, 1935-03-01
WASHINGTON
Nv GEORGE II

WASHINGTON
BY GEORGE DURNO
n. y. &, While White House
and senate anxiously await that
message from back home on the
s4B8O. 0OO, 900 w~ork-relief bills fu-
ture New Deal strategists have sent
up one trial balloon which is inter-
eSting.
It Is most tentatively suggested
that the work-relief program might
be put in the hands Of Jesse Jones,
chairman OF the Reconstruction FL
nance Corporation.
This feeler - and IL Is nc more
than that at the moment-was put
out on the theory that Jones Is n
New Deal official TO escape any APP
preciable criticism, having made his
loans cagily and showed a consistent
book profit. Further, the RFC was
born during the Hoover administra-
ton and is the one contribution TO
the general setup about which the
Republicans brag. They viii let
few forget that Jones originally was
appointed BY Mr.. Hoover.
Currents - Much debate prevails
inside the administration as to
whether President Roosevelt should
not take 70 the air and turn the
heat on the Senate 10 pass his bill
as ordered. Some Of the New Deal
ers think a fireslde talk would clinch
the argument. Others aren't SO sure
although they concede there
should Be enough iob-hungry, tax
burdened folks listening in 70 force
action In the White House manner.
Washington heard earlier this
week that the opposition viii have a
champion on the radio Sunday IN
the person Of Father Coughlin. The
militant monk OF the ether waves,
so supporters OF the McCarran pre-
vailing-wage amendment say, Is go
ing 10 blast the administration for
thinking Of paying men less than
their more fortunate brothers In
private jobs get.
And finally. one democratic sena-
tor who almost invariably supports
FDR states privately the work re-
lief bill could be passed about as
sent up in four days" If definite
assurances were written in the Sec
rotary of the Interior Harold IckeS
will have nothing to do with its ad-
ministration.
Olson While Huey Long con
tinues 10 grab the national spotlight
on the left-wing front. another lead
er from that sector has gone into
action. Naturally, he Won't mind a
little attention from the country as
q whole.
Big, two-fisted Governor FLOYD 3.
Olson, Farmer-Laborite. OF Mime
sofa, Is trying to persuade his legis-
lature 10 pass q far-reaching pro-
gram which would set Minnesota I'D
as a cooperative commonwealth"
Highly socialistic in nature. the OIL
Son plan would sock the rich through
taxes and give the benefits to the
little fellow.
But there Is a political catch fl
Olson's drive. He has a hostile leg
stature. He Is in the position OF
being able 70 demand, but not de-
liver.
This shouldn't lower the Big
Swedes political stock any. The
poor people will thank him for try
ing and those with the money will
be satisfied because his program
was blocked. The big test viii come
next year when Minnesota dis+ri-
butes rich votes and poor votes be-
tween Olson and Senator Schall.
Gamble Comptroller General
McCarl, who always lNDS a few
monkey wrenches handy in his desk
drawer. has Just tossed one into the
already creaking machinery Of the
Subsistence HomeSteads Division OF
PWA
The boss auditor returned 10 Ad-
ministrator TckeS without approval
more than a thousand vouchers to-
falling some 8 100000.
The amount Is small but McCari
apparently Is ruling that the law as
now drawn limits the administration
70 making loans for homesteads ra-
ther than buying the land. paying
for the construction and then gamb-
ling on collection from the tenants.
Flop At this writing the gen.
eral accounting office hasn't finally
closed the door but has merely ask
ed for more information.
Public works lawyers are thumblng
their Blackstones far into the night
for an adequate rebuttal Most or
them think amersling legislation
would be the easiest way out.
II Is interesting to note IN this
connection that the Arizona State
Office for Subsistence Homesteads
has been open a whole year without
producing results. Eight states re-
port q limited" amount of work
either Is under way or in prosnect.
Five say there Il no current activity.
Lethal - That AAA licensing bill
which caused So much trouble last
q ~ q lie