Evening star., 1937-05-07
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

WA "ASAAsAAo AAoNC 4OlCO NY 0uU
nothing has been done, so far as is
known. about reappointing Joseph B.
Eastman a member of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. His term ex-
pired on December 81, and under the
law he is holding ofice until his sue
cessor Is qualified" Many of Eastman's
friends-and he has many-are puzzled
and somewhat exercised over the long
delay in his case. There is fear that
there may be politics in it.
X
Last January President Roosevelt pre-
sented to Congress plan for the re-
organization OF the Government de-
partments-the executive departments
and independent agencies so-called. It
included proposal to merge the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, the Fed
eral Trade Commission and other quasi
judicial bodies with the major depart
ments, headed by Cabinet officers East
man, 4 few days later, made speech in
Boston strongly opposing this plan so
far as 1t related to the present inde-
pendent status of those commissions.
Since this speech Eastman has not been
called to the White House. nor has
there been any move with regard to his
Commerce Commission. When the Presi-
dent was questioned about the appoint
ment-and also the appointment of a
successor to another member of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, Hugh
M. Tate Tennessee Republican-some
two months ago, the President replied
that he was glad to be reminded about
the matter He has said nothing further
In regard to it, however, since that time.
Eastman's friends say they are COM
pletely at loss to know why he has
not been reappointed. Among these
friends are supporters and opponents
of the President in Congress. There has
been little expectation that the President
would reappoint Commissioner Tate.
The holdup in the appointments, there
fore, is believed to relate principally to
Eastman.
Political ndependence-also independ-
ence of politicians-has been an out
standing characteristic of Eastman
during his l8 years service as a member
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
President Wilson appointed him men,
ber Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in 1918 as a Republican" The
late Senator Henry Cabot Lodge OF
Massachusetts, protested the appoint
ment on the ground that Eastman had
never been identified with the Repub-
lican party in that State. where East
man was living. Lodge pointed out that
Eastman had been appointed a member
Of the State Public Utilities Commission
by David I. Walsh now Senator and
formerly Democratic Governor OF the
Bay State When Senator Lodge wrote
to Eastman asking his political al
legiance. the latter replied that he was
an independent" President Wilson was
forced to shift Eastman to one Of the
Democratic places on the commission,
and as such he has remained ever since.
The commission now consists Of seven
Democrats, seven Republicans and East
man, fifteen in all.
Eastman was successfully reappointed
to the Interstate Commerce Commission
by Presidents Coolidge and Hoover.
1t is understood that President Hoover
desired to displace Eastman. The
late Senator James Couzens of Mich
igan, then chairman Of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee, served
notice that no substitute for East
man would be confirmed by the Sen.
ate II President Hoover should make
such q move. Hoover subsequently
agreed to reappoint Eastman as part of
. trade which he hoped would bring
about the confirmation of Judge John
j. Parker as an associate justice OF the
Supreme Court OF the United States.
The plan did not work, however. Judge
Parker's nomination was rejected, and
Eastman was confirmed.
When President Roosevelt entered the
White House in 1888, one of his first acts
was to establish a new office-Federal
co-ordinator Of railroads He named
Eastman for this job. He became the
Presidents chief adviser in all matters
relating to the railroads. During the
next two years Eastman made several
voluminous reports on the railroads,
which were transmitted to Congress by
the President without recommendation
for legislation. At the end Of two years
the ONCE of Federal co-ordinator Of
railroads was quietly dropped. but until
recently Eastman was still regarded as
high In favor with President Roosevelt.
About January l, Eastman was offered
the Craftsmanship Of the newly created
Maritime Commission. Eastman de-
clined. This, it is believed, may have
marked the flrst break in relations be-
tween Eastman and the President.
The independence Of Eastman, which
has won him great deal of respect, has
been shown in many ways. He has re-
fused to take his cues from any of the
five Presidents who have occupied the
White House since he has been q men,
Der of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Also he has frequently clashed
with chairmen of the Interstate Com
merce Committees of the House and
Senate with regard to railroad policy
and appointment of employees in the
Interstate Commerce Commission. He
has insisted that appointments to jobs
under the commission be made without
regard to politics. The result has been
that the commission is one of the least,
If not the least, politically controlled
agencies Of the Government.
Commissioner Eastman has never been
particularly popular with the railroad
owners. and more than once he has
clashed with the railroad brotherhoods.
President Roosevelt's failure to follow up
Eastman's recommendations in regard to
the railroads has led to the belief that
Eastman's ideas were not in accord with
the Presidents wishes.
His recognized ability has kept East
man on the job as interstate commerce
commissioner for all these years-de-