Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

News Review of Current Events the World OvOr President Roosevelt Tells Congress of his Great Work Relief Plan—Designed to Supplant the _ v Downright Dole. By EDWARD W. PICKARD ® by Wattern Newspaper Union. President Roosevelt PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT in his * inessHfre f6 congress, delivered in person at a Joint session, offered the Inw-mnkers a "new and greatly en larged plan” of work relief. He did not esti mate Its cost.i but as serted that the system of outright doles should be dropped and the government should undertake projects of slum clearance, grade crossing elimination and other public works that would give era-, ployment to about IV 500,000 persons’ now without Jobs. The fig ures to lie proposed' for this were re served for his budget message, but he assured congress that they would be “within the sound credit of the gov ernment.” Roosevelt declared the gains maue Tir the year 11W4 were greater than the losses and expressed “a strong ho|>e In the coming year.” He reasserted his belief in the “profit mo tive" but uttered a warning against wealth “which, through excessive prof its, creates undue private power over private affairs, and, to ppr misfortune, over public affairs as well.” This, nat urally, was taken ns applying espe dally to the public service Interests, which have been so apprehensive of the administration's intentions. As for a legislative program, the “resident made no attempt to outline one, but he did promise that definite legislation soon would l>e proposed cov ering old age and unemployment in surance, benefits for children and mothers, and other features of his so cial security plans. He declared the nation was making headway toward the "new order," but under the framework of the Constitu tion, and he spoke of the Increased In dustrial activity, benefits to agriculture and profits to merchants that have been realized. Then came this stern warning: "Let him who, for speculative profit or partisan purpose, without Just war rant would seel, to disturb or dispel msffSStrnrn^TfiWireed'TjereTe'Treaa sumes responsibility for any act which slows our onward steps." The President reported an unsettled condition In the foreign field, with the resurrection of old Jealousies and pas sions and new strivings for armament and power In more than one land, add ing: “There Is no ground for apprehen sion that our relations with any na tion will be otherwise than-peaceful.” Discussing the-matters that will be brought before congress for action, Mr. Roosevelt said: . “Among the subjects that lie imme diately before us are the consolidation of federal regulatory administration over all forms of transportation, the renewal and clarification of the gen eral purposes of the national Indus trial recovery act, '.he strengthening of our facilities for the prevention, de tection and treatment of crime and criminals, the restoration of sound con ditions in the public utilities field through abolition of the evil features, of holding companies, the gradual ta penng off of the emergency credit ac tivities of government, and Improve ment in our taxation forms and methods. "We have already begun to feel the bracing effect upon bur economic sys t*ffu of a restored agriculture. “Th^ hundreds of millions of addttfon- al Incohig that farmers are receiving Is findlng^Mts* way Into the channels of trade. \ “The farmersNshare of the national income is slowly rising. The economic facts Justify the widespread opinion of those engaged in agriculture that our provision for malntainTog".* Eai-" anced production gave at this time the most adequate remedy 'for an old and vexing problem. “For the present and especially in | view of abnormal world conditions, ng rlculturai ndJwstnfPnt with certain nec essary Improvements In methods should continue.” T HE Seventy-fourth congress, elect ed on the sole Issue of support of the New Deal, began its dirst session on the dot and devoted Its first day to the organization of the two houses and the swearing ' in of new f members. The lawmakers assembled in the Capitol were 1 serious looking lot. and with reason, for they have on their hands a big Job, that of making the New Deal permanent; and In the doing of It they *' must solve some of the most perplexing problems that our national legislators ever have faced. It would seem that the Democrats will have no trouble in, passing -any legislation they wish, for they have an overpowering majority. In the senate are 69 Democrats and only 25 Republicans, plus one Progret- aire—Robert li. La Toilette—and one Farmer-Laborlte— Henrik Shlpstead The house Is comprised of 322 Demo crats, 102 Republicans, rfeven Progres sives and three Farmer-Laborltes. The administration Democrats do not an ticipate any trouble from the Repub licans; it