Evening star., 1938-02-11

DAY continuous performance before the
House Naval Affairs Committee with all
colors hvlng. Our sailors and soldiers
face these periodical congressional in
QUESTIONS on naval and military appro-
priatlons almost with more trepidation
than If they were barring their breasts
to the foe on the battle line. Repre-
sentatfves and Senators 60 at the brass
hats with hammer and tongs. Leahvs
recent bout on the Hill was no excep-
ton to the rule. He was unfailinelv
good-tempered and informative. All
concerned are confident the stern
visaged admiral left the s8OO00O 900
naval expansion bill in better shape than
it was before he took the bridge in its
defense.
Apropos the big new relief program.
there's about to leave the press the first
comprehensive and authentic book deal
ing with unemployment benefits in the
U. S. A. It's entitled America on Re-
lief" and covers the ground from incep-
ton of the New Deal. The authors are
Marie Dresden Lane. regional social
worker for the Eastern area of w. P A..
and Francis Steeemuller. The former
supplied the information. and the latter
did the writing.
\
Mr.. Roosevelts disclosure that he has
sold-presumably for something in the
neighborhood of s100.000-the serial
rights in a collected edition of his off
cial and state papers while Governor of
New York and President of the United
States is causing many an eyebrow to
be raised. AS to the legality of his lit
erary venture. there is, of course, no
question. But politicians and others are
comparing his action in commercializing
his pen and position to that of three
predecessors in the White House-Theo-
dore Roosevelt William Howard Taft
and Calvin Coolidge-Who didn't thus
capitalize their regulations until after
they left Office. Roosevelt became a
contributor to the Kansas City Star and
the Outlook. Taft wrote pieces for Cyrus
H. K. Curtis Public Ledger. Coolidge
produced daily newspaper box" for the
Mcclure Syndicate This observer knows
because he was the medium Of the
offer that Coolidge. while Vice President,
refused on ethical grounds to accept
a s25,000 contract for writing periodical
articles on Congress.
~
From Illinois embattled and embit-
tered political scene drifts word that il
Justice Csrdozo. for any reason. does not
return to the Supreme Court bench. his
place may be offered to Gov. Henry Hor-
ner, who is also Of the Jewish faith and,
like Cardozo, a former judge of high
reputation, especially in the Probate
Court.
With resignation of Chester H. Gray,
veteran legislative representative of the
American Farm Bureau Federation there
disappears from Capitol Hill man who's
been q potent figure in the lobbies of
Congress for 20 years. Grays break with
the federation is attributed to differ
ences OF opinion over the method of ap-
proach In connection with compulsory
crop control legislation. Having had
mlsgivings from the first about the possi-
bility of ramming the federation bill
through the last regular session, his SUI
periors seemed inclined to think he
wasn't going to bat with requisite zeal.
His rift with them widened accordingly.
Gray, MisSOurian who has spent 40
years in the farm movement is, among
other distinctions, the father of eight
children whose names he proudly lists
in his Who's Who autobiography.
Copyright, 193S)