional watchdogs
caught IL. The incident reveals how
Ignorance or carelessneSS In franz
ing a bill may sometimes cause
trouble for an administration.
Senator O"Mahoney Of Wyoming
introduced a measure designed tc
correct too sweeping restrictions on
the leasing Of western oil lands. II
provided that certain tracts could be
leased but withheld the naval oil
OF Teapot Dome and Elk
Hills-the two reserves which form
I'd the basis OF the Doheny-Fall ex-
element.
When the measure emerged from
he House Public Lands committee
The provision withdrawing Teapot
Dome and Elk Hills had been ell
minated. This was discovered by
Harry Slattery. assistant TO Secre-
Ickes. who broke the original
oil scandal. There was ar immediate
inquiry to discover who was respon-
ible. II turned out TO be only a cleri-
al slip and the mistake will be cor
on the floor. Had the exemp-
ion gone through unobServed Y
might have blown up the Roosevelt
administration. This. sort OF thing
} hitenS the hair OF honest executive
officials.
CuItivation-Some Of his advisers
are begging the president TO take
the field against the lobbyists. He
rebuked democratic lawyers
who presumed upon their political
prestige TO dominate executive de-
partments but they are now more ac-
tive and successful than ever before.
Their annual fees r estimated
at more than 100000 a year. Al
,hCugh original Roosevelt men. they
represent interests which are bat
tlir : the presidents program-poW-
er. textile, financial groups. II vas
Robert II. JackSon-former Secre-
tary of the Democratic National
ccmmittee-who devised the new
for testing the validity Of the
dollar devaluation order.
Mr.. Roosevelt's silence In the face
OF these developments puzzles his
close friends. The lobbyists enter
tain and are entertained by cabinet
members. The recording Of these
social affairs In the column OF local
newspapers brings them gullible
clients. In the old days l~obbygows
to keep their names out Of the
papers. The new-style lobbyists cul-
tivate society editors.
Blunders-The private utilities are
botching their fight On the Roosevelt
power program. In the senate they
their s against iva 70
Senator AuStin-former counsel for
q utility corporation. In the house Il
was carried on by Representative
May OF Kentucky-former head Of a
coal company. Mr.. May recruited
such aides as G. A. BeaSey. who has
long been the washington repre-
OF several southern utility