The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-03-31

II of opinion is that a |
N&g&A maio1 war wall de- |
: velop in Europe dur
ing the next few
weeks unless something unforeseen |
happens TO avert such catastrophe. |
On Capitol Hill the Congress is pra-
ctlcallv unanimous in the determine
tlon that the United States must oe
kent out of such conflict at all I
costs. Several high ranking govern
ment officials have expressed them !
selves privately, however, that there
would be little likelihood of the
United States being able to stay out
Of a general European war for more
than Il year at the longest. There is
no unanimtiy of opinion rs to the
best methods or means to keep ur
country at peace II the Administers
tion has fixed foreign policy, Con-
gless is not aware Of it, The whole
situation is d confused one.
Speaking Of recent European hap
penings-the United States govern
ment is out Of pocket one hundred
and sixty-tive million dollars as the
result Of Czecho-Sloyakia' dismem
berment at the hands Of Germany.
That Is The amount the little central
European republic had borrowed
from Uncle Sam at the time Hitler
took possession. When Germany
seized Austria that country owed
the United states twenty mil
lion dollars and no attempt or offer
has eyer been made by Germany TO
settle tle account The United
States might recover a small por
ton Of the Czecho- -Slovakian loan
attaching some of the credit balan
ces Of that frmer country which re-
main Ill this country. Other obli-
cations owing private American
concerns by the former government
at Prague are undoubtedly dead
losses.
| If the Members Of Congress
could be prevailed upon to vote their
| personal and private convictions,
much Of the New Deal would soon
be liquidated, appropriations dras-
tically reduced, the budget balanced.
an a far more conservative form Of
government than the present would
| ensue. Privately Democratic Mem
bers will express themselves as deep.
III dissatisfied with that which is go
| ing on. In fact, the administration
Of Mr. Roosevelt. his New Deal sa-
tellites and policies, are criticized
most harshly, sometimes even to the
| point Of profanity. Then the critics
VIII walk right III and meekly vote
| IN favor of New Deal legislative
measures. However, the Democratic
| leadership is finding it a harder and
harder task to keep their party mem
bership in Congress in line. Under
meath revolt seeths and boils; and at
almost any time the explosion may
come. There are still many rubber
| stamps in Congress-but they are
not as soft and pliable. or as easily
used-as in past sessions.
| Iii spite of the talk Of retrench-
ment and economy, practically every
| appropriation bill this year is for a
greater amount than that carried by
| the same bill year ago, The en-
larged Republican minority strives
continually to reduce such appropri-
ations for the operation Of the Fed
eral government now being made for
the coming fiscal year will be the
greatest in the history Of our
country. Just what the final result
will be no one knows. However, one
of the top-fight Administration lead
ers just this week stated in a pri-
vate conversation: "The final result
cannot help but be either imitation,
Reputation of debt, or drastic
change in our form Of government. !"
The Ways and Means Committee
of the House has been holding hear
ings on proposed changes in the So
cial Security Laws. A few days ago
! Secretary Morgantheau was a wit
ness before the committee and at
tracted wide attention by making a
statement to the effect that he be-
lieved the building of the gigantic
forty-seven billion dollar reserve Of
! Social Security funds was both un-
necessary and unwise; that the pro-
gram should be placed on pay-as-
Nougo basis; and that Social Sc
curity taxes should be reduced. Pre-
/ sent indications are that numerous
changes will be made in the law and
IL Il y Il.