The Omaha guide., 1935-09-07
ECONOMIC
HGHICHTS
Happenings That Affect the Dinner
Pals. Dividend Greeks and Tax
Bills Of Every Individual Ma
tionaI and international Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare.

Inseparable from Local Welfare.
One of the most dramatic acts
Of the late Congress occurred, en-
tirely Unexpectedly as far as the
eneral public was concerned, just
before the session passed into his
tory.
This act was the passage of the
so-eaned neutrality plan pro-
posed By the White House, orig
mated BY the Senate, and forced
through the House by Administra-
ton leaders under a gag rule
which forbade any forced amend
ments and limited debate TO the
absolute minimum
Reason for this unprecedented
occurrence does not require a mic
roscOpe to discover. Everyone
knows that Europe Is closer to a
major war than at any time since
1914 The American State Depart
ment doubtless has 4 much better
idea Of how close was II than
any other domestic agency-it i
a possibility that inside Secretary
Hull's handsome, impassive, white
matched head there IS knowledge
that, if disclosed, would make
headlines throughout the country.
And, with the memory of the sin-
eidents" that brought America
into the World foreign policy,
seems determined to keep Us out
of future conflicts Il that Is at
all possible. High spots Of the
neutrality plan include
Prohibition Of the export Of
arms and ammunition to any for
.eign beIligerent until February
29, 1886 (by that time another
Congress viii be in sessi n. and
VIII be able to cope with chane6
cOnditions.)
Prohibition of the use of Amer
lean vessels IN arms traffic until
February %, 1886.
Establishment Of a strict lIcens-
n gsystem for American NUM-
lions manufacturers and export
ers.
Authorization 70 rthe President
40 require or entirely close ter j.
tcrial American waters to the sub
marines Of beiigerents
Authorization for th4 President
to forbid American citizens to
travel abroad during war except
at their own risk, unless such
travelling is made necessary in
order to escape a zone of conflict.
1t IS an interesting fact that
the neutrality bill passed both
houses by close to unanimous
votes-yet a number Of Congress
men, including some who voted
for it, are dubious. Senator John
son, oldtime advocate OF TT. :. $50
latiOn, said it would not prevent
our gettin ginto war And a few
voices including that Of Senator
WadswOrh, potential Republican
Presidential candidate, spoke up
aiainst the principle it represents.
on the grounds that small. perse-
cuted nations will be harmed bv
the policy, while big, aggressive
nations viii not. For example.
Italy could get by without pur-
chasing arms abroad-while clos
ing OF foreign buying TO Ethiopia.
which has no industrial resources
that might be turned to munitions
production, would make 1t impos-
sible for her to defend herself IN
the event Of war
However, editorial response to
the plan has been highly favor
ably-papers which oppose the
President in most Of his policies
are for him when he attempts to
keep US out OF the pending Europ-
can super-war. The provision
whereby Americans travelling on
ships belonging TO belIigerents
must do so at their own risk Is
perhaps the most important single
part Of the biIl-remember the
Lusitanial
900