Askov American., 1940-08-08
IF the House Naval Affairs committee,

knew nOCnlng ABOUT II, uelCuer ulu
Representative Mas of Minnesota,
who is the ranking Republican MEM
Der. Senator Walsh, chairman of the
Senate Naval Affairs committee, like
wise professed complete lack of
knowledge on the subject. AS these
three gentlemen were members of the
conference which finally passed upon
the measure one can only conclude
that the proviso was slipped in while
the bill was being engrossed.
Secretary Morgenthau has long ad-
vocated such a provision and it is
generally believed that he and his
crowd would like to get control of the
aircraft industries of the country.
Fortunately for us, the whole thing
came to light before any damage was
done, and on Wednesday of last week
the House took steps to repeal the
proviso.
Can it be Possible?
Ten employees of Chicago manu-
featuring company will be permitted
to return to that concern $2,685.29 in
overtime pay awarded them by the
wage and hour division of the De-
partment of Labor.
The employees held that they had
not earned the money and asked the
wage and hour people that they be
permitted to give it back. After losing
$50 hours in hearings and consulta-
tions they won their point.
1 am just wondering in how many
other instances employer companies
have been compelled to pay unjust
awards which the workers did not
feel were justified, but where no
steps were taken to pay the money
back to the people to whom it right
fully belonged.
Would Draft Wealth.
Senator Lee of Oklahoma, has an
nounced that he will try to amend
the compulsory military training bill
by providing for draft of wealth. ~
Well, why not? They did it in Eng
land and France, in Germany and
Italy. If we are going to have con-
scription let us make it applicable
all along the line. If the law were
made to provide for the conscription
of wealth we would hear little or no
talk of our getting into the war.
WhOOping it Up.
On Wednesday of last week, the
House rushed through, in one after
noon, the billion 963 million dol
lar defense bill, which will provide
funds to start work on the two-ocean
navy and also for two-million-ma
army.
Just how much ground there is
for these enormous expenditures Con-
gress does not know because the
President has not taken us into his
confidence. It was with misgiving
that I voted for this enormous appro-
priation, but at the same time 1 did
not feel justified, remembering the
fate of poor France, to vote against
it. The responsibility for national
security is too great. Only the lone
Socialist member from New York city
voted mo-" Was there ever such a
period of confusion and uncertainty
in all the history of the human FAM
lily?
A Foxy Politician.
Senator Shipstead's jumping from
the Farmer-Labor party back to the
Republican party, in filing for an
other term in the Senate, indicates
to me that the Republicans are going
to win hands down in Minnesota this
fall. Senator Shipstead never fails to
pick the winning side, neither has he
ever been known to let the band
wagon pass him by if he can help it.
"Pickings" are Good.
L. w. (Chip) Robert is secretary
of the National Democratic committee.
He also is engaged in the construc-
ton and engineering business, with
headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Chip" started in as assistant secre-
tary of the treasury back in 1888,
but soon discovered that he could
make more money on the outside so
he resigned that lucrative job to de-
vote his time and talents in getting
government contracts for preparing
plans and specifications for Federal
projects. Mr.. Robert first came into
national prominence when Secretary
Ickes made him refund a $4,000
over-charge on PWA project. At
the time many thought the incident
would mark the end of his govern
ment connections but it evidently did
not as the Navy department has re-
sently engaged him to do the engi-
neering work on two contracts which
will give him about three million
dollars in fees. Verify, the New Deal
taketh care of its own.
Nor,,o- Tox.r,cl.-