(2 of 6)
In the Senate, McAdoo rarely makes a speech (his voice is high, squeaky) except on behalf of his pet project: no Panama Canal tolls for intercoastal shipping. In Washington, he is considered a greatly diminished public figure, but still a shrewd political opportunist. Popularly supposed to telephone the White House before casting a vote, he has voted for: Emergency banking legislation, legalizing 3.2 beer (he was a Dry favorite in 1924), 25¢ limitation on veterans' pension cuts (1933): Gold Restriction Act, Bankhead Cotton Act (1934); Wagner Act (1935); Wagner Housing Act, Neutrality Act, taxation of Federal tax exempt securities, Naval expansion, recommitting the President's Court Bill (1937); Relief Bill, Reorganization, more Federal judges (1938).
He has voted against: pay cuts for Congress (1934); shelving the anti-lynching bill, barring Relief workers from political activity, the Byrnes sit-down strike amendment, increased income surtaxes, new processing taxes (1937); the second AAA (1938).
He recorded no vote on: Stock Exchange control, reciprocal tariff program (1934).
Outside Congress: Still lean as an Indian brave, Senator McAdoo at 74 dances, rides, fishes, but less than he did three years ago. At 71 he married his third wife, Doris Cross, aged 24. Because his enemies point out that he will be 81 before he finishes another six-year term, he is at present abnormally sensitive about his age, offers to beat any of his critics at tennis. His present status in Roosevelt strategy is precarious, more that of an old pensioner than a valuable lieutenant. When the President finally got around to endorsing him from the platform of his special train in California last month, Senator McAdoo, at his side, mopped his brow with obvious relief.
Hats
Sirs:
Do men in USA, on entering a house, or a room in a house whether there are ladies present or not, retain their hats on their heads? For many years past all American films have shewn men, and particularly police men and detectives, entering houses rather unceremoniously wearing their hats and smoking cigars or cigarettes. Mostly the former.
We here have always accepted that as the usual USA custom until last night when we saw a film in which the detectives removed their hats when a lady came in the room ! We didn't believe that it was an American film then, thinking that it must be English, but were assured by an American present that gentlemen in America do remove their hats.
A. P. IMLAY, Major
Peshawar, India
Pickaback
Sirs:
Anent the British transatlantic plane Mercury [TIME, Aug. 8], is '"piggy-back," or "pic-a-back," or "pickaback" correct?
I am candidate for the State Senate and my probable opponent in the finals rode into office with Roosevelt. I wish to be able to describe him correctly.
FRANK D. JAMES JR.
Seattle, Wash.
It would be simpler to call him Mercury.—ED.
Esperantistaro
Sirs:
Appreciated indeed by the Amerika Esperantistaro (Aro: suffix meaning group of) was your article in the Aug. 15 issue of TIME. Such a sympathetic and accurate account of the origin and progress of Esperanto and its aims is a welcome change from the usually cynical, often hostile, stories and articles in the press of the U. S.