WEEKLY NEWS JOSEPH W. LaBINE CONGRESS: On Guard (?) Biggest item on the congressional agenda was Franklin Roosevelt's $8,242,000,000 budget, which the sen- ate voted to investigate via a joint super-committee. But there was more talk than action. While con- gressmen fumed to bury their teeth in the $1,800,000,000 defense pro- gram, major budget item, they also hesitated, watching developments abroad. In an election year there must be economy talk, but 1940's congress may end up by spending more on defense than even the Pres- ident asked. There were probes aplenty. Even though the house might kill that un- precedented super-committee, four more groups were hard at it. The house naval affairs committee be- gan by slapping newly appointed Navy Secretary Charles Edison. The slap: Pigeon-holing a proposal that the President be given peace- time power to commandeer facto- ries, materials and ships. Next came Admiral Harold Stark, chief of naval operations, who opined (1) that the U. S. now has no two-ocean EDISON (LEFT) AND VINSON The committee was jealous. navy, and (2) that 52,000-ton battle- ships wouldn’t be a bad idea. (Now building are two 45,000-tonners, with two more provided in the current bill.) Chairman Carl Vinson stepped in at this point with the week's No. 1 surprise, a proposal to boost naval years through a $1,300,000,000 add- ed appropriation. With this sugges- tion Admiral Stark agreed in toto. Another house committee, appro- priations, showed neither spend- thriftiness nor laziness in okaying $267,197,000 for immediate emer- gency defense (army, navy, coast guard and FBI). The committee simply knew not where to turn. But if the senate approved this fund the current year's defense bill will be higher than next year's. Next day, when Carl Vinson learned the ap- propriation committee might okay another $4,000,000 to fortify Guam, he boiled over. That question, he insisted, should first come to his at- tention. Said he: ‘This committee (naval affairs) is jealous of its prerogatives.” Two senate committees mean- while got up steam. Foreign af- fairs looked suspiciously at Guam, wondering how Japan would swallow TREND How the wind is blowing . . BANKING-—At San Francisco L. M. Giannini threatened to withdraw his Bank of America from the fed- eral banking system unless Secre- tary of the : Treasury Morgenthau halts “‘perse- cution’’ of its officers through the Securities Exchange commission, which has been exam- } 05 ining records A of Trans GIANNINI america corporation, owner of 40 per cent of the bank's stock. Next day Henry Morgenthau struck back. POLITICS-—At Washington it w indicated that Chicago can ha both Republican and Democratic tional conventions for the askin providing the city posts a $150, financial guarantee for each. AGRICULTURE—Although 1 cotton marketing quotas were a proved by 91 per cent of the fa ers voting (962,273), it was mated by the department of agr culture that the election had bee staged by only 38 per cent of cotton growers (2,300,000). AVIATION-—Within the next year every major airline in the U. will be flying four-engined, 40- senger aircraft in substratosphe levels at speeds more than 50 mi per hour faster than at present. ships: Douglas DC-4s and Boe 307s. the fortification plan. (See ASIA.) Appropriations, under Colorado's Alva Adams, wanted to junk the emergency defense fund and prob- ably would. What would eventually happen, most observers were willing to guess. Investigations will probably string along several months until Europe’s war gathers steam. Then, overnight, congress will shoot the works and forget that it’s an elec- tion year. Also in congress: € The house passed Rep. Joseph Gavagan’s (D., N. Y.) perennial anti-lynching bill imposing fines on county or state officials who fail, by negligence, to prevent mob killings. The bill went to the senate, which customarily defeats it, two years ago by a South-sponsored filibuster. { The house ways and means com- mittee heard Secretary of State Cor- dell Hull defend his reciprocal trade act, which expires June 12 unless renewed. Score: Ten Republicans against it, most of 15 Democrats in favor. But on the floor it will face greater opposition, probably being renewed only on the condition that the senate shall ratify all pacts. Meanwhile doughty Sen. Bill Borah of Idaho inferred that the break- down of trade talks with Argentina and Uruguay was a plot to win continuation of the act. { Adolph Sabath of Illinois, chair- man of