The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-07-31
By STAFF WRITER)

ing President Roosevelt, have
warned on numerous occasions,
seems to be getting closer to real
ity. It probably will be felt first
in our use of automobiles, judg-
ing by two moves made last
week: statement by the Office
of Production Management that
production of automobiles may
have to be curbed by as much
as SO per cent; a request by Sec
rotary of Interior Ickes that the
use of gasoline be curbed by one
third in Is eastern states.
Furthermore, the dangers of
price initiation are becoming
acute. Food prices have risen 9
per cent since February and Leon
Henderson, head of the Office of
Price Administration and Civil
ian Supply, warns they may
climb much higher on many
types Of products unless price
controls are enforced. Mr.. Hen
derson also recommends higher
taxes and "a campaign to sell
more defense bonds as needed
to help prevent initiation. His the
DRY is that prices go up because
people have more money to spend
and if they reinvest that money
in the government their demand
for luxury products will be de-
creased. That, he believes, will
prevent drastic price increases.
Debate over the measure to ex-
tend the period of service of the
million men being trained under
the selective service act, although
holly debated, has had the bles-
sing of the majority of congress-
men ever since the President
sent a message to congress and to
the people pointing out the
necessity for this extension. It is
the general feeling here that the
one-year period provided in the
act was an unfortunate provision
which misled many selectees, but
that the present emergency
makes it necessary to take adj
vantage of the clause in the act
which provides for extension Of
service. That clause reads:
Each man indicted shall
serve for a training and service
period of IL consecutive months,
unless sooner discharge, except
that whenever the congress has
declared the national interest is
imperiled, such 12-month period
may be extended by the Presi-
dent to such time as may be ne
cessary in the interest of nation
al defense"
Gen. George c. Marshall, chief
of staff of the army, has pointed
out that with 40 to IS per cent of
most infantry divisions composed
of selectees, it would virtually
mean demobilizing the army to
send these men home at this time.
Most congressman agree that it
would be ridiculous practically to
disband the army at this time, but
a good many also have a feeling
of guilt over breaking their con-
tract with the selectees, who be-
lieved they would be sent home
after a years training. They know
that provisions in the law make
it possible to continue service be-
cause of the emergency, but all
the same they feel many of the
million young men in service will
consider that something has been
put over on them.
It is expected the men who are
over % years old may be sent
home in view of the more recent
measure defering service of men
in this, age group. It is also be-
1ieved steps will be taken to in
sure jobs to the men in camp af-
ter their service in the army is
completed.
The opposition to the property
seizure bill has been considerably
1essened by revisions in the meas
ure which limit seizures of pro-
perty to property needed for the
manufacture of defense equip
ment and supplies. The measure,
in its revised form, also puts a
time limit on the power of the
President to control private pro-
perty. It provides that the gov
eminent pay fair price for any
property it seizes and directs the
government to sell the property
back to the original owner by
June 80, 1913.
Some congressman fear the
fact that administration spokes-
men in the senate opposed in
Guiding a provision in the seizure
measure for a specific prohibition
against the seizure of any news
paper or radio station, interpret
ing the opposition to such a pro-
hibition as intimating the adj
ministration might consider such