The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-10

OCR0l t1A1CA1Is
 The bombing of civilians has taken a tragic increase since the statement was issued, but just at that time was no worse than during several previous months. Therefore, diplomats were at a loss to understand the State De- partment,s sudden concern.
 Here is the inside explanation:
 Just two days befor- civilian
 bombing was condemn <, the British had indicated to the
 State Department informally that they were going to invite us to join in investigating it.
 So, knowing this official invi- tation was coming, the State De- partment decided to beat the gun. Partly to test out public opinion, partly also to avoid being accused once more of aping Bri- tish initiative the State Depart ment issued its condemnation of bombing statement on June 3. On June 4 Sir Ronald Lindsay came in with the official British invi- tation to participate in the in- vestigation of the atrocities which, the day before, we had so hear tily condemned.
 Anglo-American teamwork, smiled the diplomats.
 Disappointing Council
 Senator vandenberg isn't say- ing much about it, but his col- leagues are twitting him on the report of the Advisory Council on Social Security.
 You probably haven't heard mucff\ about this report because it is technical and has escaped attention in the press. But it represents the views of 24 out standing business men and ex- perts on the Social Security Act, and is considered extremely im- portant.
 The joke on Vandenberg Is that he was primarily respon- sible for the creation of the council.
 Early in January, 1887, the presidentially ambitious Michigan der opened a drive to reduce old- age pension assessments, assert ing that they "needlessly create fiscal and economic menace" His sharpshooting was so effective that the Senate Finance Commit tee finally appointed a sub-com- mittee to study the matter to- gether with an advisory council of business leaders and experts.
 As a member of this sub-com- mittee, Vandenberg personally ap- proved every selection for the council. Among those named were Walter D. Fuller, president of the Curtis Publishing Co.,; M. Albert Linton, president of the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co.,; E. R. Stettinius, Jr., chair man of U. s. Steel; and Gerard Swope. president of General Elec- tric.
 Vandenberg proudly acclaimed the Council. ''In my judgment" he told the Senate, cit is the finest group of advisers that has ever been named and assigned to technical problem of this kind."
 Too Confident
 And, obviously confident that the Council would see eye-to-eye with him on his assessment-re- duction demand, Vandenberg wrote Arthur J. Altmeyer, chair man of the Social Security Board, urging immediate action along this line.
 "The oId-age pension taxes could be reduced" he contended, land still leave the pension sys- tenn on a sound acturial basis if we frankly abandon the need less full-reserve system and pro- ceed on pay-as-y0u-go basis"
 Altmeyer sent the letter to the Advisory Council for its consid- eration. And here is what the 24 business men and experts ad- vised in their report:
 "It is the consensus of this Council that no reduction in the current tax rates under Title VIII of the Social Security Act should be made at this time: The members of the Council, re- gardless of differing views on other aspects of the financing of 0Id-age insurance, are of the opinion that the present pro- visions regarding the investment of the moneys in the old-age reserve account do not involve any misuse of these moneys or endanger the safety of these funds"
 NOTE-Senator Vandenberg has had nothing to say about the fitness of the Council since it made its report.