Milford chronicle., 1935-07-19


tiles of former President Hoover are
being watched probably as CAREFUL!
as any other possible factor. He I'm.
doubtedly was one of the powers be-
hind the recent Republican rally al
Springfield, Ill, and reports have il
that from now on he will be more
openly active in opposition to Roosc-
welt policies.
The country will hear more and
more of relief during the next IL
months. Since Congress enacted the
huge $4,000, 100000 relief fund, the
money has been tied up in a snarl
of red-tape and inter-bureau jeal-
ousies. After July l, however, the
money will begin to pour out, with
Harry L. Hopkins, who fOstered the
Civil Works (Leaf-Raking) pro-
gram last year, in the drivers seat.
Temporarily, at least, he has Ousted
Secretary Ickes, the PWA admins
traitor, but there are indications that
Ickes does not intend to remain as
a secOnd-fiddle maestro.
s*%
Mr.. Roosevelt had hardly an
nounced that Hopkins would be the
big spender before Ickes was out
with a blast which came very near
to being a direct criticism OF the
President. In its essence, the fight
over the manner of spending lies
between the Hopkins theory OF
shoveling the billions out for any
kind of work, and the Ickes plan OF
allocating the construction funds so
as to stimulate private industry and
thus take care of many OF the unem-
pioyed with private payrolls.
In the Hopkins plan the govern
ment must undertake to take care
of all the $500, 900 emplOyables who |
are estimated to be idle. This Will
be done by made work, with a min
inum of materials bought, and in
tended only to keep idle hands busy.
Ickes would undertake major high
ways, bridges and other types of
work which would not only employ
direct labor, but would put many
others to work indirectly within fac
tories making the materials. Under
this latter scheme, the government
would gradually withdraw, while
under the leaf-raking program, the
unemployed likely would still be un-
employed after the billions are gone.
Probably not even Mr.. Hopkins, and
certainly not Jim Farley, would
deny the money is more useful po-
litically when handed out direct to
voters.
One of the sidelights of the spend
ing business came to light recently
when a Southern delegation from a
small town came to Washington
seeking funds for new pOstonice.
DO you actually need a new
postOffice?" one of the leaders was
asked.
oh, no" was the laughing reply
but everyone else is getting a slice
of the money"
Senator Norris, of Nebraska. who
is just about a champion as an
amender of Constitutions, is now
out with a proposal to prohibit the
Supreme Court from holding an act
of Congress unconstitutional except
by twO-thirds vote, and then only
when the test has been made within
six months after the act takes effect.
Perhaps only Senator Norris knows
why the Supreme Court, composed
Of distinguished lawyers, should be
banned from acting by majority
rule, when a President of the United
States can be elected by one cleo
toral vote, or the Senate can pass or
kill the most vital piece of legisla
ion with the Vice-President casting
he deciding vote. Under the sec
md section of the Senator's proposal,
he Recovery Act would never have
)een tested, for the Government
ivOided court tests until it was
Orced into one two years after
enactment of the law.
There are at least three men in
the Capital who will be glad to see
Congress adjourn, even though it
means going home and facing fun
ng constituents. These are Senator
Robinson of Arkansas. the Demo-
,ratic leader; Senator Harrison of =
the chairman of the
finance Committee; and Senator
-iyrnes of South Carolina, person
Il spokesman for President ROOse-
Ielt.
1t may be that all three believe
vhole-heartedly in the radical leg
station which they have been COM
elled to bludgeon through Congress.
hey may be devoted to the opinion
hat it is right and proper for young
awyers a few years out of college
} write laws, hand them to Con-
ress and demand their enactment,
ven though they block recovery.
Tut if this trio does believe that
ay, then leopards change their Il
pots. The truth is that the trium-
irate of conservative Democrats
as been placed very squarely on the
pot. All are up for reelection next
ear. Withholding now by the Ad-
of some of the millions
relief money from their states
ould be ruinous. They would then
: damned by those who oppose the
,cialistic measures of this Con-
'ess, and damned by those who
lpport the Administration. So the
.st they can hope for is an early
Id of their sorrows.
The suddenness of the Presidents
Tho hora-fha-Waa1fh" maaaaga was