The Washington times., 1937-10-25
Paul MallOn---
NeWS Behind
The NeUS

THE White House whisper is
Il that the appointment as a
sort of liaison man with the in
dependent Government agencies
is worth about two paragraphs
on page five. That is the Of
ficial way of saying it does not
amount to much.
Some friends of the family
interpret it as a society item.
They see it as meaning only
that James is now definitely
embarked on a political career.
He wa2 liaison man with Con-
gress last session. and got some
experience there. Congress
men complained the experience
was 81 theirs.) Then on the
last western trip James handled
the press for a while, and very
capably, according t. the press.
A few weeks ago ne definitely
established a residence in Mas
sachusetts, which choice again
confirmed the general impreS-
sion here that James has a
flair for politics. Those who
know him believe he is going
places, meaning probably next
to Congress or the Senate from
Massachusetts,.
If this is all that is behind it.
the White House is right, and
son James is not a story, but the
independent agencies seem to
have a different view. They
have half an idea that it may
push James up on page one
early in the coming session Of
Congress.
HERE'S WHY:
"A A leading item on the legis-
lative calendar for the coming
session is Mr.. Roosevelt's Gov
ernment reorganization pro
gram. A leading item in that
program proposes the absorption
of the independent Government
agencies by the executive branch.
In his report last January, Mr..
r called them "the fourth
branch" of government and com.
planned he could not control
them.
He wanted them blanketed by
transfer into the regular Govern
ment departments so he could
prevent actual and potential
distractions to his effective over
all management of national ad-
ministration."
Congress rebelled. Most of
these agencies had been pur.
posely put beyond Executive
control and some were given a
quasi-judicial status (the I. C. c.,
for instance). In actual practice
most Presidents have attempted
to run most of these ndepend-
ent commissions rem e m ber
Coolidge and the tariff, Federal
trade commissioner, but have
been impeded by the congress
sional mothering of them as in
dependent agencies.
Now. many Of the new agen-
cieS are shivering in their re-
spective boots. They know the
Roosevelt finger is on them at
last and are little comforted by
the fact that it is being pointed
by the son instead of the father.
TODAY'S 1910 possibility-the
L only hat officially in the
Democratic Presidential ring is
the soft felt gray of State Secre-
tary Hull. The Tennessee legiS-
lature threw it in. The only
other hat semi-officially in or
near the ring is that Of Vice
President John Garner. His
sombrero was tossed in that
general direction by Roy Miller,
Democratic State chairman
of Texas, who has announced
that the Texas favorite son Of
1885 is thoroughly qualified and
the type of man" for the job.
Students of politics generally
rate Garner ana MS chances
thus:
Age 68, physically fit: more
experienced in Government and
business than any other candi-
date; good farm and labor
record from long service in Con-
gress; expert on taxes and fl
nance from his old tiffS with
Mellon; bad Tor radio, fair plat
form campaigner; no personal
political organization outside Of
Texas, but popular through the
South; Farley likes him 100 per