Nation: The Old Administration: Getting in Some Last Licks

A DECEPTIVE atmosphere pervades Washington whenever one Administration gives way to another. Power seems to ebb steadily until the incumbents appear to be little more than caretakers. Yet, until Jan. 20, Johnson and his lieutenants retain considerable authority. By exercising it, the Democrats can create commitments—and problems —that will affect Richard Nixon for months or perhaps years to come.

Since November, foreign-policy decisions have been subject to formal consultation between the old leaders and the new. On the domestic side, however, there has been some effort to create "plenty of momentum," as one Administration aide put it, to keep Great Society programs thriving.

Fundamental Change. Last week the Department of Housing and Urban Development gave the first operating grant —$19 million to Seattle—under the Model Cities program, which was enacted in 1966. Twenty other grants are anticipated this month. Similarly, the Labor and Defense Departments last month expanded their Concentrated Employment Program, which trains jobless men for posts on military installations. On all such spending programs, Nixon has indicated that he intends to conduct a full review.

At Health, Education and Welfare, Secretary Wilbur Cohen recently began a fundamental and potentially far-reaching change in federal policy governing the eligibility of relief recipients. At present, some potential recipients must undergo investigations of need that often prove demeaning. Under Cohen's proposed ruling, eligibility would be established on the basis of the applicant's own declaration. Twenty-seven states already use this controversial practice, usually relying on spot checks to discourage fraudulent declarations. Cohen has not yet issued a formal ruling to make the system nationwide, but he is likely to do so—and that would pose a serious problem for his successor, Robert Finch. If Finch were to reverse the ruling, he would surely enrage the liberals who have been arguing for the change for years. If he were to enforce it, he would anger critics of the welfare program who believe that the change would only encourage widespread fraud.

Northern Issue. Another problem concerns the enforcement of school desegregation. Until recently, Washington has been using its punitive powers against school districts in the South, withholding federal subsidies from 113 of them for failure to comply with HEW guidelines. Now the Government is considering similar action against one school district in Middletown, Ohio, and another in Union Township, N.J., both of which stand to lose their subsidies if they do not meet federal integration requirements. At present, HEW has 63 investigators in the South and only 40 in the rest of the country. By mid-January, the number outside the South will be increased to 68; investigations in nearly 40 Northern jurisdictions are under way. The entire issue of desegregation guidelines will be an extremely touchy one for Nixon, who was elected with strong support from the white suburbs yet would like to improve his low standing among Negroes.