The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-04-05
Richberg's
job

duVlSeT, III TIE Jul
NIchbergs as head Of the Ma
Job tional Recover
administration. Mr..
Richberg will be chairman Of the Ma
tional Industrial Recovery board which
has now been enlarged to the number
OF seven, and 1t is proposed that this
group, divided between labor and cap
itai representation, win guide the poll
cies and programs as well as the en-
forcement of NRA. 3 a
1t may be that Mr.. Richberg's ap-
pointment should be given only pass
Ing notice. Political appointments In
Washington are many and the addition
OF one more normally would not at
tract attention. 1t appears. however.
that in this particular instance consid-
cradle significance should be attached
to the appointment. 1t will have
repercussiOns in more ways than one.
This brings Us to the question Of
the future NRA. AS we all know NRA
legislation IN the house and senate is
encountering rough sailing. There are
so many different ideas being put for
ward about the principle of MIRA that
thus far 1t has been exceedingly diff
cult to reconcile them. Since the pres
ent national industrial recovery act
expires by Limitation Of law on June
16, congress faces the necessity of en-
actment of new legislation or allowing
the present law to die and the codes
under it to fall apart.
Selection of Mr.. Richberg on the basis
of these facts then would seem to in
dictate that Mr.. Roosevelt had picked
his best soldier to fight the battle; that
Mr.. Richberg, being eyes and ears for
Mr.. Roosevelt, would be the individual
to guide the President in choice of
policy and that his most trusted adj
wiser would be the man to put for
ward details of the proposed NRA ex-
tension legislation. The undercurrent
of gossip around Washington, however,
indicates something else.
In the first instance, Mr.. Richberg
is in bad with organized labor, and
he has shown no disposition lately to
make peace despite the fact that he
was for years the representative Of
railway labor unions. Mr.. Richberg
1t was who clashed with General John
son and who is regarded, therefore,
as indirectly responsible for General
Johnson's resignation as national re-
covery administrator. The new chair
man thus goes into his job with threat
ening clouds on several sides.
1t will not be forgotten, either, that
such valiant campaigners as Senator
Carter Glass and Senator Borah, not
to mention the alleged progressive,
Senator Nye, are waiting for the NRA
legislation in the senate. Mr.. Rich
berg's hide will look to them the same
as any other hide. 1t is just possible,
therefore, as some observers have sug-
gested. that Mr.. Richberg may have
been put out as the lamb on the sac
rifcial altar.
Indeed, color Is lent to this suppo-
sition by the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
has taken little direct interest In pro-
noting legislation extending the life
of NRA. Thus far he has said that
he desired to have the extension grant
ed, but he has not turned on the steam
as he is equipped to do. and as he has
done for bills that were personal hob
bies with him. 1t Is made to appear,
therefore, that perhaps there will be
a disintegration Of NRA as such and
that the functions desired by the ad-
ministration to be retained will be
parceled out, some to the federal trade
commission, some to the Labor depart
ment, and others of lesser consequence
scattered elsewhere. 1t is too early to
predict what the lineup will be finally,
but it ought to be said that there is
tremendous opposition to NRA among
political leaders who believe NRA has
played into the hands Of trusts and big
business generally to the detriment of
the little fellow. Under present cir
cumstances and economic conditions
any legislation that even hints of ex-
tending help to big business or masses
of capital is distinctly taboo in con-
gress, and efforts to enact such legis-
lation only afford opponents fresh am
munition for demagoguery. I.
While we are discussing legislation,
It may be well to consider what Is be-
ing done about the
Credit FOR program of extend
Home OUners ing credit to home
owners In cities and
<o,ppc h. v,ooh7por1 of ba
home loan board. The house has
passed a bill which will increase by
two billion, eight hundred million dol
lars the amount Of funds available for
loans Of this type by the Home Own
ers' Loan corporation. This sum was
approximately a billion dollars more
than the home loan board thought was
necessary. but the sight or thought
of so much money started the members
of the house on something like riot.
so they made ample funds available
From reports filtering through to
Washington, / think there can be no
question but what the home loan sys-
TEN has been of help in thousands of
cases. Undoubtedly availability of gov
eminent money In this matter has
saved unnumbered home owners from
loss of their property where short
sighted mortgage holders have insist
ed upon undue curtailment or absolute
repayment of the borrowed money.
Extension Of the system probably has
resulted also in reduction of general
interest rates by private lenders of cap
ital. If they wanted their money
to work at all, they had to meet the
government competition. Whether the
principle of government loans is sound
in normal times is another horse. Time