the house rules committee, said he opposed any more money for Martin Dies’ un-Americanism committee. Reason: ‘After all, Mr. Dies has had enough publicity for any and all purposes and per- haps he will be still in demand for public speeches and writing maga- zine articles.” ASIA: Naughty U. S. By mid-January the U. 8. was giving Japan so much trouble that the cabinet of Gen. Nobuyuki Abe was ready to fall. It was not enough that Tokyo's emissaries had been unable to win a new trade treaty replacing the pact being abrogated this month by Washington. Japanese also learned: (1) That the senate foreign af- fairs committee was talking again of imposing an embargo material shipments to Japan. Lead- er of the move is Nevada's Sen. Key Pittman, committee chairman. Such Yellow Sea g China Sea 300 WL. r——— WANG’'S EMPIRE (IN BLACK) W hat would an embargo do? step would sound the death knell f Japan's war in China, (2) That Washington was again alking about a big navy (See CON. GRESS). The Guam fortification plan, pigeon-holed last year, when Japan objected, was making news again. Tokyo papers were warn- ing that the U. S. would soon be No. 1 offensive-defensive power in the Pacific. But the public, suffering from an internal stomach ache, was unexcited. It seemed likely, meanwhile, that the Abe cabinet’'s sole accomplish- ment and last act would be to launch the puppet government of Wang Ching-wei over Japanese-dom- inated sections of China (see map). But if the U. 8S. embargo falls, lack of military supplies will make it hard to preserve what Japan has already won, PEOPLE: Outstanding Stassen At Chicago, the U. 8S. Junior Chamber of Commerce chose Min- nesota’'s G. O. P, Gov. Harold Stas- sen as 1939's most outstanding young man. @ Off to Australia from Shanghai went Clarence E. Gauss, U. S. con- sul general, just named the first American minister to Canberra. qd At Washington, chief G-Man, J. Edgar Hoover, told a house commit. tee why he needed a special $1,475, 000 fund to fight saboteurs and spies. Revelation: Plans for an army bomber were stolen from an air- craft plant, but recovered by FBI 4d At Baltimore, dethroned gangster Al Capone left the hospital where he has been treated for a brain ail ment, taking up residence in a quiet, fashionable section of that city. «Introduced by Tennessee's Demo- cratic Rep. Kenneth McKellar was a measure to cancel the rest (about $8,000,000) of Finland's war debt, Test your nose for news. Answer all these questions and your score is 100. Deduct 20 points for each question you miss. If you miss more than three, bet- ter not tell anybody! 1. Bartley, W. Va,, is a coal- mining community. Why was it in the .. ts news? i 2. The man at the right, now Brit- ish lord of the admi- ralty, may become supreme defense chief. " What's his name? 3. According to the treasury, the average American had how much money in his pocket on January 1: (a) $57.71; (b) $10.13; (¢) $126.54; (d) $1,401. 4. True or false: Thousands of workers at the Binghampton, N. Y., plant of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe company made news by vot- ing for affiliation with the C. 1. O. 5. Both Republican and Demo- cratic national committees will meet in February to pick their 1940 convention date. Which committee will meet first? News Quiz Answers 1. Ninety two miles under 2. Winston C chill 3. (A) is correct. This is the highest were trapped 4. False. They mad downing both C. 1 Democrats on s, February THE WARS: In the West Germany and the allies seemed to be fighting everything else but each other as mid-winter arrived There was sporadic sea warfare, a "great battle’ over Sylt, German air base, and a Nazi raid over 500 miles of English coast. But despite those threats of heightened conflict, pub- lic attention was focused elsewhere: Germany. Nazi soldiers were re- ported massed along the Baltic shores as the Reich eyed Scandi- navia's neutrality, taking a more positive pro-Russian stand in the Soviet-Finnish war and threatening to invade Sweden and Denmark. But Germans were more worried about internal developments. Sup- plies from Russia and Rumania were held up by disputes, poor rail facilities and frozen river routes. The greatest cold wave in 11 years struck hard in Berlin, where there were shortages of both coal and food. At this unstrategic time, it was rumored workers would soon be paid I0U's instead of cash. Allies. France was rumored about to shake up her cabinet, something Britain had already