Is from the radical mem bers of their own party that their woes are likely to come; and the help of the Republicans may be necessary to curb those left wingers The ma jority leaders In both houses can be counted on to hold the radicals under a tight rein If that la possible. In the speaker's chair sits Joseph T. Byrns, chosen unanimously by hls fel low Democrats. He Is too much of a compromiser to suit many of them, but Is now tied to the administration, which declined to oppose his election. John H. Bankhead of Alabama, like Byrns one of the old school, won the leadership of the house after a brief struggle. Senator Joseph Robinson of Arkansas was re elected majority lead er of the senate, and Senator Lewis of Illinois continues as whip. In their pre-session caucus the Dem ocrats voted to reduce materially the Republican representation on house committees, and decided to abrogate the 145 rule for discharging a com mittee and bringing a bill to vote with in a week. The number now required for this action Is 218. This latter ac tion will provide another restriction on the radicals. T WO thousand eight hundred bills were Introduced and referred to committees .on the first day of the new congress. Number 1, handed In by Representative Wright Patman of Texas, provides for the payment of the adjusted service certificates of vet erans Immediately In cash, through the issuance of greenbacks. Patman and other supporters of this plan call it “controlled Inflation.” Lemke of North Dakota, Republican, Introduced a measure for the liquida tion and re-financing of agricultural indebtedness. The liquidation would be carried out at a reduced rate of Interest, according to the bill, by es tablishing an efficient credit system, through the use nf floral farm loan aqd federal reserve hahTcTng sys-~ terns, Lemke also provided for the creation of a board of agriculture to supervise the program. Continuance of the HOLC was pro posed by several congressmen. The bond issue of this agency would be In creased anywhere from one billion to four and a half billion dollars In the various bills Introduced on the sub ject. A 100 per cent payoff for depositors whose funds are tied up In trust com panies was sought In two bills written by Representative Clarence J. McLeod ofxMichigan. Many bills were Introduced providing unemployment and old age insurance. Senator Vandenberg S ENATOR VANDENBERO of Mich Igan, liberal Republican, says ha will introduce In the aenate a bill do- aigned to take the Poet Office depart ment out of politica. The measure be baa drafted would put all poatmastera and pov- tal officials, except the poatmaater general, under the civil aerv- Ice, and in the giving out of Jobs the post office employees would have the preference. Senator Vaudenherg has been persistently demanding that Post master General Far ley either resign from the cabinet or give up hla chairmanship of the Demo cratic national committee. In line with this hla bill would prohibit the postmaster general from holding any politica] office. By taking politica out of the de partment and establishing a career service, Vandenberg said, “the pave ment-pounding letter carriers may look forward to ultimate graduation to the high post of first assistant postmaster general.” “Under .this bill,” he added, “politics and postal affairs at -last are sep arated as far as is* possible In a democracy. All local postmasters are put squarely under civil service with emphatic and effective priorities given to the 'postal grays’ themselves. “Existing postmasters are permitted to serve out their present commissions. Thereupon the vacancies are filled by promotion from the service ranks. Only in the event that no such person Is available—and we anticipate that this contingency would not arise other than In some of the smallest offices— can the vacancy be filled otherwise than by promotion.” O NE of the most serious Issues that will confront congress is the bat tle between business and Industry on one side and organized labor on the other, especially over the thirty-hour work week. The American Federation of Labor Is committed to this proposi tion, and to the retention of the col lective bargaining provisions of the NRA act Big business, as represented BRISBANE THIS VEEK A Long Swim Money Flow* West , $5 for $3.39 Not So Barren The new year, 1935, latest contribu tion of Father Time v to the long chain of beads called “eternity,” is here, and we are In it We shall continne to read opinions and rumors, plans and [gritldsm of plana, In our alow progress to pros perity’s shore It Is a long swim when you are thrown overboard in the mid dle of Lake Superior. This country was thrown overboard In another lake of superior prosperity and unlimited expectations back In 1929. \ 6 National Topic* Interpreted by William fenickart Farmers, newspapers devoted to the