The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-10

not nave HIS appTOVal.
 This type of rugged indi- vidualism" among Roosevelt's lieutenants has plagued him throughout his first term. On more than one occasion, glib talk by an important administration executive has left the President committed to some proposition he did not favor or was not yet ready to take up.
 During the campaign. he told intiIEates that in his second term he was going to put a halt to such palaver, and apparently he has begun his disciplining. Uncle Dan Heads List
 Commerce Secretary Dan Roper was the first to be spanked. Uncle Dan put out a lot of ballyhoo about the unemployment census he has been drumming up for several years. Asked about 1t at @ press conference, the Presi- dent cracked down sharply on Roper.
 He denied flatly that an unern- ployment census is contemplated, and to make it even more decisive added that Roper's plan was un- desirable, because the figures col- lected would be out of date before their compilation had been com- pleted.
 Second In Line
 The second to incur 8 buffing was Dr. Arthur E. Morgan. After a conference at the White House the head of the Tennessee Valley Authority intimated that he had Presidential approval for legisla- ton that would subordinate IVA production of power to Morgans elaborate social welfare program.
 At his next press conference the President pointedly disavowed any intention to turn the IVA into social welfare agency. On Trial
 For many years Basil Manly was a leading figure in liberal circles. A close friend of the elder Senator Bob La Fallotte, the was the famel Wisconsin crusaders one-man brain trust during the 1924 presidential campaign.
 When the New Deal came into office, Manly, through his lIb- eral connections, obtained the job of vice chairman of the Federal Power Commission. In this post he soon was fin hot water with his onc-time liberal associates.
 They severely criticized study of power rates made under Man. ly's direction, charging that his report was so ambiguous and jumbled as to be meaningless ex- cept to an expert.
 More recently he aroused lib- eral ire by his undercovcr back ing of a utility-inspired scheme to pool IVA and private power production under a joint board. With echoes of this controversy still resounding, he now has be- come embroiled in a bitter fight with union labor.
 Fireworks
 Some weeks ago Robert Dur and, a young employe in Manly's division, was suddenly dismissed. The Power Commission unit of the government workers union declared he was fired because of union activities and demanded his reinstatement.
 Manly refused. After a bitter wrangle, the union finally ob- tained hearing before an irn- partial board consisting of Edwin s. Smith, National Labor Rela- tions Board: Otto Beyer, U. 8. Mediation Board; and Hugh Ker- win, conciliator of the Labor De- partment.
 THIS UNREPoRTED HEAR ING WAS A SPECTACULAR SHOW.
 Eight-Hour Quiz
 The union wasted no time in wading into Manly. It put him on the stand and for eight hours the one time liberal leader squirmed and fidgeted under soaring Interrogation by John F. Finerty, the unions counsel.
 Manly repeatedly objected to Finerty's bare-knuckle probing. "I am not on trial here," he shouted.
 "Oh, yes you are," snapped Finerty. We charge you with illegally discharging Durand because of your anti-union pre- judice."
 Manly hotly denied that he was opposed to unions. My lifelong friendship for labor IS . matter of record" he said.
 Maybe so," said Finerty. "Then, suppose you tell the Board how you think govern ment workers who have 2 griev- ance against an executive should proceed"
 T think :" replied Manly. "they should take their com plaint up with congress"
 NOTE: The father of young Durand, Walter Durand. late economist of the Federal Trade Commission, was a close friend