done. While the London press still railed at Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain for dismissing War Minister Leslie Hore-Belisha, Chamberlain turned about and rallied the empire to “more vigorous prosecution of the war.” Both Hore-Belisha and Cham- berlain were soon scheduled to un- burden themselves in a secret ses- gion of commons. By general con- census, Chamberlain's position was none too secure. In the North Catching their breath during =a temporary lull in fighting, the Finns estimated they had destroyed three, and possibly four Russian divisions in one month. Still undetermined was a battle raging on the Salla front, where correspondents heard that Soviet relief troops were being encircled. Counting $10,000,000 worth of booty seized when the forty-fourth Russian division was annihilated, the Finns forecast a several weeks’ lull. THE BALKANS: Carol's Choice Back to Budapest from Venice went Hungary's Foreign Minister Stefan Csaky. In his pocket was a Plan: Italy would safeguard the Balkans from either Russian or Ger- man aggression provided that stub- born Rumanian, King Carol, could be whipped into line. All Rumania must do is guarantee territorial re- vision with Hungary and Bulgaria, in which case Italy and her neigh- bors will help Rumania. if Russia tries to recapture Bessarabia. But should Rumania refuse, her neigh- bors will not only let Russia come in, but will invade King Carol's pre- cinct themselves. Actually this [Italo-Hungarian agreement constituted an important step in breaking Italy away from Germany. Details of the pact were not published, for fear of ‘'giving offense” to the Reich and Russia. RUMANIA'S WOES WASHINGTON .—Congress is pret- it may be. There were thousands lative lap at once the other day, but these were not alone. There were arguments and “ifs"” and sug- gestions and suppositions and an of- ficial defense of the policy that for 11 years has seen government in- come fall far behind the éxpenses— 11 years of deficits. And, along with President to add a special tax, sons have been able an absolute concli- sion on the financial problem submitted by Mr. Roosevelt, some of the more influential leaders of congress have taken the lead In a plan to find out for themselves. Men like Senator Pat Harrison, the old Mississippi w a r- horse, who has been chairman of } senate cc on finance for years and who once missed being Democratic leader of the senate because President Roose- velt wrote a letter to “Dear Alben” Barkley of Kentucky. Senator Har- rison has support in the move and I am told that he is determined to get affirmative action. The Harrison plan calls for some- thing new in congressional policy. He would have a joint committee of 12 senators and 12 representatives, divided equally among two senate and two house committees, to do some spade work on the new budget —the budget for the year beginning next July 1. Senator Harrison gress. for the first time, if the Harrison plan eventually is adopted, congress will get some information through its own channels instead of accept- tension of power by the bureaucrats intent upon preserving their agen- cies, Annual Federal Budget Once Comparatively Simple Thing of figures could be made, posed items of expense were set down and totaled. The anticipated revenue was calculated. But such is not the case with since operations of the federal gov- ernment have become as general mer. one and that reduction was ment of a balanced budget, But the total of proposed expendi- tures shown was circumscribed with The amount of if cuts are made (from last year’s jobs, in CCC camps, in relief and farm benefits and if there are no vast program of expansion in the On the basis of the budget calcu- should be made to yield $460,000,000. Thus, on the basis of the budget, planned to this point, by a total of $2,416,231,000. The President in- tends, however, to cut that "way down by using up some odds and ends of money lying around among the government-owned corporations. By executive order, the President can restore to the federal treasury funds loaned by it to the various corporations. He said there was something like $700,000,000 in this pot of gold and that will be used to reduce the deficit further. Budgets These Days Merit Earnest Consideration And there you have it. If all of the things go through as planned and if there is not another request from any office or agency of gov- ernment and if there is as much tax collected next year as