The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-02-01

(By Staff Writer)

w dSulllSLO1l.-1 lS NO1iSACo AASAo
begun to give evidence that 1t is
really economy-minded. The first
major appropriation bill to come
before the House of Representa-
tives had been cut in committee
nearly 95 millions below the
amount the President had reques-
ted, and the members not only
sustained the committee but did
a little more trimming.
The outlook is for cut of
some 500 million in the requested
Navy appropriations. On both
sides of both Houses, Senators
and Members are scanning the
budget, hunting for other places
where reductions from the estl-
mates can be made.
This is a most unusual proce-
dure in an election year. The an
Gent political axiom, that the
best way for the party in power
to keep itself in power is to dis
tribute all the Federal funds
possible in doubtful districts
shortly before election, seems to
have been discarded. One reason
is that unless the estimates are
trimmed there will have to be an
additional tax levy of close to
half a billion dollars, and new
taxes are more dangerous in cleo
ton years than reduced appro-
priations.
Public Economy Minded
The strongest urge to economy,
however, is the conviction OF Con-
gress that the public in general
is economy minded. There is evil
dence that the voters are begin
ming to realize that Federal
spending has gone ar beyond any
thing anyone ever dreamed of
few years ago, and are ready to
call a halt.
From the political angle, there
are ample signs that the Republi-
cans intend to make economy one
of their chief issues in the Presl-
dental campaigns, so Democrats
are joining with Republicans to
cut expenses. The President thus
far has shown a different tenn
per toward economy than he did
last summer, when he expressed
his irritation at the refusal of
Congress to support his lending
spending program in no uncer-
tain terms.
The death of Senator Borah
leaves only Senator Hiram
johnson of California alive of the
block CT isolationists in the Sc
nate who prevented the ratifica-
ton of the Treaty of Versailles
and the entrance of the Unitel
States into the League of Ma
tons twenty years ago.
The timeliness of that observa-
ton lies in the refusal of the Sc
nate to sanction the sale of arms
and munitions to Finland, even
though Finland end Russia are
not officially at war and this coun-
try is technically neutral as be-
tween them. Moreover, Finland is
the only European nation which
has not defaulted on it's debt to
this government, and so is not
barred by the Johnson Act from
borrowing money for any pur-
pose it desires it, in this country.
Private lending institutions, how
ever, think the risk is too great.
and the proposal that the Ex-
port-Import Bank should give
Finland credit of 80 millions to
be spent how and where it pleas
es met with much favor when it
was first put forth.
Senator Borah's great influence
was exerted against it, on the
ground that it would be a first
step toward Americas entrance
into the European conflict. Whe-
Their that belief will be changed
with Senator Borah's passing
from the scene is doubtful. The
feeling is growing, however that
keeping entirely clear of all COM
plications arising from the pre-
sent war is something easier said
than done. Those who remem-
Der the war of 1914-18, before
this country got into it, are call
ing attention to the similarity
between the situation now and ir
the early years of the first Worlc
War.
For a long time, in 1914, Is anc
Is, there was such friction be-
tween the United States govern
ment and that of Great Britain
that several times it seemed al
if war between the two nations
was inevitable. Now, although thu
general feeling of friendliness to
ward England and France i
much greater than it was then
the State Department has fel
compelled to protest to the Bri
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