The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-08-20

congress is having FEW sessions
these days, and is acting on no
important legislation since the
majority of its members are re-
cessing, nevertheless important
things have happened here re-
Gently to make our war program
work more efficiently.
From the public's viewpoint,
perhaps one of the most interest
ing projects which has got under
way is the investigation being
made by committee headed by
Bernard M. Baruch to determine
the true facts regarding the con-
fused rubber situation.
Following his veto OF the Dill
passed by both houses OF congress
to guarantee greater use of farm
products in the making Of rubber
and alcohol, President Roosevelt
named Mr.. Baruch, chairman OF
the War Industries board Of the
last war, to make a nonpartlsan
analysis of the facts regarding
rubber needs, rubber supplies and
the best methods Of making syn
thetic rubber. To assist him IN
this study, the President named
DR.. James B. Conant, president of
Harvard university, and DIR. Karl
7. Compton, president OF the
Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology.
Realizing that the bill passed by
congress to favor farmers in the
manufacture of synthetic rubber
was purely a political measure,
the President sharply criticized
the bill saying: '"The approval
of this bill would, in my opinion,
block the progress of the war
production program, and there
fore the war itself"
Another recent action taken in
Washington, which may prove OF
vital importance in the future
success of our war program, was
the approval by Donald Nelson,
head of the War Production board,
of the proposal of Henry J. kais-
er to build giant cargo planes to
relieve our shipping problems.
MIR. Kaiser, who built the Boulder
and Grand Coulee dams and who
has recently performed miracle
in mass production of ships, will
now have the chance to demon
strate what he can do in the pro-
duction of 70-ton planes and has
also been given authority to con-
struct an experimental 2OO-ton
flying boat. Mr.. Kaiser's program
had been the subject of wide de-
bate, some officials feeling that
vital materials should not be US
ed for experimenting, but the War
Production board evidently agrees
with Mr.. Kaiser that his program
may be the answer to the Nazl
submarine attacks.
The final execution Of the Nazl
saboteurs, following trials which
will be kept a closed secret until
after the war, is believed to have
the hearty approval of the great
majority of the people. Even the
iail sentences, instead of the death
sentence, given to two of the sa-
boteurs who are believed to have
given vital information in ex-
changefor leniency, was generally
approved as a worthwhile move
for getting other saboteurs to re-
veal important information.
The activities of the FBl IN fol-
lowing up all clues of AXIS actlvl-
ties in this country are closely
guarded, but enough information
is released to show that the FBl
is nipping in the bud many plans
of enemy agents. The recently
revealed story, telling Of clever
ly concocted signs in the rural
sections of the East to guide enc
my pilots in reaching large war
production plants, is considered
an apparent indication that the
Germans have been planning
bombings on our eastern coast.
Since several of the signs were
made by blowing arrows in farm
fields, it seems logical that they
were part of a plan of the Ger
mans to launch airplane attacks
this summer or early fall.
The activities of the FBl, it IS
believed here, may have fore
stalled attacks which might 9TH
erwise have been made before
this time.
The new tax program will I'M
doubtedly be postponed, at least
in part, until after the election.
The senate finance committee, at
ter considering the house-approv-
ed bill for many weeks, has now
out the finishing touches on a
measure which is still far short
of the amount set as minimum
by Secretary Morgenthau. 1t Is
believed likely, if the treasury
-