Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-08-29

so nedVy as 10 pre-
vent another crop of war millionaires
from springing up. Practically all
are in favor of that but the bill
finally worked out by the Treasury
Department will have the very OPP
posite effect in that 1936-37-38-39
will be used as the base years on
which to figure normal income. That
would be fine for U. S. Steel, Gen.
eral Motors, Chrysler, A. T. & T.,
American Can and many other in
dustrial giants, all of whom had very
satisfactory earnings during the de-
preston years, but it is the little fell
low who earned only three or four
per cent that will be hit because ev-
erything he makes above those low
levels from now on would be taxed
as excess profits. The big fellows
would hardly be touched until their
earnings exceed 10 or IL per cent.
Members of the Ways and Means
committee have received scores and
scores of protests from small con-
Germs and those that have recently
gone into business. AS this is being
written everything indicates that the
bill will be materially changed as the
10 Republican members are opposed
to it in its present form and there
are enough Democratic members OF
the committee who will join them to
make a majority. The international
banker continues to have his hooks
in everything but one of these days
they are going to be pried loose.
President Asks Draft.
At his press conference last Friday
the President asked for speedy action
on the draft bill by the Senate but
the Senators continue to go the even
tenor of their way. They will not
be hurried. The vote promises to be
close.
Naval Affairs Group Seeks Data.
My readers will recall that mention
was made in one of my recent weekly
letters of the fact that Robert and
Company, Atlanta Engineering and
Architectural firm, of which "Chip"
Robert, Democratic National commit
tee secretary is the head, has received
some very fat naval contracts that
will net his firm several million dol
lars. The House Naval Affairs COM
mittee members are now digging into
it to find out how many contracts
have been awarded and how much
money has been paid to Robert and
Company.
In testifying before the committee
a few days ago, Rear Admiral Moreell
revealed that the Robert firm had
been awarded two contracts that
brought the concern upward of two
million dollars in fees. The COM
mittee has called upon the Navy de-
partment to furnish full statement
of the number of contracts given to
the Robert firm and the amount of
money paid and to be paid. One
committee member accused the Navy
department of trying to cover up the
information and said that if it was
not forthcoming soon he would air
the matter on the floor of the House.
An Indefensible Bill.
By a vote of 1873 to IA the House
last week passed measure to in
crease the capital stock of the Export
Import bank by 500 million dollars.
A considerable part of this sum is to
be loaned to Latin American coun-
tries for the purpose of expanding
their industries, which will have the
effect of further reducing exports
of American factory products to such
nations. Another use to which the
money is to be put will be to buy
up their surplus agricultural pro-
ducts such as cotton, corn, wheat,
dairy products and meats, as is now
being done here. l voted against the
passage of this legislation because of
my belief that such vast sum could
better be used at home in giving the
American farmer parity prices.
hope the Senate defeats it.
Death of an Exile.
Leon Trotsky, exiled Bolshevik
War Lord, has joined the ranks of the
thousands that he sent to an untimely
death because they did not agree with
his political philosophy. For a num-
Der of years he retained his position
as Russian war lord by assassinations
and mass murder Finally he was
exiled by Stain and for few years
became homeless wanderer. One
day last week Trotsky got into an
argument, so it is said, with sup
posed friend who sank an ice pick
into his brain. Trotsky died the fol-
lowing day.
What Was the Idea?
AS this is being written the army
transport American Legion, which is
returning to this country with 900
or more American refugees from
Scandinavia, is clear of the mine
fields that the European belligerent.
have sown in the North Sea and the
north Atlantic. Before the American
Legion sailed the German Embassy il
Washington issued warning that the
American army transport was IL
grave danger if it persisted in taking
a course through mine-infested water