The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-03-21
Economic . /. :.


gress and, so far at least, it has pro-
duced some results. There is, however
considerable question as to whether it
will win out in the end-the advocates
of more spending are many and
strong, and they are massing solidly
behind the farm and national defense
measures.
Spearhead of the economy drive is
naturally in the House of Representa-
Itives, where, by Constitutional man.
date, all appropriations legislation
must originate. It's leaders have ma
|terially reduced proposed appropria-
|tions for a number of bureaus and
purposes. Latest reduction was a
pairing of close to $3OOO,OOO in the In
terror Department Supply bill-which
involved the complete knitting of pro-
ijected $250,000 expenditure for Ad-
miral Byrd's current Anarctic Expedi-
tion. So far, cuts in the budget made
by various House committees have
come close to the $300,000,00O point.
Whether or not those in favor of
cost-cutting will be able to resist the
pressure in favor of loosing the flood
gates Of the Federal Treasury is now
an interesting matter for speculation.
By the time this is read, Congress will
probably have got around to consider
ing the Naval Expansion Bill, with it's
proposed $653,00O,000 appropriation.
Up until recently it seemed almost a
certainty that this measure would go
through without a hitch, and that the
fleet would be given all it asked. AS
the polls show, sentiment in this coun-
try for building defense structure of
unprecedented peace-time strength is
extremely strong. The American peo-
pie, looking nervously at unpredictable
Europe, are apparently eager to
possess navy that is more than ade-
quate to defeat any conceivable in
vader or combination of invaders. At
the same time, certain amount of
doubt has arisen as to whether the
proposed bill is completely necessary.
The bills opponents point out that
the new ships to be launched would
not be completed for years. Some of
the ships are of more or less un-
tried character, and might prove fail
ures as fighting units. Further, they
continue, ships become obsolete fairly
and the old debate as to
whether large number of relatively
small ships is more effective than a
small number Of giant first-line craft
has not been settled. And, they say,
no matter who wins the worlds cur
rent wars in Europe and Asia, the vic
tors will be so exhausted that they
would be in no position to attack us
even if they wanted to. Therefore,
they sum up; tfreie is no need for
naval expansion on the scale now pro-
posed. Similar arguments are used
against proposals for the purchase of
tremendous quantities Of new military
airplanes which, as everyone knows,
may become outmoded overnight.
Congressional controversy over farm
is now reaching the
The Senate appropriations
committee has approved a billion
dollar farm bill which, if passed, will
entirely wipe out the $300,000,000 to-
tai cut in the budget made by the
House, and may make new taxes
1t seems certain that the
farm bill will pass the Senate and may
make new taxes necessary. 1t seems
certain that the farm bill will pass
the Senate in the form approved by
it's committee. Forecast is that it will
also finally be passed by both branches
with but minor changes. But the
economy bloc will undoubtedly seek to
pare it somewhat.
Outlook is that something of COM
promise will be reached so far as
spending in general is concerned.
Some bureaus will get less money, but
which affect large num-
bers of the voters, and in which, as a
result, all elective officials have a po-
litical stake, will be large-though
perhaps not as large as last year.
X X X
There has been bitter fighting in
this war-but the armies have been
hardly involved in it as yet. The
weapons used have been economic and
And now, as the war en-
ters its second half-year, the question
of food begins to overshadow all
others.
Well known are the spartan meas
ureS taken in NaZi GERMANY to con-