, 1935-01-13
WASHINGTON
BY George DurnO

COdotW4oe pdcceIlSeT steamer was N
distress.
And still Huey was able TO make
page one. The Senate galleries were
packed TO hear his TRADE and they
followed him alphabetically.
Don't forget further that the
senior Senator from Louisiana was
able TO live down that Sands Point
affair. Ninety-nine out or a hun
dred politicians would have been
retired permanently to private life
on the strength OF that one.
Indicter $3.50 Longs national vote
getting ability is being appraised
from every angle by the powers
that-be. Few men in public life
would are to refute his rediStribu-
tion-of-wealth ideas. even if so
minded. He has a dozen other is
sues that draw applause and APP
proval o any average audience.
His colleagues on the Senate floor
dare not debate with him. Long
ignores the old rules and calls a
spade a spade. He seldom makes a
statement in the course OF one Of
his h~ell-roaring speeches which he
cannot follow up with sufficiently
embarrassing observations to silence
any would-be haraSSer. The King
fish IS ready at a moments notice
TO shake a skeleton in most Of his
colleagues closets.
His reason for finally breaking
with the White House was obvious.
He fully expects TO be indicted for
income tax evaSionS-So he stole a
march on the procession and in
dicted his prosecutors first.
Irritant-Original impressions of
those living outside Of Louisiana
when Huey took over the state IN
its entirety were those Of amaze
ment that the voters would sit
supinely by.
Yet roughly Long did the same
thing in Louisiana that President
Roosevelt did in Washington during
the last session OF Congress. Both
extracted from the legislative
bodies for their own discretionary
use most OF the power hitherto
vested in the Congress and the
State Legislature.
How those powers are being or
will be exercised by the two men
Is something else again.
At the moment Long is busy rub
bling salt into every sore wound
he car find in the New Deal. He is
constantly calling the attention OF
the Progressive Republicans TO the
way in which administration poll
ticianS tried TO beat Senator B-on-
son Cutting Of New Mexico after
that worthy went down the line
for FDR in 1882. He harps on
Bernie Baruch's influence with the
White House because he knows it
gets the goat OF Senator Joe Rob-
inSon OF Ark.-the majority floor
leader and the financier being close
friends. In the adroitest way he is
appealing for the support of every
element in the country which feels
itself downtrodden and discomfort
ed.
II Is the measured opinion Of
many observers here that II PreSi-
dent Roosevelt should ever stumble
the Louisiana Kingfish would grow
overnight TO large proportions.
CiaSh-Madame Secretary OF La
Dor Frances Perkins is reported to
be getting a bit TED up because
Chairman Francis Biddle, OF the
National Labor Relations Board,
wants to report direct 70 the White
House instead OF through her Of
flee.
The Labor Board was created by
executive order tc function lin con-
nection with" the Labor Depart
ment rather than under" 1t. A
further proviSo. however. indicated
that the Board should report through
the Secretary Of Labor. Those sta
toned at official listening posts say
Biddle tried several times to carry
his troubles personally TO the Pres
ident but was blocked each time
by Miss Perkins.
The funny angle TO this squaeble
| is that NLRB's decisions so far
have been about 80 44-l00 per cent
~pro-labOr. Madame Secretary like
wise has the interest of the work
ing man at heart. As the State
Department lads would say. it's just
a matter Of protocol.
Hash-It,s too early to size up the
probable strength Of bonus-infla-
tion-silver bloc combinations. Mem
bers OF these blocs are moving
cautiously. sounding out the pos
sibilitieS OF combinations that might
put over the bonus. force issuance
OF paper money, boost silver pur-
chases and increase cash benefits
to farmers.
One fact Is suggestive-all in
flationiSts are delighted with the
prospect of a big increase in the
public debt and lavish expenditures
for new reform experiments.
No n bloc can do much TO
change the situation but a combi-
nation of them can make hash Of
the budget estimates.
Defense-Little opposition will be
made to the increase of the Navy.
II is scheduled to receive $4,000
900. This will provide for new des-
troycrs and submarines and carry
on construction Of warshipS. besides
more airplanes. Improvement OF
Pearl Harbor. and an increase or
officers and enlisted men. Bv June
80, 1896 under this program the
Navy viii be up to treaty strength.
Army estimates also meet gen.
eral approval. The S3l5. 000. 900 ask
cd for will add SAT airplanes and
complete INFLAMMATION OF some
| cavalry regiments.
Sentiment in Congress Is prac-
tically unanimous in supporting the
administration for improvement OF
national defense. Nothing Is said
OF japan, but estimates when an
| alyzed reveal that Pacific Ocean
defenses are best looked after.
Frank = Ever since Hirosi Saito,