The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-09-28
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Pals, Dividend Checks and Tax Bills
I OF Every Individual. National and
International Problems Inseparable
From Local Welfare.
1t was long supposed that the Presi-
dent would call special session of
Congress Immediately on the outbreak
of European war, in order to bring
about revision of the Neutrality Act.
The fact that the President delayed is
Regarded in informed quarters as be-
ing evidence that the shift in Con-
gressional sentiment was not so great
as was generally supposed, at least in
the early stages of the struggle.
A number of Congressman who half
heartedly supported the total arms
embargo passed by the last Congress,
though they were skeptical of it's wis
dom, have announced that they will
now vote for the h-and-carry plan
But the leaders of the embargo group
have not changed their views a whit
if anything, they feel more strongly
than ever that America must refuse to
sell arms and war materials to any
belligerent power, irrespective of
where our sympathies lie. Senator
Borah has announced that he will fight
to the bitter end against any proposal
to lift the embargo-he is convinced
that "half way" neutrality would
sooner or later lead us to war. There
are rumors that certain unnamed SEN
ators have said privately that, if it
becomes necessary, they will conduct
a filibuster against the cash-and-carry
plan, and keep Congress inactively in
session. In reply to this, Administra-
tion supporters have stated that they
may impose cloture and limitation of
debate rules, which are brought into
play only on extraordinary occasions,
usually when filibuster is threatened.
However, it might be extremely diff
ficult to invoke these rules in this
case-Congressmen of both parties are
extremely jealous of their rights to
speak as long as they want on any
measure, and they know full we'll that
| if limitation of debate is used to sill
ence the opponents of measure they
favor, it can also be used to silence
them on some other occasion.
There is another possibility, which
is now being discussed-that Congress
might simply repeal the embargo, yet
not pass the cash-and-carry plan. That
would put us on basis of interna-
tional law so far as trade abroad is
concerned. American ships could carry
arms to the warning powers if they
wished. In the view of many, this
would be the worst possible solution
to the neutrality problem-they think
it would make almost inevitable our
entry into the war at an early date,
due to the fact that German U-boats
would certainly sink American ships
carrying supplies to Britain when pos
sibe.
Whatever course Congress takes, the
usual informed view now is that de-
bate is likely to be long and bitter,
and that special session might drag
into the regular session before definite
Legislative action occurs.
Interesting news is also filtering
out of Washington concerning other
Iplans which government officials are
said to be preparing for presentation
to Congress. These plans, according
to a recent ms dispatch from the
capital, involve extremely high war
profits taxes on industries selling sup
plies to Europe; stringent legislation
to prevent food boarding and profi-
teering; laws to strengthen the gov
ernment's powers to combat espionage
and sabotage; emergency powers un-
der which the President could inter
vene directly in case of labor troubles
in essential industries. Officials quer-
led say the proposals are still in the
tentative stage.
In some quarters where Allied sen
timent is at its highest pitch, it has
been proposed that Congress repeal
the Johnson Act, which prohibits ma
tions which have defaulted on debts
owed to us Ca classification including
all of the powers involved in the
World War, save little Finland) from
obtaining credit here. But, so far at
least, the general temper of Congress,
to which the war debts are among the
sorest of subjects, is overwhelmingly
in favor of the Johnson Act exactly
as it now stands.
There are some of the highlights of
the present situation. Summing up, it
is apparent that there is much confu
sion as to what we should do to main
tain our neutrality and to protect our
financial structure, and that consid-
cradle time must pass before a definite
and workable program can be put into
action.
X X
The news reports that the Presi
dents "brain trust" has been dropped,
is indicative of shift in White House
policy. The brain trusters will keep
their official government jobs appar-
emily, but they will no longer be such
potent behind the throne influences.
The new group of Presidential ad