The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-14
FLIGHT
Navy May Be Firsi 10
Dump Mussolini
Beniio's Mariners
Near Breaking Point
Byrnes Tax Bill To Be
Stiffesi Ever
Administration Lacks
Hsrd-Boiled Program
BY RAY TUCKER

BY RAY TUCKER
WASHINGTON - The italian
navy is regarded here As the
weak link in Mussolini's armor.
Confidential advices forecast that
the first revolution against the
Fascist regime will break out on
the quarter-decks with quiet sup
port coming from both the pope
and the king.
History will be repeating itself
II these Washington-London ex-
pectations are borne out. The
revolt against the car and the
kaiser began aboard ship in 1917
and 1918. respectively. The British
had 10 down several mutinies on
the high seas during the first
World war. although news of the
uprisings was suppressed. French
seasen of Toulon lived up to this
tradition when they scuttled their
vessels rather than surrender to
Hitler. As men of travel. sailors
are not so deeply imbued with a
narrow, nationalistic spirit as
their army colleagues.
Benito's mariners have per-
sonal reasons for needing
Churchill's recent threats of
"shattering. prolonged and scien-
tific bombing" The British
smashed Italian naval units at
laramie and Matapan and in the
harbor of Genoa. Roman sea-
faring men know when they have
met their masters. Moreover the
Italians have always had a kim
ship with the members of the
French Mediterranean fleet, hav-
ing frequently met on shore leave
in ports. So don't be astonished
If II Duce wakes up some fine
morning to discover that his ar
mada-what's left Of it-has
gone A.W.O.L.
The next tax bill will be writ
ten by Gear" James F. Byrnes
rather than by Henry Morgen-
THAI, jr. This means that it will
be one of the stiffest and most
grueling levies in all the history
Of American finance.
Jimmy" is rated as a political
and business conservative and he
pleads guilty to that indictment.
But, although it 10 not generally
realized, it's men like him who
want a revenue system which
hurts high and low alike. They
feel the danger and excuses of
initiation more than they do punt
tive or confiscatory impost rates.
Almost all the experts. except Mr..
Morgenthau, favored fiscal rather
than economic controls as
means of checking dangerous ex-
pansion when the 1912 revenue
bill was under consideration on
Capitol Hill. Nearly every presi-
dental adviser advocated some
sort Of sales tax or compulsory
savings. But the treasury secre-
tary opposed these proposals as
"undemocratic."
Said Price Administrator Leon.
Henderson: 'Morgenthau SAYS
that a compulsory tax designed
to prevent initiation is 'undemo-
cratic. But under the alterna-
tive rationing and price regula-
ton ! have to place a gestapo,
agent in every corner grocery
store. Which is a more demo-
cratic method?"
Jimmy" Byrnes will answer
that question by siding with Leon.
Jess Holman Jones may be in
bad with the White House circle
and the brass hats of the army
and navy departments. but the
Texan is still tops with key leg
islators in congress. Despite
some small squabbles between
him and FD.R., no other cabi-
net member commands 80 much
support and confidence at the
eastern end of Pennsylvania
avenue.
The National War Labor Board
has before 1t five thousand appli-
cations for pay increases from
local unions. It is expected that
most Of these requests will be
denied in accordance with the
White House formula for prevent
ing an inflationary spiral.
The result may be worker
trouble far more violent and ex-
tensive than those which have
slowed down war production
up TO the present moment.
The membership now asking N.
w. L. B. for fatter envelopes is
getting approximately forty
cents an hour under the Wages
and Hours act. Meanwhile, un-
skilled workers in many nearby
competitive plants are receiving
sixty-five 10 eighty-five cents an
hour. Regardless Of the merits Of
the case, this Compensation diff
ferential portends strikes, dissen-
ton and difficulties hard to set
tie from Washington.
Inside explanation Of those
forthcoming quarrels. which win
deprive overseas soldiers Of the
weapons they need al critical
moments. is that the Adminiztra-
stion had not yet framed def
mite and hsrd-boiled labor pro-