The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-01

After Browns defeat as Senator
from Michigan, Senator Robert
Wagner Of New York wrote TO the
President urging that Browns ex-
perienee be used in the interest
Of the country, The next day
Wagner received reply from the
White House: ~ agree with you
completely. huff said-FDR.'
Meantime, Mariner Eccles had
tempted Brown with Job on the
Federal Reserve Board, 1t car
rled q ten-year term, and Brown
was delighted with the prospect
of serving in his special field
money and banking-and being
spared the grief of political con-
trovcrSieS.
On the day the President sent
for him, Prentiss Brown encount-
cred his friend Senator Wagner.
II have heard" said Brown,
shat the President wants me to
take Hcnders0n's OPA job. But
the Federal Reserve looks bet
ter to me. There's too much
grief In the OPA," Brown said
Stoutly. And I just won't
take It,"
Wagner smiled. ~ warn you,
Prcntiss. Look out for that guy.
He'll charm you into IT,"
Next morning, Senator Wagner
and the American public read OF
Browns appointment TO the Job
Of OPA administrator, The Pres
ident had turned on the charm.
cox AND CONGRESS
on May 81, 1906 Senator Joseph
Ralph Burton Of Kansas was told
by the u. s. Supreme Court that
he would have to spend SIX
months In jail, pay a fine OF 81
500 and never again hold n pub
lie office.
He had been convicted OF ac-
cepting money for using his In
fluence before a branch Of the
federal government. Specifically,
he had accepted $500 from the
Rialto Grain and Securities Com
pany Of st. Louis which was bar
red from use of the malls. SEN
ator Burton tried 10 persuade the
Post Office Department not to
bar the Rialto Company, and ac-
cepted money for his influence.
The case was fought for two
years up TO the u. s. Supreme
Court. which handed down ring
ing decision that members OF
Congress cannot accept "pecuniary
reward"
That was In 1906. Nearly forty
years have passed since then. The
same law remains on the statute
books. But otherwise things have
changed. Among other things,
Congress seems TO have lost It's
sense Of smell. Something which
smelled bad In 1906, seems TO
smell pure and sweet IN 1913, In
fact SO sweet that II deserves re-
ward.
GENE COX REWARDED
That, In effect, Is what has
happened TO present member OF
Congress, Eugene Cox OF Geor-
gia, who received q check for ST.
500 from radio station WALB,
Albany, Georgia, for helping 1t
with the Federal Communication
Commission.
Although Assistant Attorney
General Berge, IN charge OF the
Justice Departments Criminal
niUiCInt, pounyn t,,nnJoJ Npnonn,,-
ton, Cox'S Congressional col
leagues have rewarded him In an
unusual manner.
They have placed him In charge
OF n committee TO investigate the
Federal Communications Commits
sion which brought the first
charges against him.
Furthermore, Cox, as chairman
Of this Investigating Committee
has coralled weird assortment Of
Administration enemies to help
him investigate 1t looks as If he
we're out, not only to smear the
Federal Communications Commits
sion, which had the audacity TO
bring charges against him, but
indirectly the President as well.
COX'S SLEUTHS
Three associates OF Jim Ben
nett, former N. Y. Attorney
General whom Farley nominated
for Governor In a bitter fight
great deal for us by comforting upor
lie roPt a in fAnmare aud nn,.n ~