The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-12

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 The IVA officials looked un- believingly at Elliott and then at Reed F. Martin, his chief clerk.
 Why" one of them replied, i've got them the way every other de- partment does. If we want 8 particularly nice piece of furni- ture, we order two ordinary ones. Then the manufacturer, who un- derstands such things, sends us the expensive piece but bills us for the two less expensive ones."
 Elliott was outraged. "That is highly improper" he shouted '.it is unethical and scandalous".
 "But," expostulated the IVA officials, "all government agen- cies do this. Why, even your own does It."
 Elliott gasped, then turning to Martin, he demanded, 'Ts that true, Mrs. Martini"
 Martin got red, stammered, finally said, ''Yes, sir 1t is. They are quite right. This is regu- lar practice. In fact, that's how we got all that nice furniture in your own office"
 After he got over the shock, El- hott rushed off 8 memo to the Justice Department asking for legal opinion.
 WPA CUTS
 Unless the President can pull a rabbit out of the hat, his $875,- 100000 deficiency relief budget is out of luck.
 There is powerful sentiment in both branches of Congress to whittle. The figure most favored by both Republicans and Demo- crats is around $500, 100000.
 Contention is that this sum is sufficient to maintain WPA rolls at their present level if wage scales are cut. The present WPA aver age for the country is $53 a month, and Congressional econ- omizers argue that this can be clashed to $45 or $40, thus em- ploying the same number of peo- pie.
 Relief authorities strenu- ously oppose this on the ground that WPA wage levels already are below subsistence mini- mumS.
 Debate over the emergency budget is certain to be fierce, and with few exceptions the Republi- cans will vote as a unit gainst the $875, ,000, 900. They will have plenty of Democratic support. So. pessimistic are New Deal pros- poets that some of Roosevelt's ad- visers urge the Administration to withdraw from the battle and put the relief issue squarely up to con- gresS.
 They argue that up to now the opposition has made politi- cal hay by clamoring for economy while the New Deal has taken the rap and fed the jobless. His record, 1t Is pointed out, has been made. He asked for enough money to keep WPA rolling at present levels until July 1. If Congress wants to cut rolls and wages, let it.
 In the opinion of the master minds there will be plenty of dire consequences when the govern ment starts laying off workers and cutting wages, and when cities and states have to find funds to take up the load. But they are telling Roosevelt that regardless of this, it would be good political strategy for 940 to put Congress on the spot by forcing it to take the lead on controversial issues.
 POT POURRI
 The State Department has re- ceived a confidential report from Hawaii that during the recent visit of 8 Japanese naval tanker several hundred American-born Japanese children were marched to the ship to participate in a Japanese flag-raising ceremony. Pictures of the incident accom- panied the report Senator William King of Utah introduced more bills on the opening day of the session than any other six senators combined |. Rookie Rep. John c. Alexander of Min necota describes himself as . "eombination Republican, Demo- crat, and Farmer -Laborite" |. There seems to be nothing to the rumor that Soviet Ambassador Trcyanovsky has been '.purged".