Evening star., 1938-04-10
d This Would Happen Here
What We Might Expect Under Wartime Powe
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

4 RIlSTS with flare for the bizarre
~ and writer's with ability to drip
n blood across printed pages have
spared no efforts in recent months
TO acquaint us with what to expect when
the master murderers of Europe and Asia
decide to make war in America-or to
have Americans join their wars abroad.
And though their pronouncements have
noticeable vagueness with regard to
proving that either condition must arise,
It has become questionable and imphedly
unpatriotic to doubt the inevitability of
war and the wisdom of spending money to
prepare for it-or to encourage it,
For those of us who aren't marked for
heroic death at the first blast of gunfire, it
Is mildly intriguing to contemplate life
under some of the legislative proposals to
prevent proflteering in time of war, to
equalize the burdens of war. to provide for
the national defense to promote peace, to
pay as we fight, etc, etc.
Oddities Are Actual.
And lest some of these suggestions sound
30 extreme that their enactment seems i'm
probable, it might be remembered that one
OF the most comprehensive of all, the So
called May bill, already has been reported
out by the House Military Affairs Commit
Tee and holds place on the House cal
endar. few flags and a good band prob
ably could lobby the measure through the
House in quicker time than it takes to
Wite prevent profiteerng, equalize bur-
dens, ETC."
Without passing judgment on the merit
OF the idea. it may be said with accuracy
that the bill proposes to transfer to the
President of the United States-even though
he be one who has neither the desire nor
the qualifications to become dictator
powers on par with those of Hitler and
Mussolini. And for his guidance, he is
specifically directed to set forth YOUR de-
Sign for living as follows
/. To determine and publicly proclaim
1t to be unlawful to buy, SELL lease or other
wise contract for any article. service or
right of interest in property at a higher
rate, rent price, commission compensa-
ton or reward than was in effect at
given date.
If the President feels that such prices
are not the right ones then he alone is
given the further power of adjusting them
Freezes Salaries, Too
Such condition, OF course not only
fixes the price of your food. clothes and
other necessities but also freezes your SAL
ary, unless the President decides you should
be given a raise
2 To proclaim complete Government
control over material resources, industrial
organizations. public services, exchanges
and other business properties.
If your corner grocery store seems essen
tlakto Government prosecution of the war,
the President may take it over.
3. To draft into military service all per-
sons between the ages of 81 and 81. The
power of setting up rules for exemptions, if
any, also is left to the President
4. To require the registration and Gov
ernment service "as civilians of all per-
sons engaged in management or control of
any industrial enterprise A shortage of
gasoline station managers in the war zone
could be handled through this provision by
station managers.
This control plan as applicable to indi-
v<lals is backed up by the requirement of
operating licenses for all classes of public
service, real and personal property and
other industrial enterprise. Newspapers
and publications are exempted from this
type of regulation but are subject to all
others-as are their workers.
S. To reorganize the Governmental
case the job is not sufficiently done under
the much-controverted reorganization bill.
Fines up to 100000.
6. To send persons to Jail for one year
or levy fines of 100000 for violation of
any of the wartime rules.
Accompanied by an apology from the
committee majority that they do not have
the power to levy taxes, the bill recon-
Jlends that a wartime -profiteering
b schedule be enacted
In their report urging passage of the
measure the committee majority dealt at
particular length upon the desirability of
special wartime taxes which would provide
a. .''pay-as-you-go" condition.
"A most attractive ana allurlng prospect
may be held out as possibility Of equaliz-
ing the burdens Of war in the future" the
report says cheeringly. 1T is not only
to prevent profiteering by small percen-
tage Of selfish and greedy citizens 1t is
not only to give the masses of those who
fight in the ranks as well as those who
toll in the fields and factories and mines
d and forests all that they deserve, but it Is
to suggest the possibility and the practical
feasibility of waging a war on the pay-as-
you-fight program"
The committee ajority also takes occa-
sion to strike blow at communication"
of the Nation by drawing distinction be-
tween their proposals for concentrated
Government control and some loose think
ing based on noble sentiment which
proposes drafting and confiscating all the
wealth of the Nation.
But whatever the committee thinks of
their plan, and two minority reports were
filed in opposition to it. the measure is ex-
coriated most effectively by Senator Borah.
Idaho Republican and acknowledged au-
thority on foreign relations, who terms 1t
"a. bill to cut the jugular vein of this re-
public =. It should be called the
national assault act"