, 1935-04-18
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

CandidaLe-WasningtOn politicians
are beginning 70 count the number
Of times Herbert Hoover's picture
mas been in the papers lately and the
number OF public utterances he has
made.
As former president, Hoover Is
recognized ttular leader Of the re-
publican party and the time has adj
mittedly come TO start leading. But
ne has been so very active III the
past few weeks that many aStute OBJ
servers here are wondering o
and more whether he Ii just doing
hat or campaigning for reelection
n SO. Certainly he Is getting around
me country a lot IN contrast 70 his
prolonged seculuSion IN his hilltop
nome az Palo Alto.
His two visits to New York and
conferences there with party stall
warts. his Tucson blast at the RooSe-
welt administration, his letter 70 the
young republicans and his widely
featured photo In company with AL
Smith brings the comment from a
veteran politician: Mr.. Hoover sure
is picking his spots like a candidate
Changed-Francis Biddle-chair-
man OF the Labor relations board
let a little fresh aid into the NRA
debate by insisting that congress
should either give labor a square deal
or Quit pretending. He wants Section
IA dropped out OF NRA and an ef-
Iective provision In the Wagner bill
which will actually give labor the
right to bargain collectively on o
majority rule basis.
Neither the house nor senate has
gone far enough TO indicate just
what will emerge on labor leglsla-
ton. Senator McCarran has drawn
UP his own NRA bill and has some
support for II. He favors a law that
will authorize voluntary industrial
cooperation under government aus
pices but not compel anybody 70 code
up. His bill would retain Section IA.
although McCarran says ITS not
very effective"
Opinion in the House Is very neb-
ulous az this stage. IN the senate it's
conceded that NRA will be radically
changed.
Skimmed-There Is a clause in the
pending bank reform bill-which
was largely the handiwork Of Fed
eral Reserve Governor Mariner 5.
Eccies-that has officials OF the Fed
eral Housing Administration in
somewhat Of a other.
This section would permit nation
al banks and state member banks
Of the Federal Reserve system to
lend up to rs per cent On 20 year
real estate mortgages. Under exist
ing law the banks are limited TO so
per cent on short terms.
FILA has a billion dollars to guar
sntee building loans up to 30 per
cent on a 20 years basis. The top
men have visions Of holding the bag
with their billion while the banks
skim all the cream off the real es-
tate field.
Comfort-Applications for the un-
derwriting Of building loans have
been coming into FILA al the rate Of
about 100000 a day-nothing to
rave about in these days Of tremen-
douS figures.
Housing Administrator Jim Moi
felt has been wanting TO get out Of
his Job and back TO private life for
some time. But his intimates nov say
he has about decided to stay on IN
til November or December and try
70 build the volume of business UP TO
at least a million dollars a day.
Perhaps he will get some comfort
from the prediction Of Rep. Prentiss
W. Brown ID Of Michigan-mem-
Der OF the House Banking and Cur
rency committee - that the long
term real estate lending privileges
Of the banks will be cut at least to
so per cent before passage.
PubIic-The heat has been turned
OF in the Senate Banking and Cur
rcncy committee TO hold open ses-
SionS when Mariner Eccles' quail
ifications as head OF the Reserve
Board are scrutinized prior to SEN
ate confirmation. Mr.. Eccles is
understood to have asked for execu-
tive sessions with some leading mem
bers Of the committee favorable 70
his request.
Senator Jim Cou1ens CR) OF
Michigan feels strongly on this sub
Jet. He has announced that no
committee Of which he is a member
shall keep its deliberations from
the public and has served notice
that where closed hearings are held
nc would take notes and then have
press conferences to reveal just
what had happened.
Senator CouzenS vas helpful 10
the waiting world in this way when
the Smoot- Hawley tariff bill was
tic some years ago. He made II a
practice every time a decision was
reached to step out OF the closed
door and tell reporters what the
new tariff rates would be.
PaIs-Nobody can foretell what
social security will look Ike after II