, 1935-01-15
WASHINGTON
Nv George Durno


BY George Durno
Ruin? - Senator Copeland N.Y.)
tossed his new food and drug bill
into the hopper so early 1t drew
the number IS. s." Those who op-
pose 1t say the New York doctor
legislator Is determined to have
his name attached TO any pure
food law that passes. The antis
say the current measure is much
more Objectionable than the one
which failed OF passage last year
after wearing Prof. Rex Tugwell's
name for half the session.
Manufacturers, etc, are shouting
that Copeland's latest draft would
make the Secretary Of Agriculture
a complete dictator over their
businesses. They profess 10 e In
its clauses the fine Italian hand OF
r. j. Schlink. former Food g. Drug
Administration official. who now
puts out Consumers Research Re-
ports" which analyze standardly-
advertised products and others for
the benefit OF the consumer.
Patent medicine makers are cry
ing TO high heaven that the provi-
sion requiring them TO disclose their
formulas on the label would ruin
them. Representatives Of advertis-
ing media claim the sections per-
tanning TO advertising are intoler-
able.
PiIot-All concerned have de-
manded an early hearing. II Is
understood Chairman Ewin l.
Davis. Of the Federal Trade Com
mission, has been prevailed upon
TO appear and demand that the ad-
vertiSing provisions be eliminated.
Those who should know say Davis
viii contend that regulation OF
advertising is a function OF the
Trade Commission and not the
Department Of Agriculture.
Copeland is in a much more
strategic position this session TO
push his bill than he was in 1884.
Last year Senator Hubert ID. Ste
phenS OF Miss, was chairman OF
the Senate Commerce Committee.
Proponents Of the food and drug
bill suspected him Of sitting on 1t
and burying 1t IN committee.
But Stephens was beaten IN last
falls elections. That made Cope
land chairman OF the committee.
This wear the NJ. ID. Senator will
have his own way about plotting the
bill.
Protected-With the converting OF
the 74th Congress the lobbyists have
descended on washington like the
locusts OF Egypt. Always numerous,
cooking Of the New Deals alphabet
soup has provided then such veg
etables to buzz around among as
they never saw before.
Some OF the administration n
| siders are disturbed by the Sltua-
ton. They say there ought TO be a
law. Unfortunately others have said
the same thing v e since the Fed
eral City was established on the
banks of the Potomac in 1900.
1t is a fair bet that the New Deal
will have TO struggle along with the
LOBBYISTS and all the other boil
weevils who fatten on each admin
istration in succession
Back in 1918. during conSidera-
ton OF the Underwood-Simmons
tariff act. Woodrow Wilson tossed
a monetary bonbshell into the
ranks OF the representatives or u
so-called predatory interests. He
started a lobby investigation which
ran many days-but no report was
ever made.
Several years ago the late Sena-
tor Thad Caraway OF Ark got many
headlines from his lobby tnvestga-
tion-but no legislation.
II has been proposed time n
again that the lobbyists be forced
10 register publicly their connec-
tons. Even should an order prevail
il would not stop them from using
their influence, real or imaginary,
on the members OF our august
Congress.
WDSU- When there's another
trump left in an opponents nano'
count on Huey Long TO take II out.
The Louisiana Kingfish. in COM
mon with all other members OF
Congress. can demand radio time
from either Of the two big broad
casting companies. They are AFRAID
10 say no lltclC 10 oA"oJS
the chance Of unfavorable radio
legislation. They meet the issue by
putting the would-be orators on
around midnight and limiting them
to fifteen-minute speeches. advance
copies OF which must be turned IN
for perusal.
This irked the Louisiana King
fish. SO he had his automatic State
LEGISLATURE slap a tax on corpora
ton returns at the rate OF so cents
per 1000. Revenue thus derived Is
10 be earmarked for Louisiana state
University-and l. 5. U. Is duty
bound to buy Station WDSU OF New
Orleans with thr proceeds.
Thus Emperor Long will have a
radio station over which he viii be
able 70 talk unchecked and un-
censored.
Smelly--A minor scandal is brew
ing on Capitol Hill. During the