Milford chronicle., 1940-02-23
Qa1hlMQton
ASn40Mb
y JAAaES PaEsToNs

JAAtEs PREsvoM
Nothing has been printed about it,
but more than one person in the Cap
ital Is becoming curious as to the
source Of the opposition to the Dies
Committee.
Frequently. in recent weeks, news
papers have carried stories Of this
organization and that adopting resO-
lutions urging discOntinuance OF
the Commuters investigation Of I'm
American Activities.
This continuing opposition is uneX-
planned in view Of the House, by a
vote Of 345 to q. voting to extend the
life Of the Committee for another
year. Also. voting 1t an additional
$4,000 for expenses.
The 345 men voting in favor Of the
Committee represents all walks of
American life. The group included
Congressman from the farm areas,
the small towns and cities, as we'll as
the metropolitan centers.
Thus, the question has arisen in
some minds: Who and Why are GER
tain organizations so opposed to the
Committee?
No true American citizen wants the
representative democracy Of the Uni
ted States transformed into a Com
munistic dictatorship. To argue that
is foolish.
That granted, then finding the an
swer to the Dies opposition becomes
more difficult.
One argument is that the Dies ex-
pOsures have been unfair and have
injured the reputation of Organiza-
tiOns which are purely American.
But then il would seem that IL
there were any question as to the
Americanism of any organized group,
that the members Of that group
would welcome an opportunity to
clear up any question of Un-Ameri-
canism which might in some way
have become associated with the Or
1t is a good question to ponder. !
and it opens up many channels of |
thought.
Congressional life al times has its |
lighter side. The joke at the Capitol |
is now on members of the House. !
The Congressman are trying to keep |
appropriations to a minimum to |
avoid increasing taxes. In this situ-
alton, it would i'll behOOVe them to
spend money for themselves.
But, engineers claim the roof over
the House chamber is in need of re- !
placing. 1t is said a heavy snow (,
might cause it to fall.
Until all Of the 9-inch snow,
which recently covered the Capital
City, had been removed from the
House roof, quite a few members
spent more time watching proceed
ngs from the cloak rooms than from (,
he House fiOOr-Or at least that is 1
what their colleagues tell about
hem.
You have heard of the Hatch Bill.
It was passed last year. and its puT-
pose was to take government office
holders out of politics. This purpose
vas so commendable that this year
/ move was initiated to broaden the
lcOpe of the Act to include few
Dffice holders who were missed by
he provisions of the original law.
But you probably will not hear of
he second Hatch Bill becoming a
aw this year. This plot was dis
Overed: Some persons opposed to
he Hatch Law were hopeful of Offer
ng amendments to the second Hatch .
Bill that would so change the Origi- !
al Act as to make il ineffective. ,
-. =
his is an election year. such amend
lents would not be opposed by those
4 Congress who will be up for re-
lections. But this uncOmmendable
Ian is believed to have been nipped
efore it got beyond the private =
llk" stage. Nevertheless, older I
eads in Congress will take no
hance, and the odds are heavily
gainst any revision of the Hatch =
ct at this session. A
There is much in the headlines
bout national defense. Preparedness
as been compared by some with
edicine. The proper amount is a =
bod thing, but too much is some
mes dangerous. So far Congress
as kept good perspective. There
Re enough members still in Con- y
'ess who remember the last war.
hey are acting as stabilizers. The d
'esent European situation, and
hat America got out of the last n,
ar thousands of Americans killed, :
Id billions Of unpaid debts). is
eeping Congress leery Of any stor- y
S Of the advisability Of a prosperity =
lsed upon a military foundation. ~,
hen. too, the old adage: A handy n