The Roosevelt Week

Last week President Roosevelt had on his hands a Congress and in his head a cold (see p. 46). In these circumstances the Congress had to wait its turn. To amuse the Senate the President sent up to the Capitol for confirmation the nominations of 3,616 assorted Government officers appointed since the last Congress adjourned. The House was allowed to fritter away a couple of days debating the Independent Offices Appropriation bill including an item of $10,400 to buy electricity for the White House. Thus the President gave Congress some excuse for being in session, until his detailed program for Congressional action was ready.

As soon as the cold which confined him for two days to the White House had abated, he went to his offices, held a conference with his newshawks. They were forbidden to smoke because of the delicate state of the President's nose. Then he took up the affairs of Congress. He called in Vice President Garner, Senate Leader Robinson, Speaker Byrns and Chairman Buchanan of the House Appropriations Committee, convinced them that he must be given $4,000,000,000, without any strings tied to it, for putting men to work. Reason: The manner of spending it had not yet been worked out. Next with Madam Secretary Perkins and another Congressional delegation he put the finishing touches to his social security program, making the point that it was not to cost the Government more than $100,000,000 during the first year.

P: One day after work the President took the opportunity of inspecting for the first time a gift sent him eight months ago. It was a carved table 10 1/2 ft. in diameter from Filipino Emilio Aguinaldo. Its highly polished top was made of a single piece of hardwood, Philippine red narra. Around its rim were twelve drawers, for the President, Vice President and each member of the Cabinet. Unfortunately, in rebuilding the White House offices the doorway of the Cabinet room was not made large enough to admit the table. Last week with difficulty it was maneuvered into the public lobby of the offices.

P: After their state dinner for the Vice President (one of the few occasions for which Mr. Garner puts on a white tie and stays up after 9:30 p. m.). the President and Mrs. Roosevelt gave a musicale at which several piano solos were rendered by Madame Frances Nash. Around the White House, Mme Nash is better known as Mrs. Watson, wife of Col. Edwin M. Watson, the President's military aide.

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