, 1935-09-01
WASHINGTON
BY Raw Tucker

be- looks wise when q presidents
issues an order affecting his de-
partment and pretends 70 know all
The answers. But the supposedly
SLockproof Harold Ickes makes Lit
tie attempt 10 smother his chagrln
at Mr.. RooSevelt'S order abruptly
terminating PWA projects. Those
who have talked with him behind
the doors describe his attitude as
almost mutinouS.
Mr.. Ickes refers all inquiries 70
the president. He pleads utter ig-
ncrance when mayors and COVER
LorS call by long-diStance phone 70
ask about projects which they are
slowly nursing along. Although ne
doesn't say so, he first learned about
the new formula Of boon-doggling
out the money in the newspapers.
IL was Matched BY Mr.. Roosevelt,
Harry Hopkins and Secretary Nor
gcnthau.
IN fact. only five days before the
headline" mandate was issued Nj.
IckeS piled his engineer. his legal
counsel and his publicist into q
plane for a southern trip to drum
up trade. They returned with re-
quests for new projects totaling
more than 81 900 600, 900, only 70
ind that Mr.. Roosevelt had rung
down the curtain on their act.
They were struck by the boom
dOggling order il mid-air-literal-
ly. That's the secret reason for
halold'S soreness.
Moley-President Roosevelt's ora
torical testers rate his address 70
the Young Democrats as pretty poor
on their charts. They said. in effecv.
that 1T was the voice Of Roosevelt
land a good one) but the hand OF
Frankfurter." What they mean is
that The Harvard professor. who has
teen living at the White House for
weeks. framed too academic n
sreech. II had no punch-no pc
l.t.cal headline.
MIR. Roosevelt won't repeat that
mistake on his western trip. Ray
Mcley. whom some second-gueSsers
Rave placed on the has-been list,
has been slipping In and out OF the
White House one day q week lately.
TIE original "brain truster" has a
forceful style and a gift for striking
ph, asses. He touched up some OF the
presidents best notes and speeches
ii the early days. You viii see his
firm imprint on the Boulder Dam
anc San Diego talks.
The hurry call for Mr.. Moley has
another meaning for insiders. He Is
keen for cooperation with business
and stressing recovery. He may sell
the idea to the president yet
WatchIng-The NRA researchers
report on "chiselling' hasn't leo
democratic members OF congress 70
throw their hats In the air for the
new legislation demanded by the
PRESIDENT. The leaders promised 10
give him what he wants az the next
session, but that's a long way of
and many things may happen.
Although the fact-finding experts
reported more than 10000 examples
OF wage, hour and price reductions
IT. figure did not impress legisla-
tors who examined them closely.
They noted that most OF the vio-
lations took place In trades and
industries where compliance with
MIRA regulations vas only nominal
ever in Blue Eagle days.
How the major industries behave
WI! determine what congress will
do. The July report listed about
100 instances OF "chiselling" in this
field. They had better watch then
step for the checkers will scrutinize
their pay and time sheets more
Yigilantly as and If business i'm
proves.
Liberal - Another warning that
the president means business IN de-
handing strict regulation Of indus
try passed almost unnoticed. He has
quietly revamped the Federal Trade
commission SO that he has a ma
iority which sympathizes with his
ideas. Although the law definitely
restricts that body's authority the
right" kind of men can swing q
fairly big stick.
The president has reaPpointed
Member March. whose political
sponsor * Farmer--Laborite Ship
stead OF Minnesota. He has filled
an existing vacancy with l.. 4. Freer
OF Ohio. Although unknown TO the
trade. Mr.. Freer endeared himself 70
Joe" Eastman. government-owned
railroads apostle, while serving rs
chief OF the ices valuation divi-
sion. MI. Eastman recommended
him when Burt Wheeler was looking
around for q lawyer to advise the
Interstate Commerce committee.
The Eastman Wheeler protege did
heavy duty for the committee dur
ing the consideration OF the holding
companies bill. The thought Of
government ownership OF railroads
does not shock him. His friends call
him a sound, republican liberal"
He Is young enough - 80 - TO be
aggressive in attitude. though no
rabble-roEser.