farmers’ Interest big bankers of .the East are Interested In the fact that the money tide that for so long flowed from producers In the West to accum ulators in the East, is now flowing In the other direction. The money tide goes out toward the farms of wheat raisers and stock, in the West and Middle West, and to the cptton farmers in the South. It Is ag though the Great Lakes had been tilt ed upward at the eastern end, and the waters sent rushing toward the Rocky mountains. The tide will not flow long In that western direction, probably. Men that have the mortgages and collect the in terest accumulate the money, in the long run. Long ago, a man wagered that hs would stand on London bridge offer ing genuine gold sovereigns for a shill ing each and find few takers. The gold sovereigns were genuine, but no body would buy. Mel Smith, a circus official called “Lucky” Smith, bet that Los Angeles citizens would refuse to buy genuine $5 bills for $3.39. Hun dreds walked by, looked at the genu ine bills. Some cried “Fake!” Only two purchased. “Lucky” Smith won t $100 wager. by the Chamber of Comerce of the J .vv uju United states and the National Menu- 1 “""r ^rtoans "»t> hey had been faeturers’ association, ta opposed to , * s j U k ' ptlcal ,t,out < * rtaln 8tock b,ck the thirty-hour week, and now has the “ * support from the Brookings Institution. It also' seeks the separation of labor , The distinguished Georg*. W.. Rus- bargalning and practice codes In the Ireland, who signs hls waitings reorganization of the NRA. The open- !-‘ 4AE . ,, * a ys. “I am always struck by Ing shot In this battle is the Intro- t* 16 terrible barrenness of rural life ductlon by Senator Hugo L. Black of !n America.” He thinks we must “find Alabama of hls thirty-hour work week someway to enrich it,” and if we don’t, hill, which at present has not the sup- i **then the disease which destroyed an- port of the administration. dent Italy will eat Into America. You will no longer feed yourselves, and you will be struck with palsy of bread jy^MOCRATS -of--Rhode Island sur- ar T<i circuses. U prised themselves and everyone Mr. Russell may And greater rich- else by gaining control of both houses ness in Irish farmhouses, but It is a of the state general assembly when a ^ Richness of the character and of the senate committee recounted the ballots mind, not of surroundings. There is from Portsmouth and South Kingston little barrenness about, other than in- and declared two Democrats had been tellectual, In our rural life with its elected to the senate Instead of the automobile, ra(Uo, moving .pictures two Republicans who had been certified within easy reach, rural delivery, por- as winners by the state returning celaln bath tubs, mail order cata- board. The Democratic legislators Im- Jogues, prayer meetings, revivals, an- wnedintely organized the assembly, nual circus, the public library, soon ousted the supreme court members, rea ched by automobile. abolished the state appointed board of public safety and passed a reorganiza tion bill to consolidate more than 80 agencies Into 11 state departments. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT .did not * wait for the opening of congress to start his fight against immediate payment of the veferahs' bonus. The commander of a Legion post In Texas wrote him for information on the mat ter and Mr. Roosevelt replled'Xt length, detailing his reasons for opposing the payment. He argued that the obliga tion is not immediately due; that of 3,.WOOD certificates outstanding, 3.038,- 500 veterans have borrowed $1,000,000,- 000, or “more than the present worth of their bonus certificates,!’ and that when the veterans borrowe^SO per cent of the face value of the certificates in 1031 they used the funds to discharge their debts. Tills last.point, according to Na'tiou a) Commander Belgrauo of the Ameri can Legion, is one of the strongest ar guments for immediate payment of the adjusted service certificates. ' 8 - ‘The foUIidatfon of good business is good credit," said Commander Bel grade. "Ihe money due veterans wyuld be used to satisfy bills at the corner grocery, would help pay rents that are long past due and would go to bard pressed merchants to discharge the accounts of, harder pressed, vet erans." , Speaker {Jyrns admitted that the casli bonus bill would pass the house "because, there Is no opposition to it there," Rut be added that If the meas ure is finally enacted the administra tion will insist on some additional tax ation to meet the estimated $2,OUO,OOU,- 000 expenditure. It Is believed the senate also will pass the bill, but lead ers doubt Its passage by congress over the Presidential veto. . I F LOUISIANA wants any more pub lic works money from the adminis tration, It must “clarify” some of the new laws which Its legislature has phased at the beheat of Senator Huey