Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-12-26


Congress the President will urge some
drastic changes in the old age pen
sion system. 1t is reported he will
recommend lowering the 65-year age
limit; cut out state participation and
increase the amount. At present the
average pension for the country as
whole. is $22 month. In Mime
sofa it is between $18 and SIG.
AS l understand it the President
would make uniform the amount paid
in all states. That certainly would
be desirable from several angles but
1 am wondering if it would not be
wise to zone the country and base
the amount paid on living costs,
otherwise most pensioners would
probably move south where the items
of fuel and clothing are comparative
ly negligible factors. l intend to raise
this phase of the subject if and when
the proposal comes before our COM
mittee.
Worth Considering.
The proposal of Senator Vanden-
berg that the Republican party set
up a group of experts to advise it
on fiscal and legislative questions is
surely worthy of serious considera-
ton. Under our scheme of govern
ment the minority is supposed to act
as brake when the majority threat
ems to run hog wild. This it rarely
succeeds in doing for the want of re-
liable information which now can only
be had from governmental agencies
that are never too friendly to the
''outs", no matter what party be in
power. A group of experts, such as
propose by Senator Vandenberg
would be of inestimable assistance
in formulating program for the
minority that would be constructive,
and helpful to both parties in de-
termining their policy.
AS it now is, the average legis-
lator is general practitioner. He
must have some knowledge of taxa
ton, defense needs and score of
other equally intricate and important
subjects. Rare indeed is the indi-
vidual who is an authority on more
than one or two subjects, and the
country suffers because of this lack
of complete understanding. 1 am
satisfied that with the Vandenberg
plan in operation the minority would
become more effectively helpful and
that would rebound to the benefit of
the country as a whole.
Let's Use Our Brains.
Recently William H. Stoneman,
London correspondent of the Chicago
Daily News, said:
1.-THE fond idea that the United
States can help Britain more by stay
ing out of the war than by coming
in is, in the opinion of responsible
British leaders, just so much bunk. "
Yes, that is now becoming obvi-
Gus. The British are talking about
loans already, though their resources
are far from exhausted. If we were
formally at war, they could draw on
our munitions without having to pay
for them.
They have had so destroyers from
us for what amounts to no consider
: alton at all-since the bases we get
will force us to defend British terri
tory gratis. Now they want the use
of our navy to convoy shipping across
the Atlantic, and they would like to
carry that shipping in American mer-
chant vessels. If we were formally
at war, we should do both as a mat
ter of course.
Even though we were disposed to
get into the war we are unprepared
to do so. Informed authorities are
generally agreed that domestic pro-
duction of war material is 80 per cent
to 40 per cent below expectations.
The blame for this unfortunate
condition cannot be placed on the
Defense commission as that body is
more or less advisory and anything
it does must be approved by the
President, also by the War and Navy
departments before becoming effec-
tive. When the commission first met,
William S. KnudSen asked the Presi-
dent, "Who is going to be boss, to
which Mr.. Roosevelt replied, 81 am"
The present arrangement is not work.
ing out and sooner or later the Presi-
dent will be forced to name a re-
sponsible head if we are ever to strike
our maximum stride in production.
New Dealers are attempting to place
the blame for slowed-up production on
Knudsen. They say he lacks COR
ganizing ability" That will be news
to the officials of General Motors,
whose president he was at S25O,OOO
year. Under his guidance General
Motors became one of the countrys
industrial gi ants. Certainly, that
would not indicate a lack in any of
the qualifications necessary to secure
maximum production. The plain
truth of the matter is that the White
House and the War and Navy depart
ments alone are responsible. Now
that the President is back from his
inspection trip to the Caribbean we
may expect definite action looking
to the removal of this bottleneck.
Congress Must o. X. Loans.
Secretaries Morgenthau and Jones