The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-04-25
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passed the bill, and privately hopes the
senate VIII write some sense into 1t.

provision Suppose, say army and navy
officers, the du Points had been faced
with such a situation at the entry OF
the United States into the World war.
Would they have dared expand their
plants? Suppose, instead of preliml-
nary period of nearly three years dur
ing which the allies were buying all
the munitions they could get, and
which naturally caused tremendous ex-
pansion of the du pont, Bethlehem and
ether munition plants, the United States
had been involved from the first. with
such restrictions on earnings as are
now proposed.
The point made by the army and
navy men Is primarily that no maniac
turer would dare expand his plant to
take care Of war need, He would
not be able to make enough to scrap
the plant after the war, and he would
have to take his chances with govern
ment auditors on depreciation charges.
Altogether he would be much safer 1t
his plant were located on foreign soil,
where 1t would be welcomed as an ele-
ment of military strength.
So that the natural development
would be for foreign countries to bene-
fit-eyen in time Of peace-by the train
Ing of their workmen In the making or
munitions. and In time Of war by the
possibility of big profits, which these
foreign governments could tax to their
hearts content and still leave some
thing for the manufacturers.
Nearly everyone agrees that the pro-
posed law would be repealed ms the
first act of congress after the next dec
laratlon Of war. Critics are not much
worried about that What really wor-
rIes them Is the prospect Of American
business enterprise moving abroad
wholesale to escape such conditions,
thus not only depriving the United
States of this element Of strength, but
actually providing 1t for potential en-
emies.e
The bill would have no chance OF
enactment If the votes were by secret
ballot. But 1t Is far simpler political
| II to vote for such a measure than to
vote against 1t, and then try to explain
| why to ones constituents. Groups lob
| bying for the measure are militant.
| And almost to the last man md wom-
an. they would remember at the polls
See Long Session
Congress Is not going to be rushed to
an early adjournment. 1t will be with us
for long time vet. Almost surely I'M
| til August. Probably until September.
Possibly longer than that.
This Is true despite all the fiat pre-
dIctions by leaders that the must
items will be rushed through, and ev-
erything else will be abandoned. Many
things may be abandoned" But they
Will not be abandoned because OF the
/ time element. They will be abandoned,
| II at ALL because actually they are not
wanted Careful examination OF the
eftovers at the time of adjournment
will reveal the truth of this statement.
Utility heads got all popped up a
few days ago at this list of must
measures. 1t did not include the pub
lie utility holding company bill. Now.
despite all the statements, the proba-
bilty OF the moment Is that holding
company bill affecting the utilities Will
be passed. II will not be passed In the
form desired by President Roosevelt.
| 1t win be much more moderate. 1t will
actually be what some Of the utility
chiefs favored as much as ten years
| ago.
But its omission from the must" list
given out by house leaders is very
4 amusing. 1t was bit of vintra-pafty
strahagy. The house leaders In partic-
ular are getting very tired of the Pres
ident's treating them the way he goes,
Hence their public statement Of pro
gram" which would be put through and
then followed by speedy adjournment.
The legislative veterans we're laughing
In their sleeves at the time, but their
statements made good newspaper copy.
What they want Is for the President to
take them more into his confidence, and
stop treating the house OF representa-
tives like a stepchIld.
Soldier Bonus