The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-27

OpeIllIlg HIS IIlau.
 The two men served together in the senate for many years as vigorous political opponents, fre- quently with mail mixups. This is not what ex-Senator Robinson of Indiana objects to. He has told friends that Senator Robinson of Arkansas not only opened let- ter but made use of information in it.
 The letter in question was from Major General Frank c. Bolles, under whom ex-SenatOr Robinson of Indiana once served as captain. General Bolles wrote that he had seen Robin sons name listed among the candidates for the republican nomination, and wanted to say that he, Bolles, was 100 per cent for him.
 The letter, received at the of- flee of Senator Robinson of Ar- kansas, was marked "opened by mistake" and returned to ex- Senator Robinson of Indiana.
 A few days later Major General Johnson Hagood was reprimanded for engaging in politics. Senator Robinson of Arkansas defending the reprimand stated on the sen- ate floor that another army off, ficer also was campaigning for his own presidential candidate.
 Questioned about this by news papermen later, Senator Robin son of Arkansas said that the of- ficer he had in mind was General Bolles. He would not, however, dis close the name of the candidate Bolles was working for.
 Ex-Senator Robinson Of In- diana says it was he. ., Sky Junkets
 Congressional junketing in Army and Navy planes probably will stop for a while because of the death of Captain Sam Mills, killed just after flying Congress- man Tobey of New Hampshire up to Boston.
 Use of govefnment planes by Congressmen and Cabinet mem- bers-sometimes on official busi- ness, more often not-has been overdone, not only in this admin istration but in Hoover's.
 Pat Hurley, garrulOuS ex-Sec- retary of war, set the all-time record for using army planes for political transforming. Jim Far ley has used government planes to a certain extent, but Jim hates flying.
 The State Department, during Henry L. Stimson's day, lost an army pilot flying the Japanese ratification of the London naval treaty from Seattle to New York. Later a Japanese schoolboy start ed memorial fund for him.
 Probably, after the death of Captain Mills has become less fresh in Congressional minds, sky junketing will become fashionable again.
 Senate ObstructiOniSt
 Not for years has the senate seen such successful, single handed, unyielding obstructionist as Senator Hiram Johnson of Cali fornia.
 In the past year, Johnson has won two major obstruction ist victories-and he may win 8 third. Furthermore, he won them almost alone.
 THE FIRST was his defeat of the World Court. Johnson began the battle unaided, with no thought that he would be able to block ratification. But as his fight continued he won adherents, even- tual victory.
 HIS SECOND obstruction was that of the Neutrality Bill, killed two months ago. Johnson accom- plished this by adroit maneuver- ing in the Foreign Relations Com mittee. He never let the bill get near the senate floor.
 Now the senator is en- gagged in his third fight-against the recently-neg0tiated Panama Treaty.
 Virtually every member of the Foreign Relations Committee is for 1t. But the powers oi an inc dividual senator are such-es- pecially one with the skill and prestige of Johnson - that 1t is difficult to ratify a treaty over his head.
 NOTE-Hlram cIaIms great