The Washington times., 1938-12-24
BIG BUSINESS
SEES HARMONY
With HOPKINS
Era of Cooperation by
Roosevelt Forecast
BY ERIC FRIEDHEIM

BY EFAC Fh1EDhEAM
G.NS.) Elevation of Harry L
Hopkins to the Cabinet as Secre
tary of Commerce paveS the way
ior an era of more harmonious
and cooperative relations between
Government and big business
according to opinion prevailing
In industrial circles today.
Selection of the dynamic relief
administrator as the liaison be-
tween the Government and buSi
ness enterprise is expected to re
suit in a rehabilitation of the Com
merce Department which may
transform that agency again into
O Federal organization of top-rank-
ing Importance.
NRA BLAMED
Despite tre efforts of Daniel C.
Roper. the retiring secretary, the
Commerce Department has fallen
into state of decadence the last
five years.
Although Roper made a place
for industry at the department
through the creation of the bust
ness advisory council, the agency
failed to retain the virility and
Importance that it achieved under
previous administrations.
Among the varied reasons ad.
vanced for the obscuring Of the
Commerce Department as domi-
nant voice in the world of busi-
ness is that the NRA, early in the
Administration, completely over
Shadowed all of Roper's activi-
ties. Even after the NRA was
outlawed, business generally
showed little disposition to turn
to the Commerce Department for
discussion of its problems.
BUSINESS HOPEFUL
The business advisory council,
composed of SO foremost indus.
trial leaders, periodically met at
the department to draft recon-
mendations. Very few of these
recommendations ever were acted
on by the Administration.
Persons close to Hopkins report
that he expects to continue the
tunctioning of this council. Be
cause Of the close personal rela-
tionship between Hopkins and
President Roosevelt members Of
the council are of the opinion
that henceforth they will have a
considerably more influential
champion at the White House.
Whether the Administration in
tends to Supplant other high Off
cialS within the department could
not be learned. Assistant Secre-
tary of Commerce J. Monroe John
son announced he has no thought
Of reSigning at this time. Richard
C. Patterson, the other assistant
secretary, was appointed less than
year ago.
PROBLEM REMAINS
Although relations between the
Government and the larger seq
ments of business are expected to
improve under the Hopkins
regime, tt appears doubtful if
small businessmen will be COM
pletely satisfied.
The problem Of pacifying small
business has ever been vexatious
one, and the attempt by Roper
early this year to smooth relations
with this group resulted in the
fiasco of the little business mems
conference.
AS WPA administrator, Hopkins
has incurred the opposition of
some elements among smaller
commercial enterprise. Some of
this hostility, observers predict,
may plague him as Commerce
Secretary.
Hopkins appointment also
stirred speculation concerning the
future operation Of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
This important division of the
Commerce Department may be
transferred to the State Depart
ment, where it would be utilized
by diplomatic officials to consoli-
date gains made under Secretary
Of State HullS reciprocal trade
program.
Farming the ocean bottom With no
undiscovered land left to attract
them axnlnrAHn are daS lninn nn,.al