P. Long. Tbia la the gist of a letter sent -to Gov. O. K. Allen by Prealdenf Rooaevelt, and the t’klngflab” la. not pleased by It He told the reporters be would make hie reply on the floor of the senate* at the first opportunity. The President’s warning applied espe cially to the Louisiana moratorium law pawed in November. Since Its enact ment the PWA has held up payment* on about 60 lioulslana projects . F oreign minister pierre la- VAL Is carrying out successfully the work begun by his murdered predeces sor, Barthou, to bring France and Italy into friendly accord for the set- Next summer our ships of war, “ven turing almost to Oriental waters,” will engage in far-flung war games cover ing more than 5,000,000 square miles of the Pacific ocean. ' How Interesting that will, be, and how rapidly those ships would come running home to -hide away in port If a few large bombing planes should tlement of all the conflicts that have , ^ . ... ™ L ^ arisen between those nations since the sal fr f m AS . ,a ’ fr ° m T 0ky0 wL World war. The agreement. It is be- I * ia 8 Vladivostok, over those 5,000,000 lleved. will also Insure peace In the I 8< l uare mi,es of the Paclfic - and dro P Balkans. After a week of lively ne gotiations It was announced that M. Laval woul^go to Rome “to have Im portant conversations with Premier Mussolini on questions which Interest the two countries and on international politics^ and to conclude conversations which have beeh going on between the two countries.’’X W ITH remarkable celerity the Jury In the Hauptmann trial was se lected, consisting of eight men and four women, and Attorney General Wllentz set. forth-vthe State’s case agaihst the Bronx carpenter who Is accused of kidnaping and murdering What would happen If Byrd should the baby son of (’olonel Lindbergh. The colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh were present, and they and Betty Gow, the child’s^ nurse, were among the early witnesses. On behalf of the state the attorney general demanded the penal ty of first degree murder. I N 1933 the James E. Sullivan memo rial trophy, awarded to the athlete contributing the most to the cause of amateur athletics during the year, was missed by Bill Bonthron of Prince ton by Just ,one vote and was giveu to Glenn Cunningham. Now it is In Bill’s possession as the result of bis great toot-racing campaign during 1934, in the course of which he estab lished a world record for 1,500 meters and beat Cunningham In three out of five races. lo the nationwide ballot, conducted by A. A. U., Bonthron led In the pre liminary voting and then piled up 1,072 ^dtes In the final*u$t after.the field bad been cut to seven. Benjamin 1l. East man. former Stanford track star, ran second with 929 and then came Ralph Metcalfe, Marquette universlty’i negro sprinter, with 413, and Glen Hardin, Louisiana State university, with 285. Three swimmers trailed the track men. Lenore Eight of fcjomestead, Pa n received 262 votes; Jack Med lea of Seattle, 169, and Katherlna Bawls, explosive bombs and poison gas bombs on the battleships! Geological explorers from the Byrd expedition, near the South pole, report important veins of mineral quartz, dis covered in mountains along the coast of Marie Byrd Land. If the geologists should bring back actual samples rich In gold, bow quick ly men would find a way to reach those mountains, how Indifferent to death they weuld be in the effort to get there! r . We' have piled up in Washington already $8,000,000,000 worth of gold. —— discovermountain containing $1,000,- 000,000,000 in gold? That would be overdoing it, for instantly our $8,000,- 000,000 in gold would shrink In value to almost nothing, and the gold metal would be only metal, not precious. In Kansas aterrtfle dust storm, hid ing the sun, suggests that the Agri cultural department help farmers by developing some temporary covercrop that could be sown on wheat and corn fields when the crops come off, a nitro gen-fixing plant if possible. It'would protect dusty surfaces from high winds and be plowed under, contributing humus, before the next planting. In the Northwest, farmers have used the “duckfoot” cultivator, which cuts a path 60 feet wide, going throogh the roots of weeds and not destroying the protection of the stubble from wind and the washing of heavy rains. A wise moQj) of earlier days waat •When in doubt refrain.” 1 In Russia and other countries where the will of one takes the place of alow decisions by the majority, the maxln reads: ^ -—. “When In doubt,shoot” Moscow reports 14 more executed to aVenge the killing of Sergei Kirov, making 1l¥ Uvea taken to expiate that Washington.