, 1935-11-12
Behind the
Scenes I'm
Washington
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
Washington Correspondent


WASHINGTON. NOV. H. Uncle
Danny Roper'S boys at the Shipping
Board Bureau are busy cooking up
a ship subsidy bill which viii ap-
peal to the acquLsitive instincts OF
the ship owners and operators who
have romped profitabiy through
persistent shipping scandals involv-
ing the Coolidge. Hoover. and
Roosevelt administrations.
Taxpayers who viii be asked 70
foot the bills knoW nothing Of the
new plan. Nor. apparently, DO Il Z
congressman who viii be asked 70
pass it. But some of the biggest
shipping operators have seer the
proposed measure and are having
a hand IN its preparation.
The task presents difficulties, as
Congress rebelled last session when
the R0per-sponso-ed Bland Cope
land subsidy bill was trotted out.
To be promptly branded as a virtual
blank check for subsidy seekers.
Several members are sharpening
axes for appearance Of a similar
measure.
On the other hand. the recent
departure OF Thomas NJ. Wood
ward from the Shipping Board Bu-
reau makes life far easier for off
Gals there. He was always a great
thorn Id their efforts TO please
shipping interests.
Helped TO Beat "GOugc"
Woodward was vice president Of
the Merchant Fleet Corporation.
The more the big shipping COM
panies came to dislike him. the
more Roper reduced the scope OF
his work.
But when CONGRESSMAN Edward
| G. Moran Of Maine and others came
to him to ask about the Bland
Copeland Dill. he gave them his
honest opinion, which helped them
lick the bin.
Woodward Is now consumers
| counsel with the National Bitumi-
nous Coal Commission. his job be-
ng to see that thu Gufley act isn't
used 70 skin the pants off consum-
erS. HIS record indicates that he
will insist on representing the pub
lie.
He has been in government and
| private practices here since 1914
For awhile he was AAA's chief
hea-ing officer, but Roper drafted
him to the old Shipping Board and
there were orders to clean up"
But Woodward found that every
time shipping company lobby sts
put on the heat. his recommended
lions were ignored.
Fought shipping Interests
Woodward objected to huge sal-
aries paid shipping company Of
ficials while their companies were
in heavy arrears 10 the govern
ment. He fired two or three per-
sons who had been playing very
close with the companies. ne warn
ed Roper that the National Bust
ness Advisory Council's sub-com-
mittee charged with working out a
shipping program was packed Win
~,ean mail contractors.
Considering the advisory COM
mittee on which he served 10 be
sort Of an interstate commerce COM
mission for shipping. and finding
that safety and other regulation
had been shot to pieces. Wood
ward fought for stringent enforce
ment Of maritime laws.
he recommended foreclosure on
n bankrupt company heavily IN
debt 10 the government when he
found the president was still TAX
ing out $4,000 to 500, 90 a year.
Made chairman Of a special COM
mittee 10 review the Black commit
tees ocean mail evidence, he made
to Roper reports on % companies
with recommendations for recovery
OF millions or dollars. collected
though alleged fraud.
lie riddled tn Bland-C Copeland
hi.l before Roper formally approved
IL.
Hands Are Tied
Woodward, obviously. was a dan
gerous man. His recommendations
we're nearly always ignored. He
| finally found himself chairman OF
a committee which could act only
on directions from the director Of
the Shipping Board Bureau-James
Craig Peacock, an old pal OF Rop-