The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-04

Washington, Feb. 4ESome people always have been known to expect quite 8 lot for nickel, and it is perhaps just 8 coincidence that some of those who crab most in- cessantly at performances of the government are always happy when they can help see to it that this or that federal branch is forcer to go hopping along one one leg.
 One of the items in the presi-
 dents reorganization program which is stirring up the most Op-
 position in Congress calls for the
 hiring ia half dozen capable
 executive assistants at the Whit
 House to help the president ad-
 minister his man. killing job. This
 might cost $60,00O or $75,0OO g
 year.
 Right now, in Washington, there is perceptible temporary break down in leadership. Those close enough to the creaking machinery to anlyze what's happening insist that this is due primarily to the inefficiency of one-man system of government, in which the lone man" has at his side no able aides to serve as conduits for incoming information and outgoing exercise of executive power.
 No Time to Think
 On at least couple of occasions, Roosevelt was up nearly all night handling or inquiring into flood problems. He has had to keep con- stantly in touch with developments in the General Motors strike. Either of those two jobs would be enough for a man in whom ultimate power resided. Roosevelt, however, also is trying to supervise promotion of a new and far-reach- ing program for minimum wages and maximum hours, mulling over possible jlans for a constitutional amendment or other method of curbing the supreme court, and working out details of his reorgani- zation program, while wondering how to get congressional approval 10 rthat programs framework.
 At the same time, he is grap-
 bling with neutrality legislation
 and the intricate financial and
 other aspects of foreign affairs,
 doping out the budget and relief expenditures, and attending to a
 thousand other details with which he cannot now avoid contact while running the biggest business in the world.
 It isn't hard to sympathize with the president when he says, as he said recently:
 q just don't get time to think"
 Whether or not it's important for Roosevelt to get time to think, he may find that the place where he conspicuously lacks sympathy is on Capitol Hill.
 The presidents original plan was to toss his reorganization bill into Congress at once, and try to push 1t through with all possible speed. But diverted his attention, and he didn't feel the bill would be in safe hands unless we were able to keep in constant touch withits progress. Pork Trouble
 The well-organized capacity of members of Congress to sympathize with themselves may make 1t easier to put the whole New Deal under service than is commonly expected
 Congressmen will always be avid for patronage as long as there IS partridge to be had, but officials of long experience in dealing with them about jobs say the chief thing the average congressban fears Is that some other congressman will get more gravy than he.
 Most of the sounder, more nse- full members are tired of serving as personal employment agencies. They do 1t because anyone who tries to attend to business to the neglect of patronage is almost sure to get licked. That has been especially true of Democratic con- gressmen in the last four years.
 General civil service would mean a considerable saving for the tax payers, who now support thousands of useless political job-holders. But many congressman are especially concerned about their own pocket books. It costs money they explain. to stake job-seekers to money for board and room in Washington while they walt around hopefully for job.