Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-25
ROOSEVELT SAYS
EUROPEAN WAR
IS VERY SERIOUS


the extreme seriousness of the Euro
pean war and it's implications regard
ing the United States. Public under
standing of the significance of the
struggle is gradually increasing, the
President said, but thus far has been
inadequate.
OPM Director General Knudsen
said the nation is now about 70 per
cent retooled for defense and there
should be "cIear sailing" ahead. OPM
Production Director Biggers said
mass production will begin within 100
days.
Labor Department announced aver
age earnings in manufacturing indus
tries have risen to new levels-69.2
cents per hour or $28.56 week-be-
cause of increased overtime payments
and increased employment in defense
industries, and wage increases. Aver
age hours for each worker per week
have advanced to forty, with many
defense employees working so hours
per week, the Department said.
Department of Agriculture report
ed expansion in industrial employ
ment, together with military conscrip-
ton, had raised average farm wages
to $1.7O per day, without board
highest level since 1881. Lowest
wage was reported in Georgia and
South Carolina-less than $1.00 a
day. The highest-$3.13-was re-
ported in Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut.
Administrator Henderson of the
new Office of Price Administration
froze steel prices to prevent price
rises. Mr.. Henderson said steel price
rises would inevitably be followed by
other price increases.
OPM Director of Purchases Nelson
said, in a radio speech, that with
much of the nations production di-
verified into defense channels, civilian
buying would soon surpass the output
of civilian goods and runaway rise
in living costs" will result unless tax
es are increased and the Government
borrows from private savings to cut
down the volume of civilian spending.
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau es-
timated Federal expenditures for the
next fiscal year to be $19,000,000,-
600, and proposed that two-thirds be
raised by taxation and one-third by
borrowing. Expecting revenue from
present taxes to be $9,223, 100000 Mr..
Morgenthau submitted to Congress
sional leaders a program for $3,444,-
100000 in new taxes. Individual and
business taxes would be increased
one-third and taxes would be levied
on many persons previously exempt,
Mr.. Morgenthau said.
War and Navy Departments an
nounced a total of 1,504,759 men in
active service: Navy, 242,654; Ma
rines, 51,505; Army, 100000.
The War Department announced
seniors in accredited medical schools
would be given an opportunity to OBJ
tain commissions as first lieutenants
in the Medical Corps Reserve. The
Department also announced that 1900
enlisted men would be trained each
month for Reserve officers commits
sions.
The Navy, expecting to bring its
strength to $4,000 men by 1947, an
nounced recruiting in special ratings
by the Naval Reserve of qualified
cable company employees, seamen
firemen, signalmen, radiomen, ma
chinist mates, aviation mechanics and
electricians.
War Department announced plans
to enroll between 100000 and 100000
civilian volunteers to cooperate with
the Army in a nationwide network
to warn against air attack. Group:
such as the American Legion, its wo
mems auxiliaries, the Coast Guard
forest fire wardens, weather obser
vers, and the CCC, will be included
in the network, the Department said
Selective Service Headquarters an
nounced a program calling for educa
ton of registrants regarding the ply
steal standards of the Army and thu
correction of defects by local dentists
and physicians before the registrant'
are called to service. The program
will be guided by the SIS Medical AID
visory Council and an appropriate
committee in each State.
: Headquarters also announced tina
all information concerning registrant
except that which the regulation
specifically define as confidential, il
a matter of public record open t.
anyone making legitimate inquiry
Federal Security Administrator Nc
Mutt, coordinator of health and wei
L L. I.x.4