The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-17

given more than 250,000 joI Suspected reason: local politics.
 The increase in relief jobs came on December g when Harry Hop- kins, faced with huge demands, let down the bars and ordered 350,000 extra jobless added to WPA rolls. Subsequently, this or- der was enlarged to permit an unlimited expansion of WPA rolls in nine cities Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Omaha and Kansas City.
 But despite this order and the unremitting increase in unem- ployment, only 100000 so far have been added to work-relief lists. This is less than one-third the number authorized by HOp- kins.
 For some unexplained reason local WPA officials, notwithstand- ing the clamor for aid and wide latitude granted them, are taking their own sweet time about giving men jobs.
 Labor's Nonpartisan League, flooded with complaints charg- ing local officials with playing politics, believes there is whole sale sabotage of the govern ment's relief program, and threatens a Congressional inves- tigation.
 WPA authorities already had started this inquiry, but after this laborite protest they rushed out new instructions to local officials to speed up the eXpans:on of their rolls immediately or explain their failure to do so.
 Ladies' Brain Trust
 With Brain Trusts now the fashion among both Democrats and Republicans, Madame Secre- tary Perkins has organized one for herself. She now has Ladies' Brain Trust.
 The Ladies' Brain Trust is charged with the interesting and sometimes very necessary duty of advising the Secretary of Labor on life in general, including ways and means of making the name Per kins" a little more popular.
 There are four members of the trust. as follows:
 Miss Mary LaDame, special as- Sistant to Miss Perkins, is the most active truSterette. Miss Le- Dame is a woman of about 50. has spent most of her life in social work, was with the Russell Sage Foundation, became acquainted with Madame Secretary when Miss Perkins was New York state industrial commissioner.
 In the Labor Department Miss LeDame was assistant to Frank Persons, able director of the U. s. Employment Service, but took matters over his head to the sec- retary to such an extent that the situation became intolerable. When Persons threatened to quit, Miss LaDame was moved into Miss Perkins outer office.
 Lady Lobbyist
 Mrs. Clara Beyer, assistant to Verne Trimmer, director Of labor standards. Mrs. Beyer is the wife of Dr. Otto Beyer, able member of the National Mediation Board (for railroad disputeS. A native of California, she became an inti- mate of Miss Perkins when they both worked for the New York state government.
 Mrs. Beyer is trying to fill the large shoes vacated by Ed Mo- Grady in lobbying for the Labor Department on Capitol Hill. But the fit has not been close and during the wage-hour fight Mrs. Beyer had no success in getting the House of Representatives to place the legislation under Mad anne Perkins.
 Miss Mary DewsOn, member of the Social Security Board and vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is Miss Per- klnS' most capable adviser. In fact she is probably the shrewdest lady around the New Deal high com- mand
 COngresswOman Mary Norton of New Jersey, chairman of the House Labor Committee. is rear guard trusterette. Being little more popular than Miss Perkins, she should be sympathetic, if not use- ful.
 The Ladies' Brain Trust has not been received with wild ap- plause by masculine members of the New Deal, who point to the fact that Madame Secretary has some of the best masculine brains of the administration right in her own department.
 However, Miss Perkins seems happier about taking her hair down with members of her own sex, and it should be interesting to watch the future improve ments. Trust Buster