The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-04

new move to strengthen rel
 One or two cabinet members have got restive over the narrow policy of the State Department in giving Russia the cold shoulder merely because of $178,000,000 in unsettled debts.
 The ex-A1lies owe this country about eleven billions, these of- ficials point out, compared to which the Russian indebtdness is mere chicken-feed. Meanwhile the United States is cutting off its nose to spite its face by losing tremendous amounts of profitable trade, also Russian political sup port in the Far East. @ i.
 NOTE-Present State Depart ment policy is to put Russian on the No. or worst list iii setting tariff rates, and to refuse all dealings with her through the Ex- port Import bank. Meanwhile the bank gives credits to Fascist Italy.
 Sit-DOWn-Strike Murphy !
 Red-headed Frank Murphy, gov- crnor of Michigan, was about to address an audience. The crowd rose in tribute to him. 4.
 "Sit down." he told them. I'm used to it." $
 Basque Children
 The State Department has been under terrific undercover pres sure by Catholic groups to pre- vent the admission of 800 Basque children, whom American sym pathrizers plan to place with American families as result of the seige of Bilbao. r
 Catholic leaders claimed that the children were to be placed in the homes of American cornmun- iSts.
 However, the State Department stood its ground. Tn the first place, Basque Catholic priests are to accompany the children and make sure that they are properly cared for.
 In the second place, a secret precedent already existed for the admission of refugee chill dren, when 250 German Jewish children came here during the Maxi purge.
 Incidentally, applications for Basque children already have been received from 2,700 American families. Since there are only 800 to go around, the committee plans to be very chooSy about the foster-parents. Probably the kids will live in clover.
 Maritime Raid
 The new U: s. Maritime Com mission can testify that "it never rains but it pours." {
 Working day and night to pass on shipping routes involving mil- lions of dollars, whcih must be disposed of by June 30, the con- missioners suddenly have been confronted by flank raid OH Capitol Hill.
 Railway lobbyists, operating behind the scenes, have en- gincered bills transferring regu- latory authority, over inland, coastwise and foreign shipping lines to the Interstate Com merce Commission. This would deflate the Maritome Comnlis- sion like a pricked balloon.
 For years the railroads have been trying to jockey regulation of competing water carriers un- der the wing of the ICC-where it would be administered by rail- road-minded officials,
 LaFOllette Investigation
 The next fireworks Senator Bob LaFollette is planning to spring in his investigation of civil fiber ties will be in the Ford organiza- ton.
 LaFollette has had his investi- gators in. and around the Ford motor plants for some weeks, and soon will be ready to begin hear ings.
 Merry-GO-R Round
 Internal Revenue Commissioner Guy Helvering has completed an entire reorganization of the vast tax collection machinery of the government. Under the modern ized system, tax returns are checked within a few months af- te. their receipt. Under the old procedure two to five years