The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-06
. BEHIND THE SCEN1ESI WASHINGTON AM RODNEY oUTcHER--A
 Democrat Washington
 Correspondent.
Justice Black Had No Lack.Of
 Friends Upon
 Arrival Home

Washington, october 6 - Justice Hugo Black did not lack for friends or relatives to give him advice when he returned to the capital.
 To take the trouble of ferret ing out the whole range of pat rOnage enjoyed by the former sen- ator from Alabama, including members of the family, would be devldedly unfair to Black: Nearly every member of Congress seeks all the patronage he can get and nepotism Is Q time. honored Cus- tom.
 Nevertheless, quite a galaxy of names came popping out as Black drew nearer to Washington--enough to provide an Idea of the way sen- ators who keep in the good graces of the administration can entrench themselves here.
 Old Friends at His Side
 The justice went at once to the home of his brother-i in Jaw, Clif- ford J. Durr, who happens to be an assistant general counsel at REC. He decided to broadcast from the home of Claude Hamilton, REC general counsel, an old friend from Alabama whom Black endorsed for the job.
 William E. Fort, special assistant to the attorney general, turns out to be an ex-law partner of Blacks, Another law partner from Birming- ham once served as counsel for one of the then senator's Investigating committees.
 Sterling Foster, another broth er-ln-law, Is with the Maritime Commission. Cutler Smith, Q c0us- in by marriage, is with the AAA. Hollis Black, nephew, has been the senator's secretary and is now expected to become his law clerk although he Is reported to have stayed here only at Blacks urgent request.
 Hugh Grant, a former Black secretary, became minister to Ale bania, and A. c. Patterson, who served Black well as an investi. gator, is with the Federal Com- munications Commission.
 Heflin on Payroll
 Former Senator Tom Hefiin of Alabama suddenly turns out to have been on the Department Of Justice payroll for year ct S6,000, presumably with endorsement of Black and others.
 Maritime Commissioner Thomas M. Woodward, the only non-rela. tive to accompany Black from Norfolk tO Washington, comes from Pennsylvania and isn't on item of Blacks Alabama patron- age. Black urged his appointment, however, as the two had become closely associated In . joint effort to clean Up scandals of the old Shipping Board bureau in which Woodward held q high post. Blacks brilliant chief investigator In the ocean and alrmall and lob- by investigations, II. A. Blom- quiSt, Is now assistant to WOod- ward.
 Possibly someone else will pick up the list from here. Blacks poe litical enemies, actually after his scalp because of his sponsorship Of the wage-hour bill, planned to use "nepotism" as c senatorial cam. paign issue against him next year, Nepotism is 50 widespread among southern members that 1t might have had little effect.
 Japanese Gall" in Alaska
 At least passing interest has been stirred up here by recent appear. ance of Japanese trading vessel ct St. Lawrence Island of c top of Alaska. American Eskimos there were told the vessel carried plenty of liquor and the Japanese would like to come ashore and trade.
 The commander was told U. g. Coast Guard cutter was due next day and that he had better keep going. The story was duly re. ported to Washington, where such incidents are carefully noted. | Copyright 1887, NEA Service, Incl