Letters, Jun. 25, 1934

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Born: In Philadelphia, Jan. 5, 1870. Start hi life: Retail clothier. Career: When he was 11, his family moved to the New Jersey coast, becoming the first Jews to colonize Atlantic City. There, after graduating from the high school, he joined his father in the family clothing business. Expanding as "the playground of America" expanded. Brothers Isaac, Harry & Benjamin spread into real estate, lumber and banking. Later Isaac and Harry went in for politics. Isaac was elected to the City Council in 1907. Harry was elected Mayor in 1911. In 1914, after two years in the State Legislature, Isaac was elected Republican Representative from the Second (Atlantic City) New Jersey District. A trainload of friends took him down to Washington, where his legislative headquarters have been ever since. In Congress: He soon got himself appointed to the potent Ways & Means Committee. There, with Texas' Democratic Garner and Ohio's Republican Longworth, the famed Congressional triumvirate of "Ike, Jack & Nick" was formed. They played poker and politics together. In 1925 it was "Ike" Bacharach who swung the Pennsylvania Republicans to Longworth, made his friend Speaker of the House. A master at compromise and conciliation, he mediated the bill to lend veterans up to 50% of the face value of their adjusted service certificates, spared President Hoover the defeat of an overridden veto on the proposal for payment in full. He voted for: Hawley-Smoot tariff (1930). Hoover moratorium (1931), sales tax (1932). beer (1932-33), Repeal (1932-33), tax increases (1932), Economy Act (1933), NIRA (1933), abrogating gold contracts (1933), overriding veto on veterans' compensation (1934). He voted against: full payment of the Bonus (1932-34), Philippine independence (1932). AAA (1934), cotton control (1934), Dies silver bill (1934), tax bill (1934), stock exchange regulation (1934). With a reputation for clever off-the-floor work, he rarely makes long appearances in the House, fidgets nervously when he does. No Congressional voice is heard less often than his in the House well. In the 72nd Congress, second session, he introduced only three bills: one for private relief for a constituent, one to expand certain RFC loan powers, one to survey a New Jersey creek. Legislative hobbies: high tariffs, low taxes for business. During the Hoover Administration he practically ran the Ways & Means Committee (taxes & tariffs), although Oregon's Hawley was chairman. Today as the No. 2 G. O. P. committeeman, his influence is greater among his colleagues than that of the senior Republican member, Massachusetts' Treadway. As a Ways & Means Committeeman, "Ike" Bacharach has no time for other important House committee posts. In appearance he is formidable—bristling grey mustache: lowering, thick salt-&-pepper eyebrows; wiry white hair. His clothes are well-tailored, neatly fit his medium build. He has a gruff sense of humor. In the Longworth days, capital society used to see him frequently. Now his social life is confined mostly to his Congressional colleagues, particularly his friend Vice President Garner. A bachelor, he lives when in Washington at the Mayflower Hotel. Outside Congress: Belonging not only to the first Jewish family but to the First Family of Atlantic City, "Ike" Bacharach owns a comfortable seaside house there, divides his