Milford chronicle., 1939-02-17
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demands upon the SIX weeks Olu
Congress for legislative experiment.
Ing, regulation and planning by new
tangled theories have been at a min
imum. A lot of talk is heard, there
fore, that the 'it-probably-won't-
work-but- we we'll-try-it-anyway" era is
past.
But there is talk to the contrary,
too. Those who say otherwise are
interpreting the apparent lull as just
that-a breathing spell between ex-
periments. And the next experiment,
It is predicted, will hit hard at
States rights.
In support of this prediction, the
Projectors point to several recent
activities and events that got little
publicity, apparently because usual
ly cautious observers take the lull
too seriously. Two lines In recent
speech by one administration
spokesman are pointed out as exam
pies of significant doings. The speech
concerned States rights, and the
speaker, after saying the Federal
government is better equipped to
AnuuChCC ouNldA OiNCAf hAAN
this declaration: "AbOve all else, we
want to go forward as one American
people, NOT AS F0RTY-EIGHT
TRIBES"
This, then, indicates the urge still
exists in some potent circles to try
to get Congress to do away with
State lines and set up single unit
of government-in Washington-tO
run the whole Nation.
Another example is a bill recently
dropped in the legislative hopper
(very quietly) to create a Govern
ment corporation that would be di-
rected to take over the ownership
and operation of all oil, gas and min
ing industries and power plants; al
so the products of these industries.
The corporation would enjoy "all of
the privileges and immunities of the
United States," meaning that IL
would be tax free and have the free
use of the mails. etc.
To States, cities and counties, this
would mean the loss of millions of
dollars annually IN tax collections.
Still another example is a hill TO
do away with State charters and
controls of businesses. This measure
would centralize the charter and Ii
cense authority in Washington.
The meaning to States would be
the same, again: loss of fees.
A confidential report on foreign
trade has been placed on the desk of
a top-rung Federal official. And 1t is
giving the top-runger and his aides
a lot of mental exercise. The report
says, in effect, that Americas for
eign trade is falling off, but not be-
cause of the circus antics of dicta-
tors.
The report was written by a dele
gate to the recent Lima conference.
He points out that although foreign
buyers prefer American-made goods
because they are better made, in-
creasing prices. due to economic
planning, labor unrest and higher
taxes, are putting U. S. products out
of reach. AS long as American prices
are continually forced higher and
higher, the delegate points out in his
report, we can expect a continued
decline in the sale of American
goods in foreign lands.
Sometimes when Washington off,
cials want to meet secretly for a
confab they go outside of Washing
ton. Such was the case last week
when a group of officials opposed to
the Dies un-American activities
probe, jouPneyed to Alexandria, Va,
to meet with Dies to try to reach an
agreement. Here is what happened:
When the pressure was put on the
to end his investiga-
tion, he offered to resign from Con-
gress and continue the investigation |
independently. There would be no
problem of funds, he pointed out, for
the Dies Committee received thous-
ands of dollars in contributions from |
aroused by disclosures by
the committee of Communist and !
Fascist activities in the U. S. All of |
the money, of course, was returned,
but an appeal would bring more.
The offer of resignation frighten-
ed the opponents The outcome was
agreement to appropriate 100000
more for continuing the investiga-
tion by the Dies Committee. Those
opposed to Dies were afraid to let
him take the issue to the country.