Evening star., 1942-03-17

-oEdr SLdU Ph0t0.
time for swift, emphatic action is
at hand.
In this connection, I think It is
appropriate to say that even before
Pearl Harbor the House Of Repre-
sentatives realized the necessity for
legislation upon this subject. On
December 3we passed in the House
Of Representatives a bill-H. r.
4l39-designed to meet the situation
and sent it to the Senate. No action
has yet been taken in that body on
this legislation. "a This bill could be
very easily worked over so that 1t
would adequately and properly pro-
tect labor in all its fundamental
rights and yet would insure us
against work stoppages, that impede
our defense production. It is only
fair to the House of Representatives
to recall this situation and to record
here this fact.
What about the home front? What
is the peril here? I think it is no
less real than upon the battlefront.
With our reckless profiigacy we are
In danger Of returning from victory
upon the battlefield to find our own
f1scal house in such disorder that we
viii be overwhelmed and over
burdened with a debt that it will
take generations to repay. We have
just increased the national debt
limit, from $65,00o, ,000, 900 to $l25.-
000,o00,000. That is necessary be-
cause OF the heavy expenditures for
defense. I think the people Of
America are willing to pay the nee
essary costs Of winning this war, but
they do have the right to expect and
demand that in this critical hour
we cut out the essentials and
that we lay aside any further fiscal
and social experiments. The aver
age American citizen today is
alarmed over this condition, and he
has good reason to be alarmed. for
this great national indebtedness is
a potential mortgage and a theoret-
ical lien on his home, his Insurance..
bis savings and his labor. This
money must be paid back some day
and it isn't going to be paid by Just
few. 1t will be passed on to all of
the American people and we will
either pay it back In hard-earned
cash or go through the shameful
process 4 reputation.
Government Should Set Example.
AT time when we public officials
are exhorting our constituents to
nuy bonds, to economize, to sacrifice
and to work, the Government should
set a good example. The execu-
tive, administrative and legislative
branches Of the Government should
practice what they preach We
should be willing, without fear or
favor, as legislators to WELD the AK
OF economy and efficiency and to let
the chips fall where they NAV. II.
In that process, some of us have to
sacrifice few political scalps. even
tnat Will be q far smaller sacrifice
than that we are asking our bows
TO make upon the high seas and
upon the battlefield. Let us, there
lore, tighten up our belts, roll un
our sleeves and set about the hard
task which lies ahead of us. Let
US be willing to stand I'D rs Amer
leans on our own feet and eo for.
ward under our own power, and let
us mark back, If we can, to that old
fashioned, outmoded, almost for
gotten maxim OF government "that
the people should support the gov
e1nment a and not that the govern
menu support the people"
Well, what are we going tn IN
ABOUT all OF this2 am not content
10 close without making some spe-
cln suggestions, and in making these
suggestions I am aware of the fact
that they may not be approved by
some OF my friends and colleae,,es
but think I have a program that
WIN help US toward a quick victory
II tnat Is what we want. So far as 7
am personally concerned. am ready
ior action. am ready for the leg
lslative body Of the Government to
step out on its own, cut red tame
and routine and do business. I be-
ileve the American people want ac-
ton. think they want action that
VIII save American 1ives-action
That will preserve our fiscal system.
so that when the war Is over we will
nave saved something worth saving.
Five-Point Program.
Here it is:
l. Cut to the bone all non-essen-
tlal expenditures and lay aside all
1urther social and fiscal expert
ments.
2. Pass legislation and take ad-
ministrative action that will effec-
lively curb unconscionable profits
on war contracts.
8. Amend our Price Control Act so
as to put teeth in 1t and enable It.
Tor the duration Of the war, to put
ceiling on wages and prices Of farm
commodities, with adequate provi-
sion for such adjustments as may
be necessary. Only by doing this
can we prevent ruinous imitation
and a complete breakdown of our
fiscal system.
4. Suspend for the duration Of the
war. any and all laws that impede
production, including the 40-hour
week, time and one-half for over
time and double time for Sundays
and holidays.
5. Pass effective legislation, for
the duration Of the war, which win
prevent strikes. walkouts, shutdowns
or work stoppages, making adequate
provision for quick settlement or
adjustment of differences that may
arise between employer and en-
ploye.
My fellow-Americans. this is a
program for victory. I devoutly feel
that its quick enactment into law
will hasten the day when we could
return to our peaceful American way
/ nf life