Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-05-25

The unhappy condition in Europe
and Asia will probably continue in
more or less aggravated form until
the peoples of the various countries
take into their own hands the sole
power to declare war, save in time
of actual or threatened invasion. I'm
til that is done we will continue to
have wars that could have been pre-
vented.
1t is not so long ago that the duel
was resorted to to settle personal diff
ferences. 1t finally dawned upon us
that it was much more satisfactory
and less bloody to settle our differ
ences in lawfully constituted courts.
Perhaps, when it is too late we will
discover that it is better to settle the
differences between nations in the
same manner. The world cannot long
stand the present drain which, if not
stopped, must end in universal bank
ruptcy.
Bans Foreign Meats.
The Senate attached a rider to the
Naval Appropriation bill forbidding
the purchase of imported canned beef
by the navy, and the action was
later approved by the House, so that
hereafter American canned beef will
be used exclusively by the navy.
When the State, Justice and Com
merce appropriation bill was before
the House on last Friday, an attempt
was made to incorporate provision
prohibiting government purchases of
foreign dairy and other agricultural
products. The motion was lost by a
vote of 113 to 167, and was strictly
along party lines.
During the consideration of this
appropriation bill the Roosevelt reci-
procal tariff program came in for
some sharp criticism on the part of
the Republicans and several members
took occasion to rap the President
for having ordered the acceptance of
the contract for Argentine canned
beef for the navy. They objected
particularly to the Presidents state
ment that Argentine canned beef is
superior and cheaper"
| IldVS UC1OIS lllC q lClCdSC IL olll
the Commerce Department which
states that 78,597,OOO pounds of
canned beef were imported into the
United States last year and Al 1855, 900
pounds in 1887. The Department
made a guess that 80 percent of the
canned beef used in this country
is of foreign origin. Even United
States Senators eat the imported beef.
Is it any wonder that agricultural
prices are on the toboggan?
Would Curb Abuse.
The abuse of the government frank
has reached alarming proportions.
In four years, 88,5OO,O0O pounds of
franked matter went through the
mails which caused loss to the Post
Office department of something like
100000. That does not include
the cost of the paper nor pay for
the printing and handling which is
probably almost as great. Congress
has put stop to this indefensible
waste (and that is all most of it is)
by writing into the Post Office ap-
preparation bill proviso that here
after government publicity matter
shall be sent out only upon request.
California Raisin Growers Hurt.
Raisin growers out on the west
coast are registering sharp protests
against the reciprocal trade agreement
between the United States and Turkey,
signed April l, which they say threat
ems their ruin. In that agreement
Turkey reduced tariff rates on motor
vehicles and parts, radios, electric
refrigerators, office appliances and
other equipment, and the United
States reduced the rates on cigarette
leaf tobacco, high grade dried figs,
seedless raisins, pistachio nuts and
shelled filberts.
More than year ago, when the
Turkish agreement was pending, the
raisin growers of California informed
the state department that the con-
sumption of raisins in this country
is less than the production of Cali
fornia alone. If that be true, what
justification is there for permitting
raisins to be brought in from other
countries?
According to the American consul
at Smyrna the average pay for ORCH
ard and vineyard help in Turkey is II
cents per hour, while the California
rate is 35 cents per hour and more.
1t doesn't look right to me.
Adjournment in July.
The administration leaders have
put on a drive to bring about ad-
journment between July l and 10 and
it looks as though the program may
succeed because the danger of war
in Europe is about over.
The Ways and Means committee
will be ready to report the Social
Security bill to the House the latter
part of next week. It is also under
stood that the committee will report
H. r. 2 and H. R. IL to the House,
but without recommendation. The
administration forces in Congress
claim that they have sufficient votes
to prevent action being taken on
either bill and would not be sur
prised if that were true as they have
majority of 81 in the House at the
preSent time