The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-05-20
Observations From
Washington
BY Congressman Harold Knutson
Need For Trade Schools

Need For Trade Schools
One OF the best things with
which we may credit the New Deal
which numerous camps for unem-
ployed young men have been es-
tablished over the country. 1t will
be recalled that when the Civilian
Conservation Corps was created 1t
was intended as temporary re-
lief measure but now the Presi-
dent wants to make it permanent
The House has voted to extend its
life for two years as it was felt the
financial condition of the country
is such that we are not justified in
making permanent fixed charge
of $50 million dollars per annum
upon the Federal treasury.
When the measure was before
the House I advocated a change in
the policy of operating these camps
The enrollees are now mainly en-
gagged in soil erosion work, making
fire breaks, and in road building.
It is my contention that these
camps should be converted into
trade schools where the enrollees
may be taught useful trades so
that when they are discharged
from camp they can go out and
find good paying jobs.
It is generally believed that the
unskilled labor market Is badly
over-crowded while there is an
actual scarcity of skilled work.
men. That being the case 1t would
seem to me that the logical thing
to do is to give these young men
vocational training. If this were
done I would gladly vote to make
the CCC permanent because can
think Of no better way in which to
spend money to improve the situa-
ton of our people. My readers will
agree with me that the youth pro-
blem must be solved but we are not
solving it by merely providing tenn
porary employment. The young
men and women Of America have
an inalienable right to work, and,
as see 1t, it is our job to fit them
for useful employment.
IL Makes A Difference
Senator Nye, Of North Dakota, in
a speech one day last week, ex-
posed the existence of an alleged
espinage ring in New York City
that is working in behalf Of the
Spanish Rebels. It is my informa-
ton that the friends Of the Spanish
Loyalists are even more active In
this country than are those who
are directing their energies in be-
half of the Rebels, but we hear
very little about them. I believe
that America should remain absol-
utely neutral but I also strongly
feel that we should treat both sides
alike. If the Senate Is going to in
vestigate Rebel activities in this
country they should, by all means,
enlarge the scope of the investiga-
working in behalf Of the Loyalists.
I realize that that would not be so
popular but it, nevertheless, would
be the right thing to DOVE cannot
afford to take sides. .....
The Hindenburg Tragedy
Since my last letteria great trag.
edy of the air has been Ii enacted
which cost the lives OF IS human
beings. The destruction Of the
IIindenburg could have beer
averted had the ship been inflated
with helium. which Is an unexplos
i've gas. This country has, a mon.
opoly Of helium and several years
ago Congress enacted a law plac
ing an embargo on its expectation
Immediately following the linden
burg tragedy the Senate passed q
bill permitting the expectation Of
helium for non-military purposes
The measure will doubtless pass
the House in the very near future
The use of helium will make trave'
in lighter-than-air craft compare
lively safe.
! To Bring Up Pension Bill
i On Monday members Of the
House began signing the petition
to bring up the Connery Old Age
Pension bill, which provides for the
government paying two dollars fol
every dollar contributed by thu
state for old age pensions. There
are a number Of old age pension
bills before the Ways and Mean.