Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-22
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul
Mallon

EItSS - OcltilNlOlN w tlobAt hiiN
Republicans and Democrats 10
attend their respective conven-
tons But the private under
standing is that not much
business will be attempted be-
fore Aug. l.
Ii seems the House members
have been worried by the unde-
tected inner political activities
of the Hillman-ClO group and
insist on getting back home. not
only for fence mending. but Ia
find who has been digging holes
under their fences.
Senators also have been up
set by the defeats OF Holman of
Oregon and Clark OF Idaho. al
though they are less worried
about the CIO.
These are the real reasons for
the long recess.
Criticism no doubt will pour
down upon these furrowed legis-
latlVe brows because they are
abandoning the urgen OF
peacetime reconversion plan
ming. The criticism will be SUI
perficially valid. because they
are leaving behind at least one
reconversion bill, although the
truth is the bill could not be
passed II they stayed. Too much
controversy envelopes IL.
TRUE a happier outlook for
Il postwar AT home ia begin
ming TO be evident behind the
the news. The stock market
always. until now, has sighed
and sagged at the prospects OF
victory. The final grand as
Sault. however. sent il firmly up.
Even the old arch-pessimist,
Joseph p. Kennedy, business
seer extraordinary. made a
speech in Chicago holding out
hopes he formerly disdained.
The problem is simple. There
is S200,000.000,000 of cash in
banks and savings bonds. Peo-
pie are short Of everything and
can use this money 10 buy.
To sustain satisfactory and
successful nation we must have
a national income for the peo-
pie Is TO % per cent below
current war expenditures.
The administration has put
forward a program which has
not vet convinced any one the
Job will be done. At the top of
it's Setup is Mr.. Byrnes in the
office Of rehabilitation. but
that office is only few desks
and telephones.
A PPARENTLY G. F. Wilson
"A was to take over the actual
plant reconverSion program.
but he no sooner settled himself
in that seat. than Mr.. Donald
Nelson announced a reconver-
sion program tat the instance
of the Truman committee. so
they say To make the con-
fused state OF affairs even
more clearly discernible the
army denounced the Nelson
program.
The CT. Bill OF Rights has
been passed allowing up 10 50
weeks within two years OF un-
employment compensation at
$50 a week. so that veterans
could lie around for that length
of time. although. Of course,
the problem is TO get people
back TO work,
Only if the nation is work
ing and producing can II hope
10 survive. because. after all
the talk about gold, initiation.
wage-hourS, etc. work is the
only constructive economic fac
tor which can generate a sue
ceSSful country.
Other details are being
handled separately. Vinson pre-
pairing a price program. Mar
vim Jones, the farm machinery,
Will Clayton the surplus prop
erty disposal etc. but YET no
one is handling the problem as
a whole.
Someone is needed 10 plan
the gradual release Of men from
the army with the gradual &C
celeration of peacetim9 business
this should be started now 10
take up the already noticeable
3 per cent slack
What the Job needs is top.
II already has too many bot
toms. The co-ordinator could be
Mr.. Byrnes. if he has not too
much else TO do trying to keep
peace, but a better choice would
be an economically conscious
like Baruch or Ken
uedy, or someone OF that type
who could not only draw
these loose ends together but
keep them balanced with eco
nomic necessities through the
postwar years.
Distributed bv King Features Synd Inc
pn.r..g,,k.l.. q a.