Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-04-04
tent of the author.

The hearings will probably continue
for month or six weeks as scores
of witnesses are scheduled to appear
before us. Today Saturday Ben
Dubois of Sank Centre, is to testify
in support of the legislation.
To Sell Latest Plane Types.
The national defense strategists
have agreed to sell to the Allies be-
tween five and six hundred new
model war planes that are being built
for the Army and Navy, also to fur
Their relax sale on experimental craft.
This number would be an installment
on several thousand which the AL
lied mission has on order or will
order. 1t is understood that the
manufacturers will be required to
guarantee that the Army and Navy
will receive better aircraft by de-
ferring delivery.
Great progress has been made in
airplane construction the past few
years. For instance, the Curtis
Wright people have developed pur-
suit plane that will climb vertically
at the rate of a mile minute and,
as in everything else, further i'm
provements will be made as produc-
ton increases and time passes. Let
us hope that our commerce in war
material will not rise to plague us
sometime in the future.
Welles Returns.
Under Secretary of State Welles
returned to Washington last Thurs
day from his exploration trip to
Europe and Immediately made a
verbal report to the President and
Secretary Hull. Mr.. Welles is an ex-
perienced diplomat who is not given
to going off half-cocked. His report
disclosed that there is no immediate
prospect for peace, but when the time
comes that the belligerents are ready
to talk business we will be in a bet
ter situation to offer our good offices
in bringing the war to a close. If
it continues into next winter bel
ligerents and neutrals alike will face
national bankruptcy. We may safely
assume that the President was given
a very complete statement on the
situation in Warn-torn Europe. What
effect Mr.. Welles' findings will have
upon the political situation or on our
foreign policy is unpredictable at this
time.
Economy Out.
This session of Congress started out
with a very fine record for economy
but it was too good to last. The Sen
ate, several weeks ago, was the first
to kick over the traces when it added
$50 million dollars to the Agricul-
tural Appropriation bill. Last week
the House nobly followed. the inspired
example of the Senate by increasing
the budget estimates for CCC and
NYA by 81 million $50 thousand. AS
passed by the House $50 million dol
lars is made available for the former
activity and 102 million $50 thousand
dollars for the National Youth move
ment. The economy bloc in the House
put up a good fight but were out
voted 204 to ITO on one increase and
221 to 157 on the other. 1 suppose it is
too much to expect economy in an
election year. The average legislator
is for cutting down expenses but he
does not want the operation to begin
in his home district. He is great
believer in saving but he wants the
other fellow to set the example.
A Serious Situation.
For the past year or two there has
been a very considerable migration
from the dust bowl section in the
Southwest to the west coast states,
especially to California. This move
ment has resulted in a very serious
dislocation of population and the
states in which the refugees settled
are now burdened with relief load
that is so heavy that it calls for
further Federal assistance.
AS time passes on it becomes in
creasingly clear that the billions of
dollars spent by the Federal govern
ment for relief has resulted in no per-
manent improvement in the lot of
those whom we sought to help. AS
long as five years ago l suggested that
farms adjacent to the larger centers
of population be acquired and sub
divided into five acre plots upon
which suitable buildings should be
erected, which were to be sold at
cost, payable over long term of
years and at low rate of interest.
Under such an arrangement practi-
cally all, with part time outside work,
would have become permanently self
sustaining. What has anyone to show
for what has been spent under the
aimless policy that has been followed?
You saw il in the American