The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-12-02


question.
During the campaign the Presi-
dent gave unequivocal assurances
that federal relief would be con-
tinued. At the recent meeting
of the U. 8. Conference Of Mayors
both he and WPA boss Harry
Hopkins reiterated that pledge.
Yet, at that very moment, the
WPA was secretly ordering thou
sands Of jopless Topped off relief
rolls.
The mayors take the rap in
such q move. 1t is they, ana
not the big-guns in Washing
ton who have to do the ac-
tuaI laying off. And with
thousands Of complaints crack
ing about their heads the city
fathers are up In arms.
To them the unemployment
problem is a grim reality Of in
dividuals and not a statistical
table. Also, 1t is very import
ant matter Of votes.
So the mayors are quite angry.
After talking 1t over among them
selves they decided to organize a
committee, headed by New YOrk's
plain-talking Mayor LaGuardia,
confront WPA moguls and find
out just what the regime Is up to.
Deep Mystery
Hopkins aides insist there is
nothing to explain. They say
no general order to, cut relief
rolls was issued, no quotas fixed
of the number Of jobless to be
dropped. The curtailment was
merely q temporary economy
measure. (Three thousand I'M
employed were cut off relief in
one day in New York;
Privately, however, the WPAers
admit that they too are mysti-
fed by the axing policy. They
confess they have no definite
information Of the number let
out.
Two reasons are put forward
for the curtailment:
One, that WPA funds are
running short because last sum-
mer's severe drouth necessitated
the expenditure Of more money
than had been anticipated.
Two, that the Administration
is playing a deep tactical game.
BY slashing relief, state and To-
cal officials will be prompted to
bring pressure on their sena-
tors and congressman for new
funds and thus ease the way for
the President to obtain such APP
preparations.
Discounted Leader"
AS yet, Representative John
O'Connor is just one Of the hope
full contenders for the democratic
floor leadership Of the House.
But in the hot-tempered Tam
manyite's opinion, apparently, the
issue is all settled.
Arriving at the annual din
ner of the u. s. Conference Of
Mayors, he haughtiIy informed
an attendant: II am the Leader
of the House. Where is the
Speakers tablet"
The usher led him to the table,
but there was no seat for O'Con-
nor. Scowling, he insisted that
the attendant find him a place.
The usher took the matter to
Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, presi-
dent of the Conference, who was
presiding at the dinner. La
Guardia, veteran of many years
service in the House, knows o.
Conner intimately and not
very favorably.
He told the attendant to seat
him at one of the ordinary tables.
Informed where he was to sit,
O'Connor blew up.
"What sort of treatment Is
this for the Leader Of the
House?" he demanded. who
Is this man who told you to
seat me in the crowd? Ill have
him fired"
II received my instructions
from Mayor LaGuardia," quiet
ly replied the usher.
O'Connor glared, then turned
on his heel and stalked out.
Congratulations
Although more than a month
has passed since the election, the
White House staff Is still strug-
Cling with the deluge Of congra-
tulatory messages.
Thousands were received from
all parts of the world and from
every walk of life. They are be-
ing sorted and each receives a
reply. Those from friends Of the
President are passed on to him
for a personal answer.
The President took several hum
dred of these messages with him
on his South American trip.
when he will have time during
the long sea journeys to dictate
acknowledgements.
Two in his portfolio were tele-
syro v,os-o,na si0nad "princp Louis