The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-13

EOOM OAuIuAOLOeO, QOcCOr preScrlD- ing amputation at the hip for a sprained ankle, a veterinarian ap- plying his horse pistol to relieve the animal of it's pain. Doctor McKellar applies his cures to patients that are sound of health and need no treatment, as well as incurables that really need the mercy death treat- ment.
 There is, for instance, an unher- aided outfit in your government called the Export-Import Bank of Washington. Its function is to hn- ance and facilitate the exchange of commodities between the U. s. and foreign countries, and to assist in developing the resources and stabil- izing the economies of countries in the western hemisphere. It func- tions very quietly, has only small staff, hires no publicity agent. It is one of the very few government agencies which turns back into the treasury more money than 1t spends. $l2 million dollar mark. Its loans have represented an investment of more than $700 million, yet not ore of them is in arrears and none ever has been defaulted.
 OFF WITH
 ITS HEAD
 In addition. Export Import Bank has been of material aid in the war effort, in financing the production and purchase of many critical ma terials-rubber, sugar, tin, copper, and the like.
 The expenses of this bank have been running somewhat over $l00000 8 year, but because of the war emergency, they were estimated for the coming fiscal year at $207OO0 and legislation appropriating, this sum of money | passed the House as part of the Independent Offices bill. Tn the Senate, however, MT. McKellar launched an all-out attack, and one of his shots had the effect not of reducing the Export-Import appropriation, but of killing 1t en- tirely. The Export t-Import Bank was simply put out of business, with no thought of what would happen to the hundreds of mil- lions already invested.
 Now isn't that 8 heck of a way to run a country?
 It so happens that the people who run Export Import aren't worried. They say the appropria- tion will be put back when the bill goes into conference to recon cile differences between the Sen- ate and House versions. Senator McKellar has been seen, presum- ably, the banks importance has been explained to him, and he has promised to be good.
 GRANDsTAND
 STUFF,
 At home, the political effect of all this monkey business is that Sena- tor McKellar gets credit for being a great economy minded statesman. There are votes in that. But consider what the effect of this grandstand politicing may be in fsregn countries. There, the word is spread that the Senate has killed the Export t-Import Bank. Any loans or credits being negotiated for the movement of war supplies must come to tenn porary standstill. Every loan out standing becomes uncertain. for if the bank is to be hquidated, funds outstanding presumably would be- come collectable and loan funds authorized but not yet drawn on by foreign countries would no longer be available. The war ef- fort is thereby impeded.
 And the word goes round in foregn capitals that this Is typical Uncle Shylock good neighborIiness Uncle 6hylock gets his cousins over the bankers barrel and then fOrecIoses. A lot of fixing is then required to reasSure everyone that Congress didn't mean it-that this was simply a cantankerous old cuss showing of,