, 1935-04-17
WASHINGTON
Nv X

Tired - "CactuS JACK GdIIei Dlue
fair TO convert the vice presidency
from a political graveyard into a
live mans lob. He has never been
content to be merely the official
diner-out of the administration. HIS
alert mind and natural ven for
! power have led him a never-excer-
cised prerogative that will make vice
presidents a potent influence IN
shaping legislation provided the
senate doesn't finally clip their
wings.
Gamers decision to scrap the
time-honored custom Of allowing
chairmen Of senate committees to
select their own confereeS and 10
name them himself should have some
important results the next time a
controversial piece Of legislation
needs ironing out between the two
houses.
The vice president is tired Of seeing
senators selected as conferees who
are opposed 70 the piece Of legisla-
ton in question. IL happened last
when the 1880. 000, 900 work-relief
bill floundered around IN confer
ence.
Experience This reaching out
| for power is characteristic Of Gar
ner. When he became minority
leader Of the house he did not re-
sign from the ways and means COM
mittee As is customary - and
tend strictly to the business Of lead
ership. He held both jobs and ruled
the democrats with an iron hand.
Nor was he relegated to ~innocuous
desuetude when he became vice pres
ident. Although he announced with
becoming modeSty that he was mere
ly the Senate'S presiding officer, he
continued to WELD great influence
in the house and has been steadily
expanding his territory to cover the
senate as well.
He often says the last word about
legislation at cabinet meetings -
rs BELTS his third Of q century Of
experience IN congress.
Withdrawn Senator Robert d.
Carey r. Of Wyoming. rates as the
Gees No. | nemesis. First he s@r-
red up that toilet kit investigation In
the early DAYS Of the forest army
which nearly had the New Deal or
IFS ear. Now he has again stepped
in TO ask How Gomez"
The senator learned some days
ago that an invitation for bids had
been sent out by Director Robert
Fechner's corps for the furnishing
and delivering OF fabricated material
and supplies for complete mail order
barracks. A little private investi-
CATION convinced him that buildings
OF this type might prove a great deal
more expensive than structures
erected from local lumber BY local
labor.
Care got RI touch With Fechner
and stressed the %deSirability Of pro-
viding as much work for local labor
as possible - also suggesting that
comparative costs be more carefully
checked, Fechner saw the point and
the invitations to bid we're with
drawn.
FOOtwork - New England Is build
ing a bonfire under the administra-
ltion on the cotton processing queS-
ton Cotton mills are making a ire
mendouS howl and ere backed b.
legislators and governors. The
Mas-~ ~NusettS delegation demands
%protectic1 against Japanese cotton
imports and denounces President
Roosevelt for failing 70 apply an en-
barge as authorized by the recovery
act.
Secretary Wallace Is roasted BY
angry New EnElsnders for his threat
Ito JooSt processing taxes instead Of
lowering them. The movement in
opposition TO the processing tax is
spreading. FDR is urged 20 pay
farm benefits directly out Of work
relief funds 49, AS he is authorized 10
do - thus doing away with the tax
which New England claims is killing
the textile industry.
Quick footwork will BE- necessary
TO save the new AAA bill.
Impeachment - The house Judi
ciary committee has been sitting a
mass OF evidence and testimony per-
tanning 10 the methods OF operation
Of certain federal judges In Illinois.
California and Florida at recent Sc
cret sessions
One member told a Washington
friend that he would not be surpris-
ed to see impeachment proceedings
instituted in certain instances.
Necessary II develops belated-
" that not every member OF congress
who voted for the big work-reiief
bill was personally sold on IL.
Representative Henry b. Steagall
Cd. OF Ala, chairman Of the house
banking and currency committee,
might be placed in this category.
At a recent private gathering he
explained he really didn't think
much OF the measure but that he was