The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-18

S~Ak9 SS"A SNS D. FA@@f9 VA@S@A@ ~SAA S%AA
 The Capital well knows that few members of Congress have sufficient official business" to warrant an TX" rating. Also, aft CT the way the boys got their fingers burned in the attempted crude bundles for Congress" pension grab, it was thought they hsd learned their lesson-for this session at least.
 But 1t seems they haven't, for the gas grab is only part of the rationing ducking story.
 OPA has said nothing about 1t, but the inside fact IS that a num- Der of the congressional states men have privately demanded that the drastic tire restrictions be lifted for them so that they can get tires for campaigning pur- poses.
 Further, none of these pOIl-
 ticOs said anything about ex-
 tending such concession to
 their opponents. They want
 tires for themselves, but their rivals must abide by the regula-
 tiOns without any special favOrS.
 So far OPA has turned a deaf ear to the tire demand.
 NOTE: One reason why "X" cards were dished out so freely on Capitol Hill was that 8 num- Der of congressional wives acted as registrars.
 FAST THINKER
 Popular pastime at Selective Service is swapping stories about draftees. Here is the latest mak- ing the rounds:
 A prospective draftee was talk ing his physical examination and the doctor directed him to Took at the chart on the wall and tell me what numbers you see."
 "What walI?" asked the draftee blankly.
 After looking him over a few minutes the doctor told the regis tree the Army couldn't use him. He put on his clothes and de- parted. But on the way home, he stopped of to see a movie. When the lights went on at intermission, he was startled to find the ex- amining physician seated beside him.
 But the draftee was equal to the occasion. Nudging the doctor he asked innocently, Gan you tell me if this is the bus t0 Alex. andria?"
 NEW SHIPPING BOSS?
 Lewis Douglas, early New Deal Budget Director who broke with the President over the economy issue, is a good bet for War Ship ping Administrator to replace Ad- miral Emory Land.
 Land is also chairman of the Maritime Commission and 1t is felt that the two jobs are too much for one man to handle. The direction of the loading and rout- ing of cargo ships has been un- der hot inner circle fire for months and top war chiefs re- gently reported to the President that this is the sourest spot in the war program.
 If Douglas is made shipping
 boss he will be given control over a tangle he has been try- ing to unFavel as 2 subordinate for several msnths.
 Early this year the President, appointed Douglas as assistant to U. s. Lend-Lease Expediter Ayerell Harriman in London. To prepare himself for this job, Douglas made study of the handling of shipping by Lands War Shipping Administration. Douglass findings were such that the President cancelled the Lon- don appointment and assigned him to try to bring some order and efficiency into VISA.
 Douglas has been able to ef- feet some improvements. but, not being in control, his efforts have been constantly hampered and ohstTucted by certain shipping officials holding key positions in VISA.
 It hasn't been announced yet but the Navy has hired Steve flanagan, sllper-press agent, who is famed for glamorizing Miami Beach, as the publicity master- mind Of the Industrial Incentives Section, which has charge of the "Ev banner" program.
 flanagan will replace James selyage, former publicity man of