The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-07-11
SEEN and HEARD
around the
National Capital
BY CARTER FIELD.

lVdtlOIdl Ndp1ldl
-By CARTER FIELD-
Washngton.-Graee concern is felt
by high administration officials over
tile lack of eagerness of SO many peo-
pie all over the country, to get off re-
lief rolls. even when fairly good jobs
are offered. 1t Is impossible to obtain
accurate figures about this phase of
the situation. all the bureaus. adminls-
tratlons. agencies, etc, being verye
much publicity shy about this disturb
lng development.
1t is known. however. that reports
from all over have been received, and
That President Roosevelt's hopes of get
ting everybody off the relief rolls as
speedily MS possible have run up
against a very stiff resistance.
In many cities young men eligible
for the CCG camps are refusing to
take the examinations. In one large
city families are insisting they do not
want their boys to be trained as sol
diers-that they hear beer is sold ut
to associate with low characters.
Processing entire ignorance OF the
situation in that city, the G&C officials
here insist they do not believe the
objections cited by the parents are
genuine. They say that the talk about
military training was very widespread
when the camps were first started. but
that 1t broke down of Its own weight
long time ago. They believe the sole
and only reason Is unwillingness to get
of relief rolls.
In other Cities In fact In most cities,
enrolment In the CCC camps has been
way below what was expected. and the
answer is believed by officials here TO
be just unwilllngness to get off relief.
But In every Instance officials say to
inanrlng reporters from the city In
question: please don't mention tina.
sou talked to me about this
incidentally the Veterans bureau has
been having Its troubles along the same
line.
A Real Problem
ILe whole question brings up the
poiniNwhether the United States Is now
going through what England went
through few years back. In England
the dole brought some interesting con-
sequences, and. as they occurred be-
fore the depression hit this country,
there was quite a self-rlghteons feel
Ing in this country that Britain was
bringing her troubles on her own head
by pampering the dole collectors.
Then came the depression, and the
New Deal. Whereupon 1t became pro-
gressiye In this country to insist that
It was the duty of the government to
take care Of the cold and hungry, and
reactionary to point to Britain's
troubles on the same sort of problem.
Now 1t Is being realized that 1t Is a
problem involving fundamental traits
Of human nature, and that the United
States is not very different In the
character of Its people from Britain.
No one, not even the most bitter critic
of the administration on Capitol Hill,
Is advocating that people should be al
lowed to starve or freeze. But very
interesting mental transformation Is
becoming apparent In New Deal cir
cles.
For example, high official OF the
Federal Emergency Relief administra-
ton was told that his agents in large
middle western city had threatened to
take families off relief II they refused
to permit their sons to 20 to the CCG
camps, or II abe-bodied men In the
families refused to take Jobs which
were offered.
Il have not heard about that he
said shortly. you see 1t Is a purely
local problem The man on the gronn(
handling the relief situation has au
thority to handle the matter In any
way he sees fit"
You mean II he turns families Of
the relief rolls for such reasons a.
/ that 1t is entirely up to himl hs
| was asked.
Exactly he replied.
"Would the local officials make {
report to headquarters here about it,
the questioner persisted.
Nothing OF the kind need be re
ported he replied
And his whole manner indicated
what some of his underlngs told tn
writer In confidence, that he did no
want any such reportsl
Cut Huge Fortunes
President Rooosevelt's objective |
to reduce al large fortunes TO may
mum OF 0O0,0o0-all large income
10 d maximum of $50 600 year. II
said this In conversation few day
ago with a very rich Democrat, VIII
incidentally had been a big campalg
fund contributor, and the gentleman
still suffering about 1t.
In another most interesting cor
versation with Wisconsin man VIII
had backed him when Roosevelt reall
needed backing. in the pre-conventio
DAYS. the President advised his Gale
10 go back to Wisconsin and max
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