The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-04-04
Capitol News
by Congressman knutsol
Joy Riding Over

VI years government OlllCldlS
have been riding about in govern
ment owned cars. Many have been
using them for private as well as
public business. The abuse has
grown to a point where it assumes
the proportion of a national scan
dial, and the House Appropriations
Committee has decided to put a
stop to it.
True, there is a law prohibiting
the use of government cars for
private purposes but it has been
more or less disregarded by
government officials, big and small.
The Appropriations Committee
proposes to have all government
owned cars carry in large letters
the name of the bureau to which
each car is credited. If that doesn't
stop joy riding at the taxpayers
expense we will probably have to
do away with "official cars al
together.
I do not have any figures on the
number of government-owned cars
but back in 1887 it was disclosed
that the Agricultural Department
alone, was credited with 4,167
passenger-carrying automobiles;
"a station wagons; buses; $4,000
motor trucks, tractor trucks and
tractors; 626 trailers and semi
trailers; 25 motorcycles. The War
Department probably has a much
larger number. Then there is the
Interior Department, the Treasury
Department, the Navy Department
and a large number of independent
bureaus, all operating automobiles
upon which there has been little
or no check. It is safe to assume
that Uncle Sam owns in excess of
a hundred thousand automobiles.
The items of gasoline, wear and
tear and depreciation run into the
millions each year, and the I'M
organized taxpayer pays the bill.
The time has come to call a halt.
Would Investigate F. b. 1.
There is strong demand for an
investigation of the Federal
Bureau of investigation by liberals
and radicals who fear that Edgar
Hoover, it's chief, is setting up a
secret police system that may
threaten our liberties. The F. B. I.
has been charged with wire-tap-
ping and other unlawful acts. Much
is made of the fact that Hoover
some months ago caused the arrest
of a number of individuals in De-
troit, who contrary to law, were
charged with soliciting enlistments
for the loyalist army in Spain, and
that the arrests were made in the
early hours of the morning.
What are the facts? Mr.. Hoover
has consistently opposed wire-tap-
ping. The arrests in Detroit were
made upon the order of his chief
former Attorney General Murphy.
I should say that the early hours
of the morning would be the best
time to gather in any sizeable
group because they would be at
home at that time and there would
be less opportunity for them to tip
each other off.
The F. B. I. has done a great
work. They broke up kidnapping,
which only a few year ago had
assumed dangerous proportions.
Hoover has been severe with those
who would destroy the government.
Personally, I am strong for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
OF course, realize that it should
be kept within bounds but that
does not mean it should be ham,
strung or abolished.
Talked Out OF Turn
James H. r. Cromwell, American
Minister to Canada, opened his
mouth and put his foot in it while
addressing a gathering at Toronto
one day last week, when he public
ly denounced the totalitarian gov
ernments of Europe. Mr.. Cromwell
is rich young and inexperienced.
This is his first diplomatic job.
His wife Doris Dulxe) the tobacco
heiress, Is rated as one of the
richest women in the country. He
has been a heavy contributor to
New Deal campaigns as have
others of our foreign representa-
tives-Bullitt in Paris and Kenn-
edy in London among them.
These rich but inexperienced
diplomats who overlook no opport-
unity to talk out of turn, should
be recalled and replaced with men
of experience and sagacity. So long