The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-02-08
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National Topics Interpreted - G4@a113
by William Bruckart T9HFaf11EM
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dams, for there is FIVE million, three
million, twenty million, seventy-eight
million and so on through the list.
Yet 1t is not the money phases that
constitute the difficulties in the legis-
lation as the leaders in congress see
them. The bill sets up an in
tricate system of administration
against which even the present far
flung list of New Deal agencies pales
into insignificance.
First, there is the ponderous organi-
cation for administration to be created
here in Washington. Beneath that
there are state organizations in every
state, regional and county organiza-
lions and even city administrative bu-
reaus. I think it takes no stretch
of the Imagination to foresee how
many workers will be necessary to do
just the plain chores of keeping a
record of all the individuals on the
government payrolls, federal and state,
for administration of this legislation.
Here In Washington, we will have
social insurance board, a group OF
three members, receiving $1,000 a
year each and serving for six years.
The federal emergency relief admins
traitor will have duties to perform in
conjunction with the social insurance
board as we'll as apart from it. The
secretary of labor is given jurisdiction
over some phases of the administration
and the public health service is
charged with conduct of the health
insurance phases.
This is not all. The secretary of the
treasury is charged with the manage
ment and investment of all OF the
monies under the various funds and 1t
Is he who must see that they are
properly disbursed.
In congress, considerable Jealousy
has arisen among committee chairmen,
party wheel-horses
Jealousy and those who would
Aroused enjoy being admin
istration spokesman
Some of them, it hardly need be said,
believe their political salvation lies In
following the administration blindly
and in addition there is another seq
ment of legislators who keep their
eyes on the historical significance of
passing events. This group wants to
have leading part in enactment of
the social security legislation because,
it must be said, this is the greatest of
all experiments undertaken at any time
by the American government From
lobby conversation 1t is perfectly evil
dent that there are many men In the
house and senate who would be willing
to retire to whatever rewards their po-
litical service has given them only to
become known as the father of the
social security legislation.
This condition has precipitated sew
eral humorous circumstances. Sena-
tor Wagner of New York sponsored
the legislation in the senate and Rep
resentative Lewis of Maryland pro-
posed it in the house. Senator Wag'
ner's committee arranged to start hear
ings on stated date in the senate and
that date was announced rather sud-
denly. No sooner had the Wagner
committee hearings been announced
than Representative Doughton of North
Carolina scheduled similar hearings
before his ways and means committee
in the house. He set the hearings one
day ahead of the senate and the rivalry
between the two for headline wit
nesses has been, to say the least, a
source of many jokes.
Some weeks ago / reported to you
that there were rumblings of difficult
ties ahead for the
Trou6le Presidents gigantic
Ahead public works pro-
gram, as his new ex-
pertinent in recovery efforts is de-
scribed. He asked congress for lump
sum of $4,S00,000,000 with which to re-
v1ve the heavy industries and other
lines of commercial endeavor that they
may absorb some of those unemployed
now on relief rolls. 1t will be remem-
bered that In his annual message to
congress he said with emphasis that
federal aid to the destitute must stop;
that the giving of relief directly was
state responsibility.
The first hitch encountered by the
administration wheel-horses in guiding
the public works bill through congress
developed in the house when the lead
ers, anxious to pass the legislation as
the White House dictated, sought
special rule which limited debate to
Couple of hours and made 1t almost
Impossible for individual members to
amend the bill. Several scores of
Democrats and all of the Republicans
baked. For several days the house
leaders fought CALAMITY to keep the
stubborn opposition from running away
with things, but the OBJECTIONS from
the Democratic ranks became so large
that a compromise had to be offered.
1t was accepted and the Republican
critics and Democratic opponents were