The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-02

ton Anderson, New Mexican Dem- ocrat, asked Rayburn not to put him on the committee ats chair man unless he was given a work ing majority,
 II am not going tO conduct witch hunting probe" the tall New Mexican told Rayburn. "ThiS has got to be fair and impartial Inquiry. And 1t cant be if you appoint Gathings, reactlOnary Arkansas Democrat, who will work hand In glove with the Republi' cans"
 T promised Gene Cox of GeOr- gIa I'd appoint Gathlngs tO that committed" Rayburn replied, but I'll ask Gene If he won't release me from the promise"
 However, the reactionary Cox, knowing what Rayburn wanted, suddenly disappeared, He didn't around the Capitol and couldn't be found at home
 So Rayburn, to whom a promise Is sacred and who Is one Of Co%s best friends, felt he could not keep Congressman Gathinss oft the committee without a release from Cox, Even when Anderson came to Rayburn and told him the room in the Wardman Park Hotel where Cox was hiding out the Speaker declined to aet'
 But since the time was getting short, Rayburn called Gathings into his office and, in the presence of Anderson, gave him a lecture
 "NOw, # l put you on this com mIttee," he said, tits got to be understood that you're not going to vote with the Republicans. lts got Co be understood that on matters of procedure, you must vote with the Democrats. On maj ters of detailed fact, naturally your conscience will be your guide"
 The Arkansas alleged Democrat did not demur He sat silent Speaker Rayburn took this to mean assent.
 Fifteen minutes later, the com. mittee held it's first meeting, with Democrat Anderson of New Mexico in the chair and with alleged Democrat dathings of Arkansas on the committee. But on the very first vote, Gathings voted publicans to start e witch.hunting probe of 0 Los Angeles publisher who sold copies of John R. Carl sons book, "Under Cover" LITTLE.BUSINESS
 WAR CASUALTIES
 How tough the problem Of peaeetime conversion Is going to he for small business is illustrated by butchers and the neon light in- ductry,
 In Philadelphia alone, total of I,7OO retail meat dealers went cut of business when ratiOning came In There wasn't enough meat to handle; their assistants were drafted. Many Of the butchers drIfted into war jobs or enlisted in the Army After the war. Q lot will want to stage c comeback but won't have the money to get started.
 Along with the butchers, the neon light manufacturers also took bad economic licking. Because of the dim-out along the coasts, neon lights were forbidden in hun dreds of cities. Tn addition, the materials going into neon lights were needed for military lights, radio sets. Az e result, a total of $500 neon light manufacturers closed.
 They were silent casualties of the war. No obituary notices were publlsheds. There has been no mention of their demise in the newspapers. But they were casual. ties just the same.
 The get back into business, most of the butchers and neon maru. lecturers will need money, but most of them can't borrow at the baS!s. However, the Smaller War Plants Corporation is now study ing this problem and is prepared to loan them money if their reputa. ton was good and if they had been in business a certain number of years before war broke.
 This is just one small sector of little business which may have Q tough time getting back on it's feet, but which Smaller War Plants is planning to help, MERRY.G0.R0UND
 Vigorous young Congressman Ed Howe of Ohio took c healthy swing ct the State Departments? diplomatic secrecy the other day Q, .. 6. engineers have worked . miracle in reccnditionanS the