, 1935-03-03
WASHINGTON
BY George DurnO

BY George Durno
Limits-The latest bonus propo-
sal is that immediate payment be
limited TO needy. disabled and
overseas veterans.
This one comes from the veteran
organizationS--that is, certain OF
them. It would eliminate until
i945-unless in the breadlines-
those 1000. 900 men who never got
out OF the United States back In
II.
President Roosevelt Is still spar
ring around 10 beat the whole bo-
nus idea. The congressional situa-
ton isn't overly bright for that.
AT the moment the White House
is said to be holding out for a
limitation to those actually In need.
The vets are tossing in overseas
men OF all descriptions as a very
good talking point.
Effective-A peasimistic note B
sounded BY some OF the boosters Of
social security" legislation. They
begin 10 doubt whether old-age and
unemployment insurance legislation
will get through at this session. So
many kinks have delayed prepare
ton Of the bills. and so much in
fluence is at work to block the
plan to saddle unemployment in
surance costs upon employers. that
the enthusiasts are becoming dis
couraged.
1t is too early for them to des-
pair. The real test has not yet
come. They have relied too much
upon the assumption that what
ever the administration wants In
this emergency" would pass with
out delay. That assumption Is now
subject 70 change without notice.
But this does not mean that the
social security measures will fail.
IL does indicate that congress will
try TO make the measures effective
If 1t should decide to enact them.
MiSsing-Congress will soon be
discussing ship subsidy. Opinion Is
divided. Some legislators r OPP
posed TO a subsidy under any cir
cumstances. but the majority seem
to agree that American shipping
must be fostered II II is TO compete
with foreign shipping. The stick
ing point with some members Of
congress is their fear that their
district will not understand II @
subsidy Is granted TO shipping.
The senate munitions committee
brings out details OF immense
bonuses paid to Bethlehem Steel
executives just as the movement TO
grant ship subsidies gets under
way. Senator Clark Cdemocrat)
helps to throw the monkey wrench.
So many senators agree with him
in opposing war profits" In ship
building that subsidies TO this
branch Of shipping may turn up
missing.
Defeat-If Washington can be-
lieve all It hears from returning
pilgrims. Huey Long is set to cut
so much additional ice in Arkansas
that he will take Senate Majority
Leader Joe Robinson for a buggy
ride. ut will be remembered that
the Kingfish accomplished Ma"
Caraway's election In that same state
when everyone said he couldnt)
Men who have had an a very
close 70 the Arkansas ground late
" find that throughout the rural
communities Long gets an eager
dience whenever he goes on the a
do. His personally distributed
newspaper has a wide circulation
among the farmers. Arkansans who
once whooped it up for President
Roosevelt are now taking the Louisi-
ana Kingfish for their gospel leader,
All OF which doesn't forbode any
good for Senator Robinson when he
comes I'D for reelection next year
presumably against Longs strong
candidate. Tom Terral. who Will
stand without hitching.
Wages Relief Administrator
Harry Hopkins has canvassed the
nations 5000 counties and made q
special report to President Roose-
welt on the subject Of prevailing
wages" This. please remember, Is
the fly IN the ointment OF FDR's
S4.880. 0O0. 900 work-relief bill.
Hopkins survey shows the nation
wide average for unskilled or COM
mon labor to he IS cents an hour. II
ranges all the way from 70 cents IN
a few Of the Dig northern cities 70
10 cents in some OF the rural south
eastern communities.
Skilled labor strikes a national av-
erage at 81 an hour although
FERA finds that carpenters In some
southern communities are paid as
low as 80 cents,
Dynamite - Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Wallace anticipates he viii have
as big a corn-hog adjustment pro-
gram on his hands this year as last.
A million farmers got farm-hog
checks In 1884. Over 100000 already
have signed up for a repeat order.
Wallace has whispered in the