Evening star., 1943-12-08
Byrnes
Continued From First Page.

strike to enforce wage demands. and
a definite movement on foot in the
CIO for wage increases in such i'm
portant industries as steel and
motors, Mr.. Byrnes went deeply into
the wage situation.
Paying tribute to the power and
patriotism" of the leaders Of agri-
culture, labor and industry, and urg-
ing them to aid the anti-infiation
program Mr. Byrnes dealt sharply
with strike threats.
NO group has a right to hold
political pistol at the head OF the
Congress or of any administrative
agency and say that they will strike
he said. ANY group which threat
ems to strike in wartime unless the
executive or the legislative branch
of the Government meets its de-
mands is using political pistol
The Government must say to such
group, Lay that pistol down.
Defends Miners Raise.
Declaring there are those who say
that wage increases should be grant,
ed because the administration has
already yielded to the coal miners"
Mr., Byrnes denied that the wage
boost granted the miners-after
four strikes-constituted a general
raise in excess of the Little Steel
formula. He also denied assertions
that Fuel Administrator Ickes gave
the miners an increase by direction
of President Roosevelt, adding. The
Secretary says tnat the agreement
was not known to any one other
than the conferees until it was
made.
Mr.. Byrnes commented that the
lesson to be drawn from the coal
case is not that we should hold the
line less firmly but more firmly
1T illustrates the danger of trying
to find ways out of hard cases"
Mr.. Byrnes said he was happy to
announce for the benefit of Hitler
and Hirohito that our "l5O, ,O0Oth
airplane came off the assembly line
today" that results of full mobiliza-
ton have been tremendous.
But we cannot afford to rest on
our oars" ne warned.
The most critical and the bloodi-
est battles Of the war are ahead of
US. he SAID, and this is not the time
for us to take our eye of the tar
get.
'16 Billion Saved.
Mr.. Byrnes said also that War
and Navy review boards, working
! with his office, have been able to
eliminate or reduce certain pro-
grams by the staggering amount
of sl6,ooo,0oO,o0o." but this. he
added, should not be construed as
reason for any letdown.
\ There is not the slightest
ground for believing that the cut
backs in our production program
or any other possible economies will
"clieve the urgent need for greater
savlnos and greater taxes in the
near future he added.
we obviously have failed to
adopt tax program ADEQUATE for
our var needs" the sneaker con-
i fIrmed. without mentioning the
House-spDroved bill now before the
Senate Finance Committee tn raise
slightly in excess of $1,000 .Oo0 O0O.
one-fifth of the amount asked by
the administration.
"No Compromise
Representative Wolcott, Repub-
lican, of Michigan, ranking minority
member of the House Banking Com
mittee, which drafted the anti
subsidy measure. declared fatty
after Mr., Byrnes' speech that there
will be no compromise" echoing
Senator Bankheads sentiments.
He termed the argument on behalf
of continuance of the subsidy pro-
gram "demagogical and political" ;"
and said that his mail offered
abundant proof that the people are
beginning to realize the dangerous
situation and possibilities involved
in continuing subsidies"
On the other hand, Representative
Magnuson, Democrat, of Washing
ton, who has consistently supported
the subsidy program. said that its
opponents had as. vet offered no
m