The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-06-11


In war; experts agree that 1t is a splen-
did quality not to know when you are
licked. Because there is always the
possibility that something may happen
10 reverse the apparent.
SO perhaps good deal OF credit
should be given the administration
leaders on Capitol Hill for the earnest
ness with which they push on to new
legislative achievements, regardless of
the clearly printed road signs saying
the road Is closed ahead on account
Of the constitutional bridge being
washed out.
Consider the sugar BILL for example
Administration leaders declared they
would push through the bill continuing
quotas for domestic production. They
admit that there may be some little
doubt as to the power of the federal
government to do this, especially In
view OF the AAA decision. not to men
ton the Guffey decision.
It's a little bit humorous, however.
when one considers what is happening
out In the country. For instance, the
big cane sugar producing state, Louisi-
ana, Is assigned quota under the sys.
tenn that the legislators are about to
continue, without the Supreme courts
blessing, OF 100000 tons.
Present estimates of the Louisiana
cane sugar crop. with due allowances
for weather and other possibilities, run
around 10000 tons.
So the question arises, how will the
government induce the cane planters
OF the Creole state to pillow under near
" one-half of their acreage, and no.
take the matter to COURT For 1t is
admitted that any court would grant an
immediate injunction restraining the
Department Of Agriculture from using
any element OF force. And 1t Is equal
~ clear that anyone interested could
bring a suit to prevent payments under
the old benefit check system.
Soil Erosion
There remains soil erosion, OF course
but everyone admits that the admins
tration would not be willing to risk the
constitutionality Of It's concedediy tick
lish soil erosion program In such a
case. To accomplish anything like the
reduction necessary TO get Louisiana
down to her quota would require such
drastic handling that no serious con-
tention that soil erosion was the main
objective could possibly hold.
It's Just one OF those curious things,
on all tours with the enactment Of the
Guffey coal law in the first place, when
everybody and his brother knew 1t
would be thrown out the window by
the high court. And on all tours with
the present desire OF Senator Joseph r.
Guffey and others to enact substi-
tute for the Guffey law.
They persist in this despite the care
fully considered opinions OF such politi-
cally astute gentlemen as Senator J.
hamilton Lewis that there Is neither
the opening nor the time for such
measure before adjournment. And In
the face OF view from very differ
ent wing OF the party--its most radi-
cal wing--of Senator Burton K. Wheel
er that 1t should not be attempted at
this session.
Meanwhile the United Mine Workers
are not half so unhappy as they make
out. They see the prospect of making
few fights In the very territory
where they are weakest.
And Secretary OF Labor Frances Per-
klns expresses a pious hope for new
labor provisions In the revised Guffey
bill to comet
Silver Buying Policy
Despite the clamor Of unofficial
Brain Trusters," economists, ETC.,
about the absurdIty of the present sill
yer buying policy, nothing is going to
be done about 1t. The present silver
buying policy will be continued, even
the paying of bonus of something In
excess OF 30 cents an ounce for all
newly mined silver In the United
States.
No one really thinks the subsidy to
mine owners producing silver is really
either very beneficial or very harmful.
The point Is that there are almost no
mines In the United States that pro-
duce just silver only. In virtually
every instance silver Is a by-prOduct
and comparatively small by-product.
Normally the main products OF such
mines are lead, zinc and copper. 1t
80 happens that ever since the depres-
sion began there has been an overpro-
duction of all three OF these metals.
Hence 1t Is believed by mining experts
that the bonus paid on newly mined sill
yer has not done any harm or any
good In stimulating silver production
In the United States. Nor Is 1t con-
tended that there has been much cheat
ing. The government has been ex-
tremely rigorous In Its inspections, and
officials do not believe that much for
eign produced silver has been sneaked
under the wire to take advantage of
the high American price.
+ One criticism OF this bonus ON newly
mined silver Is that 1t is a waste OF
money-In the face Of terrific federal
expenditures In almost every conceiv-