Milford chronicle., 1939-06-16
FROM CONGRESSMAN
GEORGE S. WILLIAMS

the U. y. lue cry NO OuS muSt
starve" was heard. Those more for
tunate were willing to lend a hand
and help those in need over the rough
places until they could again be on
their own. No one, however, thought
that the depression would last as
long as it has or that the unemployed
and relief rolls would mount as they
have. The Works Progress Admins
tratiOn which was set up as form
of tarelief" to make work for the un-
fortunate, started out with projects
that were useful. even unnecessary
and were paid for by taxpayers. This
slowly has turned into a burden. to
tine taxpayers as they now sponsor
projects which are neither useful nor
necessary and are Oftentimes foolish.
Now it seems that there is a cry for
relief, not for the underprivileged,
but for the taxpayers. They cannot
shoulder this burden much longer.
o
APPEASEMENT - Early in the
wear a little confidence was felt
when the administration took the at
titude that business should be helped.
Business appeasement was subject
heard continuously, but as yet moth
ing has been done to bring this
about. The recent conference al the
White House with the President MIR.
HOpkins. and eight of the country's
most prominent business men, was
disappointment. Nothing was gained
and Mr. Hopkins statement that this
group knew very little more about
what the country needed than did a
group of unemployed. summed up the
Administration reaction to this
meeting. If the ablest leaders in
American business life. with years of
experience. could bring about no def
lyite plan from the Administration,
then business is in for disapp0int-
ment. Confidence is needed to bring
about real recovery. But how can
confidence be regained when the Ad-
ministration continues to waver with
indecision. The hostility felt toward
big business by the Administration
which is causing the conviction that
ANYTHING they say or do is wrong,
must be overcome. 1t is business
that can help us regain our former
place as a strong economic nation.
DAIRYM&DUSTRY.- The dairy, ip-
1lnstry the world over has expanded
greatly during the past 20 years. A
report by the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics shows that for q leading
countries butter production averaged
nearly CT, billion pounds year dur
ing the period 1931-35, as compared
with less than As billion average for
the period l909-13. The U. S. is the
leading butter-prOducing country and
accounted during the l93l-35 period
for more than l3 of the total for the
81 countries. Germany is second
leading producing country.
SOYBEANS- Farmers and scien-
lists are looking for new and pro-
Etable uses for sOybeans, as the pro-
duction of this crop is ten times what
i was ten years ago. Soybeans are
2 highly nutritious feed for livestock.
Fed to hogs in too great quantity
they may produce the undesirable
soft" pork, but for lambs this is not
true.
ADJOURNMENT i Leaders of the
two Houses of Congress who confer
red with the president. are agreed
that Congress can enact all major
legislation on this program and ad-
iourn by Saturday. July ID. A lew
still feel, however. that August lst
will be a more likely date. Major leg
islation includes neutrality, taxes. re-
sal Cnnpf.ifU 1snWICiOn and
probably railroad legislation.
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT The
Vays and Means Committee has ap-
nroved several amendments to the
Social Security Act: Increase initial
benefits under old-age annuity sys-
lem and step up date of payments to
next January l. provide literally for
aged wives, widows and dependent
parents of persons coming under old
tge insurance: raise from $15 to $2O
a month the amount the Federal Gov
Crnment is willing to match with
states for pensions; postpone the l-3
Of per cent. increase in payroll
taxes; widen the coverage OF the old
age annuity system to bring seamen'
hank employees and employed persons
CT S. or over under it.
NEUTRALITY.-Soo to be taken
up by Congress, again, is the neutral
iiy question. Congressional commit
tees have been advised by Secretary
of State Hull that he favors repeal OF
the arms embargo section of the ex-
isting law and putting the sale OF
munitions to foreign purchasers on
a "cash-and- carry" basis. A new
bill, conforming to a great extent to
the Hull program, by the Acting
Chairman of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs includes elimination
OF arms embargo, keeping ships and |
citizens ont of combat areas, and re-
quiring transfer of title of goods to
be shipped from this country to belli-
gerents. Hearings on this and other
bills are being held in the House
Committee.
RAILROAD BILLS.-Major rail- |
road bills are cleared from the Sen
ate's calendar. Within week, three /
were passed subjecting water car
riers to ICC regulation the same as
railroads and motor transportation.
creating railroad reorganization
court to deal with rail bankruptcies /
aud reeeiverships. and permitting the
B. & o. and Lehigh Valley railroads 4
to enter into voluntary agreements
with security holders to postpone ma