calculated and if the proposed ‘national de- fense tax’ is passed and collected, the government deficit for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 1041, will be $1,716,231,000, Senator Harrison may be wrong or he may be right in his proposal to have congress do something about understanding this and subsequent budgets; but it must be said there is something about the condition of budgets these days that merits ear- nest consideration. These latter day budgets somehow remind me of the broomstick horse that I used to ride when I was a kid. That broomstick had at least 20 different names, but it was always the same broomstick, and my imagination was never suc- cessful in transforming it. There was merited applause from congress for Mr. Roosevelt's decla- tail spending. He tossed some cold water on that enthusiasm, however, by a statement of policy that he did not favor too much curtailment at one time. Rather, ‘government support’ for the many functions now a part of the federal structure ought “to be tapered off.” There was not too much pleasure about that among the real supporters of an economy policy, and there was considerably less when attempts were made to I have a hunch that more disap- pointment is due. The budget that was sent fo congress the other day, in my opinion, is not going to be nearly all that will be needed in the way of money. It is just a guess that I here make: the totals for relief and for agricultural benefits and public works, etc., are not nearly large enough for 12 months if an election BRUCKART ON THE BUDGET Finds congress badly muddled over the latest estimates. Harrison plans for congress to get information about the budget through its own channels, Some- hing new, Present estimates will leave the government in the red $2,416,231,- 000. Condition of budgets these days merits earnest consideration. Possibilities cause wonder as to the future. that year. So, the requests will the hands of congress, in January, 1941, for deficiency appro- have run short. Present National Debt Runs Right Close to Line There is, however, still another “if to be considered. Mr. Roose- velt advised congress that if all con- would be $44,938577,622. That is right close to the line, for the pres- It was suggested stay under the limit only by taking government corporations. probably is proper, for the govern- was more important to the adminis- tration, however, to raise the limit of the national raise a row. the future. the action of the conservatives in | congress who seek to end this spend- | ing spree of seven long years or | whether the conservatives are wor- | ried about future burdens of taxes, the fact remains there should be | some tangible policy laid down. And that policy must come from con- gress. The present administration will not do it. Each year, there have been statements about a bal anced budget—in the future. Take a look at this general divi- sion of where the federal money is being spent, and I think you will agree there is a critical need for | a general revamping of the func- tions of the government at Wash- ington: National Defense, $1,800,000,000. Work Relief Programs, $1,300,000, 000. Agricultural Programs, $000,000, 000. Public Works and Investments, $1,100,000,000. Interest on the $1,100,000 000. Pensions, Retirements and Assist- ances, $1,200,000,000, Public Debt, Regular Operating Expenses, $1,000,000,000, Easy Task “Father was very pleased when 1 told “Oh, I'm glad to hear that” ¢ “Yes, the last of my beys he tried to { For Further Use McTav called at the head of- “Have you a card, sir?’ he was asked. “iA Aye, 1 have that,” “but replied Mc- first let me sce if ' Marvelous She had toured Europe last summer, and her longsuffering friends hod no “And Paris!” she gushed. “Paris is The people are all so well educated. Why, even the street cleaners talk French.” And the Wedding's Off A young n two dozen roses to be sent to his flan- cee, aged 24, wrote on the card that was to go them: “A rose for every year of your precious life.” “Throw in an extra dozen,” said florist; ‘he's a good cus- tomer.” The assistant did as he was told. ordered and ana writ Wilh SLOW BURNING —proteets natural qualities that mean mildmess, thrilling laste, Sragromce . . . @ cooler smoke . .. FAST BURN- ING — creates hot flat taste in smoke . . . ruins delicate flavor, WITH CAMELS SLOWER BURNING YOU GET EXTRA SMOKES PER PACK THE CIGARETTE OF ola TOBACCOS
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers