Evening star., 1937-05-28

moment for confronting Congress with
the vast wages and hours bill, while it
was still graphing with the budget. re-
lief. agriculture, power, soil erosion, farm
tenancy, slum clearance and Govern
ment reorganization-to mention only
outstanding propositions The net re-
suit is monumental congestion and con-
fusion. II the administration demands
action on all or most of these projects.
the fear is justified that ill-digested leg
islation will be the inevitable conse-
quence. The White House smilingly in
slSts 1t has no must" program It's pro-
posals are described as merely ought
legislation.
Establishment of the Labor Standards
Board under the proposed Connery-
Black law will set up fourth independ-
ent Federal agency dealing with labor
matters. The others are the National
Mediation Board for adjudication OF dis
putes between carriers and their en-
ployes, as defined by the railway labor
act; the National Labor Relations Board
which administers the Wagner law, and
the Railroad Retirement Board, which
supervlses payment Of annuities to re-
tired rail workers. There will be lively
competition for the five $4,000 appoint
mentS to the Labor Standards Board
Because OF its far-reaching powers,
ramlfying into the innermost industrial
receSseS OF the land, fears are already
rife that unless Congress enacts drastic
curbs, there will be unlimited opportuni-
ties Tor pernicious political manipula-
ton.
Lively satisfaction is expressed in Pan
American quarters over the decision to
merge the former Latin American and
Mexican divisions Of the State Depart
ment into Division of American re-
publics." Secretary Hull pays a tactful
od-neighbor compliment to the sister
republics by placing the United States
in the same category with the 20 other
Americas in the treatment of Western
Hemisphere affairs, without invidious
discrimination. Laurence Duggan, chief
Of the new division, assumes the post
after having served for two years as head
of the Division OF Latin American affairs.
Harvard ,27 and just 80 years of age
this May %, Mr. Duggan is said to be
the youngest man ever to attain de-
PdA CAA1C11tdA S4l4CAoAl1p, "llASAi SdAA ACo d1A
5000 salary. A New Yorker by birth,
he has been in the foreign service since
1880.
X X X
Wall Streets uncertainty over the
speculative outlook, due mainly to
anxiety about what's going to happen
next in Washington, is reflected by the
slump in the price of New York Stock
Exchange seats. A membership sold this
week at $91 900, a decrease Of 5000 from
the last previous sale and the lowest
figure since December, 1886 Talk of
100 per cent margins and fear of more
rigid market control by the Securities
and Exchange Commission are the bear
influences in the seat market.
One of American Minister Daisy Har-
riman's tough jobs at Oslo will be to
pacify Norwegian sentiment on the oily
question Of sardines, an issue which
looms large in reciprocal trade agree
ment discussions. In 1884, after Tariff
Commission investigation, the duty on
sardines was increased from 80 to A
per cent I'D valorem, much to the Joy
Of Maine fisheries, which are the chief
victims of Norwegian competition. Nor
way has long protested against boosting
Of our tariff on sardines. OF her rela-