The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-05-22
ON THE
CAPITALS CUFF
Federated Press)
BY HENRY ION

tr6QoTdtou FT6SS)
War fever, based on newspaper
headlines and excited radio common
tators, has been rising in congress
Enemies of the new deal have fount
it wonderful cloak to hide their ne
farious activities.
1t was under the cover of war fever
for instance, that the conferees of the
senate and the house were able tt
slash the funds Of the NLRB drastical
NY and lop off 100000 badly needed
dollars from the wage-hour admins
tration.
Had the full light Of day been on
this action it is virtually certain that
it would never have been taken. AS il
was, the labor board was badly Grip
Ipled and the wage-hour division re-
lstricted with but scant notice in the
house and senate and only brief men.
ton on the inside of most newspapers
1t is the war fever that is giving
rise to the new crop of anti-alien bills
and prospects are that persons who
happen to be aliens will be bounded
and circumscribed by regulations as
drastic as If this country actually was
at war.
Rep. Martin Dies d., Tex) chair
man of the committee allegedly in
vestigating un-American activities,
took advantage of the feeling in the
house after the delivery of the presi-
dents arms message on May 16 to
deliver one of his usual orations.
Though he spoke for an hour, during
the time allotted to the debate on re-
| lief appropriations, Dies said nothing
he has not said dozens of times be-
fore. Yet when he concluded he was
cheered and applauded as never be-
fore in the house.
In his speech, Dies reiterated his
charge that 10 CLIO unions in basic
industries are communist-controll
contended that Michael Quill, presi-
dent Of the Transport Workers Union
(CIO), and Joseph Curran, president
of the Natl Maritime Union (CIO),
are communists though the commit
tee has made no finding OF that effect
and both have vehemently denied the
charge, again asked for government
cooperation in his drive, and charged
the administration was sabotaging his
work and failing to enforce laws.
Typical of the stand taken by Dies
was his declaration that Harry
Bridges, president of the Intl Long
shoremen and Warehousemen's Union
(CIO), ought to have been deported,
that he failure to deport Bridges was
due to lax enforcement of the law.
The cold fact that Dean James M.
Lands of the Harvard law school
found that, although Bridges political
philosophy was not akin to his own,
there are no grounds TO rthe deporta
ton of Bridges, was of no consequence
to Dies.
Rep. Leo Allen (R., Ill., introduced
a bill to deport Bridges anyway He
succeeded in getting meeting of the
house immigration committee, at
tended by less than half the members
and at which the chairman was not |
present, to approve his bill. 1t now |
goes to the rules committee where, it |
is certain, it will be speeded on it's |
way
eff the bills unconstitutional, let |
Bridges fight it to the supreme court"
IS Aliens attitude.
AS illustrative as anything of the
present temper of congress, the house
N particular, is the treatment being
accorded the WPA appropriation bill 1
or the next fiscal year.
AS debate on the measure began in
he house it was apparent members
we're not interested. Rep. Woodrum
d., Va), leader of the alleged econ
,my forces, drew crowd of less than
20 during his discussion. Last year
! substantial majority of the 435 mem
,ers listened to Woodrum.
Rep. Taber (R., N. W found that
members were not even listening to
lin and he became so annoyed that
lie moved that the house cease con-
liberation of the measure. This move
vas defeated by a narrow margin.
Members of the house apparently
eel it is no fun to be discussing sor-
id things such as the number of per- L
ons in this country in need of food 1
nd clothing while there are other sub
ects, such as fifth columns and unity
nd national defense, to talk about.
For a time, after the defeat in Ne c
raska, of Senator Burke (D) and the L
vhooping denomination of Reps. Fries
D., Ill., and D'Alesandro 3D., Md, b
seemed as if the house would be-
ONE more interested in the wishes a
{ their constituents and less moved t
y two inch headlines. h
Fortunately, they will shortly have C
lie opportunity to renew at first hand d
leir contact with the people on farms
nd in factories. a