—It will be remembered that prior to America’s entrance Into the World war, the Watchful then President Wood- Waiting row Wilson pursued an announced policy of “watchful waiting.” Mr. Wilson justified that policy on the high plane of a love for peace and the country supported him iu thaf decision. We are seeing a simulation of that ^course at present although the coun try is at peace and not at war. The policy of watchful waiting, adopted by President Roosevelt, has reference not International relations but to do mestic Uffatrs. To be specific, It "i©' lates solely to the political situation Id the new congress. The Presidentds confronted, as everyone knows, with a huge bloc of extremely radical mem bers in the house and senate and he has his hands full in compelling the congress to rubber stamp administra tion legislation. Recent developments, White House pronouncements and other straws tend ing to show which way the,wind blows indicate definitely that ifr. Roosevelt is going to avoid open clashes as far as possible. He is not going to test the mettle of the radical group too far without being sure of his ground. Therefore, we may expect to see considerable delay in enactment of new banking legislation and in dealing with highly controversial questions centering in section 7 (a) of the na tional recovery act Likewise, there will be hesitancy on the part of the administration to push forward a pro gram of revision for the Agricultural adjustment administration and the policy of waiting may be expected to be disclosed In some other phases of legislation such as the unemployment Insurance scheme. I do not mean to convey the Impres sion that there will be an entire ab sence of bills—some of them already are In the congressional hopper—deal ing with these various questions. But definitely, It can be said at this time that the White House Is watching con gressional developments to determine Just how far to the radical side It must -go in order to avoid a wide open spilt between the ultra-radicals and the New Deal contingent. Just where the conservatives will figure In this picture Is yet too early to determine except that certainly they can prove themselves to . he. thorns In.. .the kidea of .tire Democratic lenders at most in opportune times. • • • To better indicate problems con fronting the President with respect to his relationship with Toughest of congress, it Is neces- Quettions sary only to call at tention to that most controversial of all questions—section 7 (a) of the recovery act. This pro vision has had numerous Interpreta tions placed upon it and its effect generally has been to assist the inter- national^unions in strengthening their organizations throughout American In dustry. Section 7. (a) specifies, - in'ef fect, tlfat the" union in any factory having the most votes speaks for all of the employees in their dealings with the plant management. This provision Is what the American Federation of Labor describes as collective bargain ing. It has resulted In many cases in disruption of the so-called company unions, organization^ having no affilia tion with any other union but usually fostered by the corporation of which the workers are employees. The consensus among unbiased ob servers here seems to be that the Fed eration of Labor overplayed its hand last winter In enforcing such a far- reaching interpretation of section 7 (if) as to give the larger union the’voice of all employees. At that time,NRA, with Donald R. Richberg guiding the policy, 'Tomrriltted Itself definitely in favor of such a construction. Current developments are generally accepted as showing that either the NRA admin istration or union labor failed to look far ehdugh Tfito the Ftftiire" to foresee the reaction that Is now taking place As a matter of fact, tremendous pres sure Is being exerted on Individual members of the house and -senate for a revision of this Section, and some thing will come of It before congress adjourns. Of course, when nnlon la bor acts is concert, it usually turns the gizzards of politicians very white from fear, but In the present .instance, the politicians are torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. Industrialists after all, are the boys who usually contribute to campaign funds. The politicians do^not dare Ignore that segment of political strength, either. Consequently, it is apparent now that there will be an at tempt to rewrite section 7 (a) In a manner that will eliminate Us ambigu ities and take away from Mr. Richberg, ndw the policy director of NRA, the authority to do so much interpreting. ‘ At the same time, the President has a problem of some consequence on hls hands In the AAA. Another Cheater Davla, the Problem administrator, is gen erally -regarde among Washington observers as a maif with both feet on ^the ground. Such la not their ▼lew, however, with respect to some of the other individuals in tha department Taka H.R. Tolley, for example. Mr. Tolley has the title of director of plan- nlng for the Agricultural Adjustment administration. Hls relationship