, 1935-08-13
WASHINGTON
BY Ray Tukcer

clue TO the New Dealers most an
noying headache In the headlines
these days. It's too sore a spot for
them to dicuss except among
themselves.
But the presidents closest friends
are deeply upset owe the lack of
coordination among the fifty-odd
regular and emergency agencies
assembled under the presidential
tent. Mr.. Roosevelt cannot manage
all Of them, and each ambitious
subordinate goes ahead under his
own steam. Visiting business men
carry home word that Washington
Is q mad : house" and the news
spreads like wildfire. Next to vast
expenditures, this apparent isorder-
illness Is blamed for the popular
suspicion that there Is no plot to
the show and no stage director.
The president, naturally, hasn't
had time or authority to shift
scenery and control all the prima
donnas. Now worried aides beg
him to establish a central clearing
house resembling the War Indus
tries Board Of Wilson days. Others
urge him to ask the January con-
gress' for sweeping powers Of re-
organization.
SYMPTOM-The inside story Of
the executive order placing all
spending agencies responsible to
the budget bureau in his message
last January. Secretary Morgen-
THAI and Acting Budget Director
"Dannie" Bell have lost sleep try
ing to make this pledge come true.
But as fast as they inserted such q
provision in a specific bill some ag-
grieved official-Jesse Jones OF RFC
and John H. Fahey Of HOLC-per-
Suaded congress TO delete Ii with
respect to them.
That's something the Secretary
OF the Treasury wants" they told
congressional committees. Not ap-
preciating Mr.. Morgenthau's neglect
Of their patronage demands, the
legislators lined up against him.
Now the president will make them
be good by executive order. It's a
symptomatic start.
piscovery-Nature has dealt the
Roosevelt administration some
heavy blows. 1t has dished out
droughts, floods and blight. But
now IL seems that it's a dust storm
which blows some economic and
political good.
Commerce experts have noted for
some time that the Middle West
was going in for extremely heavy
purchases Of farm implements.
automobiles, machinery, household
goods and apparel. Wholesale and
retail demand in this section has
held UP remarkably well during the
normally dull summer months,
stimulating production and sales.
Now weather bureau dopeSters
point out that the dust storms deS-
troyed or damaged vast stores OF
good in homes, stores, 4 ctories and
on the farms. The swirling particles
OF minerals lessened the life OF
productive and consumptive mate
rials. Matching this need with
higher farm prices and government
bounty, the experts conclude that
the result Is a disguise blessing,
though not to the individual VIC
tins.
Sage-When the Associated Gas
& Electric was under investigation
by the commission a few wears ago
AS it Is now by congress-the In
curry turned up some remarkable
letters. They revealed that q state
senator at Albany (Warren Thay-
er) was blocking or passing bills
in accord with A. q. g. Z. orders.
Here Is the prize letter.
II am perfectly willing to trust
the handling Of these matters TO
Senator Thayer However, / would
very much prefer that those In the
operating department do not COM
municate directly about bills with
members Of the legislature. Operat-
ing officials and business men gen.
orally have a direct manner OF
writing letters which would not be
| entirely satisfactory In the event OF
! subsequent political or legislative
| inquiries, whereas lawyers or poll
ticians. . realize that IL is necessary
| to scrutinize what Is said carefully,
| even though It Is undoubtedly free
| from evil, so as 10 avoid the appear
ance OF evil"
The New York governor then was
| Franklin ID. Roosevelt. The man
who vou~~ safed this sage advice on
drafting litical lawyers to defeat
the COVE lor's program was III. @.
Hopson. the capitals missing lobby
witness.
Taxes-Henry Ford. Calvin Cool
idge's fellow-camper. is rapidly be-
coming the nemesis Of the New
Deal. He helped to destroy NRA
and now he may smash the ad-
ministration's tax program. The
| fate of his industry under a steep
inheritance tax has dramatized the