The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-15

Personal Status
of Advisors Prove
Protection
By Charles p. Stewart

Considerable growing Is heard
from Congress over the fact that
President Roosevelt's most trust
ed advisers (at least, It is so al
leged) are so largely unofficial
responsible to nobody.
The group is described as a
war cabinet. Now. there is
good bit OF agitation in favor Of
just such a cabinet, to co-ordin-
ate the handling OF today's ma
tional problems, but advocates Of
such a set.up believe 1t should be
given other than a purely personal
status. They want II to be sub
ject to legislative criticism, at
least, or to popular criticism. IL
is not even the latter at present,
because, say the commentators.
the public does not realize how
influential it is.
The little bunch mentioned as
closest to the White House are:
Economic Director James +.
Byrnes. late of the United States
Supreme Court; Bernard NJ.
Baruch, prominent in World War
No. Is planning and much talked
of in connection with this one, but
not formally appointed yet; Judge
Samuel Rosenman, closely affiliat-
a NTH N 70 = activities An ~ N
Roosevelt's careeras governor of
New York state; Admiral William
d. Leahy, and Harry Hopkins
Harry the Hop" by presidential
designation. just as Judge Rosen-
man has been referred to as Sam
my the Rose" by the same high
authority.
Jimmy Byrnes is official enough.
His job is Of executive creation,
but it is not sufficiently informal
to be open to much fault-finding
on the ground Of irresponsibility
Admiral Leahy is admittedly a
highly capable naval adviser,
though pretty Independent of his
department.
Bernard Baruch is respected for
his accomplishments during
World War /. AS to him. the COM
plant is not that he is an insult
ability, but that a definite job
ought TO be given to him for auth
ority's and responsibilities sakes.
Judge Rosenman is a fine old
chap. l first met him when Roose-
welt was governor Of the Empire
State. Leaving Washington to in
terview him In Albany, as presi-
Dental prospect. | consulted sew
eral capital notabilities relative
to the possibility Of introductions
TO break the ground for me, and
got one to the Judge from Rep. Sol
Bloom. now chairman Of the rep
resentatives' foreign relations
committee.
II did the business to charm.
AS a newspaperman | will say, on
personal grounds. that he is "it'.
Nevertheless, he is an informality
in a war cabinet.
Harry the Hop" made what
seems to me TO have been the mis-
take of overstaying his time as
White House guest.
This has led to congressional
thrusts to the effect that the CIV
eminent could save money II Har-
~ would seek accommodations
elsewhere and pay his own
board. They are mean jabs, to
be sure, but they are rather dam
aging.
or course, cabinet members, and
such, DO pay their own board.
. Harry's support has been includ-
ed in the public allowance. 1t prob
ably does not amount to much but
It makes ugly talk.
When there began TO be discus
sion OF the desirability OF wartime
restrictions upon household ex-
penses, the question Immediately
was raised, Does this plan apply
also to the executive mansion"
The immediate answer was, mo,
that is a national institution"
That rule was adopted.
II is a trifle irritating. though.
in these income tax days. At
least, It is so interpreted.
What exemptions Harry has
claimed have not been revealed.
Congress has raised hades on
the subject, though. It wants par
ticulars.
The unofficial cabinet naturally
has not any mechanism for opera
ton. II has no records. It's disa-
greements, within itself, and with
other agencies, do not go down in
history.
The Cabinets" congressional