with Mr. Davis is almost identical with that between Undersecretary Rexford Guy Tugwell and Secretary Wallace of the Departnient of Agriculture. Mr. Davla la known to lean upon Mr. Tolley, but Tolley and Professor Tugwell do not always see eye to eye. So there is a personnel problem that may or may not become acute. But aS regards the congressional sit uation Mr. Tolley carries much more water on hls shoulders than does Pro fessor Tugwell. Readers will recall ef-- rtr made in the last session of eon- gress to "strengthen” the agricultural adjustment act. Professor Tugwell supported those amendments and, hav ing his head out of water, he became the target Actually, the best infor mation available is that while the voice was that of Tugwell, the hand was the hand of Tolley. The common gossip now Is that Mr. Tolley is presenting, rather preparing, proposals for “strengthening” the act and that he has not taken Mr. Tugwell Into his plans. This being true, the suggestion Is frequently'heard that Mr. Tolley may commit the administration In certain directions toward regimen tation of the farmers to an extent which Mr. Roosevelt does not de sire to go. Mr. Tolley is said to favor inclusion of the fruit and berry and specialty crops under federal control. This la believed to come from his California background, but regardless of its root it must be admitted its sponsbr is mak ing headway with the plans. None can tell, however, until the de tails of the Tolley program fire out in the open exactly what congressional reaction will be. Suffice it to say at this time that there are numerous Dem ocrats, important Democrats at that, who do not go along with Tolley oi with Tugwell, and the prediction la frequently made th^ Tolley’s name may receive treatment as rough In con gressional debate as did the name of Professor Tugwell last winter. • • • With respect to banking legislation radicals and conservatives likewise are at each other’s Banking throats, only this Legislation has become bit ter already. Oover UfirJEccles of the Federal Reserve ' hoard has been made the target bf ft “ vicious attack by Senator Glass of Vir ginia, recognized everywhere as the outstanding financial authority among Democrats at the Capitol. Senator Glass openly charged Governor Ec- cles with exceeding his authority in a recent rifling requiring state bank! that are not members of the Federal Reserve board to reduce ..their—in terest rate paid on time and sav- ' ings deposits. These banks wer* reached through the Federal Deposit Insurance corporation of which they are members and with whose regula. tions they must comply. The Virginia senator holds that the Federal Re serve board, under the guidance of Governor Eccles was responsible for this action and he was not careful in tearing off the bark in a letter stating his views. Senator Glass has forced a temporary halt in the order. While the Eccles-Glass row may be regarded as purely a controversy be tween two Individuals In positions of high authority, It is much more than that. It presages trouble on any bank ing legislation that goes farther afield than has occurred heretofore because Senator Glass is an unequivocal fight er for retention of the independence of the Federal Reserve system from treasury domination. ycr * It Is -not difficult to see why Sena tor Glass fears such policy as the Jp- terest rate reduction, fie thinks that the Federal Deposit Insurance cor poration already has been figuratively swallowed by the treasury and he be lieves that the administration also de sires the treasury to swallow the Fed eral Reserve hoard. The next togtefil step If the v latter is accomplished, la for the treasury to seek establishment of a central bank where the currency would be under control of politicians Instead of responsive to business needs as It Is now with the twelve re glonal Federal Reserve banks In op eration. ^ . • • • Too much attention should not be paid, In the opinion of astute' observ- ers here, to the mass Radical of radical bills now Bills flowing through the routine channels of* Introduction and reference to commit tees. , Some of them, it is true, will be come the basis of legislation later on but every hguse member or senatof with an idea drafts it Into tlie form of a bill and presents It In order that at sometime or other hls name miy be attached to the legislation. But II must be remembered that with the radical strength existing in both houses of congress some of these bill* may get farther through the legisla tive mill than they ordinarily would reach. This fact apparently Justifle* Mr. Roosevelt’s waiting policy. Bui ft the same time, i hear. It is subject ing the administration to a fresh out burst of criticism among that segment at the population which would like t# know what the administration pol icy is. * \ Q, WwUra NMrap&psr Union. - *