The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-27

Disagreement on Labor
Problem Very Apparent
AustrsIisns Liberal On
Newspaper Censorship
Even Congress Must
Conserve on Rugs
D. aAy TUCKER
WARRINGTON Assistant
Navy Secretary Ralph A. Bard
Inadvertently revealed the esis-
Sence Of q sharp Enlargement
within administration ranks over
the labor problem In his appear
ance before the house naval al
fairs COMMITTEES. Some con-
Kressmen are not convinced that
disclosure Of the Tiff WAS en-
tirely accidental.
When h. was asked whether
- L. 8. could arm quickly and
adequately on . So-hour week
and overtime basis. he pulled \
typewritten paper from his
pocket and prcfaced ia reading
with an extremely soft sueges-
ton that he be allowed to pre-
SAINT HE views off the record"
Ne entered no demurrer when
Chairman vinson insisted that
- speak UP N meeting. Then,
With IN admiral and . captain
nedding assent. the secretary an
nsuncsd that ~ personally"
1avursd ratang ths minimum TO
- hcssrs before bonuses became
effective.
subsequently. II developed that
he had brought along m extra
copy. presumably for the press.
which he passed out without OBJ
lection. In short. the navy
wanted to tip off congress and
the public that II did not endorse
yR's demand for wartime pres
ervation of short hours and high
pay. It's an old trick here.
Other witnesses from the de-
partment exploded Nelson-Ray-
burn assertions that strikes have
dwindlsd to the zero stage. A
few days earlier In q statement
decorating critics. Speaker Ray
burn had declared that only 100
men were out Of work for this
reason. Secretary Knox's boys
testified that 1000 were not ON
the Job became of union trouble
and these figures applied only TO
their own contracts. They did
not include disputss In plants
handling war department or
maritime commission business.
The Australian censor's liberal
attitude toward Newspaper dis
patches smanating from that
continent has aroused some con-
eern in army and navy circles at
the capital. Latest cause for
worry involves their passing
stories which described methods
Of Douglas A. MacArthur's es-
cape from Bataan.
The generals flight by . fast
notorboat on the first stage Of
his voyage was known here be-
fore he reached his destination.
But reporters were given strict
warning not 20 tell the facts
anywhere. including their own
Offices. The reasons are under
standable even 10 those who be-
heve IN the utmost freedom Of
the press. The day may come
when other military men in the
Philippines may b needed else
WHARF and to reveal their pros
pective path 10 safety may close
these avenues. The jsps are
obviously chagrined that Mac"
got away under their nose and
will be more watchful hereafter.
csnberra also has permitted
severe criticism Of British opera
tons In Malay and 1t singa-
pore 10 creep into Newspaper
and radio reports. Details on
the lava sea battle likewise
have been aired. although they
tend TO raise the question Of
whether the United Nations
commanders displayed goo d
strategy. Now with American
forces reaching down under"
In quantity. our people are dis
turbed lest too much talk handi-
cap their future operations.
Washington wants to fight the
war in q democratic way. but
not % democutically that II
win injure chances of final VIC
tory.
Bouseholderx VINO must scrsps
through for the duration with
old or fixed-up furniture may
derive some slight comfort from
realization that the angus,
congress of the u. s. is in the
same boat The hardboilec
housekeepers who dole oul
money for Capitol Hill's domes'
Tic economy have decreed that
there shall be no trimmings.
Instead Of buying fresh rug'
/ = Z 1 Z
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