The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-07-07

10y JAMES Preston
JAMES PRESTON

ses of sufficient power to detec'
what, if anything, is happening
on the economic front. Blu
those who have think they SEE
something. If their eyes are no,
crossed, what they see is g
stronger beat in the long feeble
business pulse.
This is not from those whc
say the patient is better just
because they want him to be
better. It is from those who dis
count the ballyhoo of govern
ment officials. They base their
statements on charts which reg
lister the heart beats.
A thumbnail of the encour-
agement is a using up of i'll
ventories, sustained conStruc-
ton, a slight flutter in steel,
more optimism in motors, ap-
parent avoidance of receiver
ship by a large eastern rail-
road, and an upSWing (the du-
ration unknown in the stock
market.
These favorable signs have
developed before spending of
any of the pump-priming mon
ey. If they continue it will mean
a natural business revival SIM
ultaneous with government
pump printing activity. The eX-
tent of the revival will depend
upon the breaking down of bar
riers that have throttled bust
ness and restricted the free flow
of private capital.
Mr.. Lewis, the CLIO. chieftain,
does not mind telling other peo-
pie how to run their business.
Some think he spends more
time doing that than in running
his own CIO family. Otherwise
his children and Step-children
would not be constantly braWl-
ing.
And the latest business Mr..
Lewis wishes to put in order Is
the National House of Represent
tatives. It makes no difference
to him that these congressman,
435 in number, are elected by
the people of the United States.
Neither is he concerned that
they are responsible only to
their constituents as to how
they conduct their business.
Mr.. Lewis is displeased with
their committee system. He
thinks it should be changed.
Neither does he like members
of the seniority receiving pref
erence in committee assign
ments. Apparently he would
give the first termer the chair
manship of a powerful and i'm
portent committee. Nowadays a
member is lucky if he becomes
a chairman of any committee
under ten years of service.
Only one thing gives a mem
Der seniority and that is length
of service. If he has length Of
service it means he has salts
fled his constituents. The men,
bers of the House land they are
the only real judges think the
seniority and committee systems
satisfactory. All the hullabaloo
was stirred up over one thing.
The House did not pass a bill
Mr.. Lewis wanted. And it is a
healthy thing for Congress TO
legislate as it sees fit and refuse
to be dictated to by MI. Lewis.
Watch the monopoly investi-
cation. It will be the most thor
ough examination ever made of
American industry. It will cover
big business, small business,
good business and bad business.
It will 60 into the reasons for
unemployment. Patent and tax
laws will be examined. Some
members are hopeful the inquiry
will enable the development of
a business pattern that will
function without its peaks and
valleys. Some other members
have not said so but implied
that more than just knuckle-
cracking will go along with the
inquiry. The prosecutions they
imply may please some ambit-
ious government officials but
they won't help the man who