, 1935-08-01
WASHINGTON

A44hAo4 AAdAAAC4 GARASoASA4o ~
hind the doors OF conference COM
mittee rooms are having heavy re-
p~ercusSions in congressional cloak
rooms and corridors. Members
charge that the really important leg
islation for the rest Of the session
viii be manipulated by q handful OF
legislative managers.
House and senate representatives
are supposed TO take q vow of Sc
crecy on all matters discussed in con-
ference. But nobody Is respecting
that these days. Legislators sus-
pect that administration Spokesman
allowed In on the deliberations are
reporting to interested superiors
downtown. The atmosphere Is blue
with charges and counter-charges.
The calm, deliberative spirit pre-
Sumed 10 influence settlement OF
controversial questions has been sup
planted by bitterness and recrlml-
nations.
This unusual situation has pro-
voked dematis for relNsm Of this
branch Of congress. Both democrats
and republicans propose that all
conference discussion be reported In
shorthand and made available i'm
mediately to all members after each
conference. The big idea Is to pre-
vent inside trades and outside ma
nipulation.
Spotting - Hugo Black is poking
his lobby searchlight into congress
Sional crevices with consummate
skill from the White House view
point. Not even the men he seeks
to place In the spotlight are wise to
his game.
In going over the house roll call
ON the death sentence" In the utility
bill. downtown experts noted that
three prepondetantly democratic del
egations 49, New York, Pennsylvania
and Texas = lined up against the
administration. Their attitude was
a great surprise TO the White House.
II enough Of these democrats can be
forced TO switch on the final ballot
ing, Mr.. Roosevelt will get the kind
! Of q bill he wants. He needs q shift
Of only So votes.
So Mr.. Black arranged to summon
witnesses who would testify TO skull
duggery in those three states. He
has dug up fake kilograms from
Pennsylvania cities. a Texas men,
Der who bought $4,000 worth OF baby
bonds on a $1,000 income and tx
penditure of immense sums by As
Sociated Gas and Electrical officials
headQuartering in New York. Al
ready they're talking Black-for-
Vice-President II Jack Garner does
not want to run again.
Handy - Footballer Ham" Fish
OF New York has already made 1t
hard for the COP to deny him the
vice-presidential nomination. Con-
fidential reports to republican head
quarters say that he has sold him.
self to the people in the So states
where he has hoisted the banner Of
Fish for Vice-President."
The New York congressman, who
represents Mr.. Roosevelt's district,
makes no secret Of his desire for ma
tlonal honors in 1886. He is delight
fully frank in admitting his ambi-
tions. He has the heaviest mail OF
any house member largely from
remote admirers who have followed
him i'll the headlines. He nev
lodges publicity. Although his col
leagues don't regard MIN as a poll
teal heavyweight, they concede that
he might be a secondary asset.
IIpState New York Is said to be
cooling toward the New Deal, and 1t
Is TO voters above the Bronx that
Mr.. Fish would direct his appeal.
Should first honors go TO a Middle
Westerner - Frank Knox. Senator
V~andenberg. or Governor Landon -
the COP may find Mr.. Fish TO be a
husky handy man.
Taxation House democrats
writings over the tax bill have pro-
duced an unexpected shift IN senti-
ment on Capitol Hill. Their ex-
perience may silence soak the ricn
slogans for a while.
WAYS and Means experts studied q
score OF rate setups against reports
OF large incomes in recent years.
Although admittedly a conservative
body, they experimental with n
highest rates possible in their execu-
tive sessions. But the most they
could uncover In additional revenue
Through extremely high taxes was
$3.50. OOO. 900. Beyond that point
they figured that rates would prove
confiscatory and GRIPPING to recovery.
The politically minded dared not 60
bevond increases which will yield
from $3.50. OO0, 900 to $500. 000. 900.
The result Of this soak the rich"
venture may be ironic. IL Will
strengthen the LaFollette demand
for much higher rates In the lowest
| brackets. 1t may have Just the OPP