, 1935-04-16
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

deal in last November's COMPRESSION
al election.
The state involved Is New Mexico.
The principals are u. s. Senator
Bronson Cutting. progressive repub-
lican: u. :. Senator Carl A. Hatch,
democrat, and former Representa-
tive Dennis Chavez. also a demo-
crat. The pending bill would create
additional federal district judge
ships IN several StateS-one Of them
New Mexico.
IL Is In the wood that II all goes
well Senator Hatch viii resign 10
step on the federal bench, and that
Dennis Chavez will be appointed TO
fill out Hatch'S unexpired term in
the upper house.
Healing-There recently came a
recommendation by the Judiciary
conference, which is headed by Chief
Justice Hughes OF the u. S. supreme
court, that New York and California
each needed two additional federal
district judges II o~verburdened
dockets were ever 70 be cleared.
When a bill TO this effect finally
was reported favorably out Of the
senate judiciary committee 1t in
cluded, In addition to the New York
and California judgeShipS, new
bench seats in New Mexico. Kansas.
Oregon, Kentucky and South Da-
kota.
This bill is still on the calendar.
II will have TO pass the senate and
then the house and finally go
through conference before becoming
law. But the makings OF q ARE poll
teal trade are In 1t at the moment.
II II all works out Chavez will drop
his contest against Cutting over last
years election. That may help heal
the wounds Cutting felt he suffered
when the White House failed TO give
him turR-about support In 81
Yes-No-Another bit OF phenagl-
ing over a senate seat Is said TO have
fallen through-at least for the day.
This one was 10 have involved SEN
ator John Fl. Overton. Governor o.
K. Allen and Lieutenant Governor
Jimmy Noe, all Of louisiana. AZ you
have guessed by now, a man named
Long vas pulling the strings.
Ladled out Of a nutshell, v was TO
have run as follows: Overtor has
been in III health. He was to resign
from the senate. simultaneously o.
X. Allen was TO have resigned rs
governor. and Noe. ascending TO the
govemorship. would have appointed
Allen 70. fill out Overton's senate
term
Overton. Allen and Noe all belong
10 Long politically. lock. stock ano
barrel. But at the moment Washing
on life seems TO have improved
Overton's health. He says he's 60
.ng to stick around.
Could II be that Noe. the yes-man,
said yes while Overton, the yes-man.
said no?
And what is Long sayinsi
Reform-Men wise IN the ways OF
relations between the White House
and Capitol Hill say that In the final
analysts the administrators imper-
alive must program viii include
only four billS-Social security, ex-
tension of NRA, banking and eradi-
cation OF utilities holding companies.
Whether they all get through Is
something for the future, but PreSi-
dent Roosevelt still has a well-gag-
ged house to fall back on whenever
the senate gets obstrePerous. There
will be concessions as politics Is
built on trading. but the New Deal
expects to see the 7%th congress
write the basic principles Of these
four into law.
Those trying to chart the New
Deals future course will note that
three OF the four measures contem-
plate reform Of the existing system
indicating that reform Is still as i'm
portant as recovery. There are many
who might classify the NRA bill IS
a reform measure also.
DisagTeementS-No visible change
has been made in the program for
enactment Of the Rayburn utility
holding bill, but significant remarks
in congress corridors indicate that
the bill will have some Of its teeth
drawn. Statements by Dave Lilien-
thai, power boss Of IVA, have been
challenged by the House Military
Affairs committee and he has been
given a chance to tell his story over
again He harpS or the danger OF
power shortage in the IVA regions,
although work is going ahead on two
dams and IVA is holding its hand
out for funds with which to build
two more.
Analysis by utility experts has
shown that TWAS estimates Of pow
er costs do not take account Of mil
lions spent in building Muscle Shoals,
or interest on that investment. Of
ficisls Of private utility concerns in
the South deny that there's 9 power
shortage or any danger OF one
Pressure-Although public utilities
regulation Is the subject OF bitter
est controversy within and without
the administration these days 1t
didn't disturb the senate agriculture
committee. without hearings or de-
bate the committee tavorably re"
ported the Norris bill which would
give iva power to issue bonds up
to 500 100000 for the purpose OF
buying existing private power facili-
ties.
The Norris measure Is designed TO
overcome the Grub decision
WHICH held sale Of surplus power by
iva 70 be unconstitutional. II gives
the Valley Authority explicit license
70 merchandise power.
Lots OF concealed pressure Is be-
Ing exerted here and there TO keep
Uncle sam from breaking down and
taking over the public utilities.
Hollow-Secretary Dern has put q
crimp on the bills to take the prof.
II out OF war. His spokesman before