The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-10
Observations
States Rights TO
be Issue Again in
Congress
BY Helen Essary

The problem of working out leg
islstion to prepare the nation for a
German collapse consists basically
OF one major controversy and a
great deal OF laborious detail.
The controversy is States
Rights issue, one OF several that
have bobbed up in Congress in the
last year or So The question is
whether unemployment compensa'
tion shall be federalized or shall
remain as il is now, that is, IN
the hands OF the states.
The battle over this issue threat
ems TO be bitter and prolonged and
may delay action on postwar UNI
employment compensation legisla'
ton until after the German army
surrenders.
II also bids fair TO hold UP
other rehabilitation and industrial
reconversion legislation since It
is generally agreed that the unem-
ployment compensation question
should have the right Of way over
OlHGr IttOuN CT SlOll uldNASl9s AOoo
latter deal with the reconversion
of wartime plants to peacetime pur-
suits and the disposal Of billions
OF dollars worth OF government
owned plants and surplus war ma
terials. Congressional demobiliza-
ton machinery can be worked out
without striking controversial
snags
Two entirely different approaches
10 the unemployment compensa-
ton problem have been presented
10 the Senate. One is contained
in the Kilgore bill, which would pro-
vide for direct federal unemploy-
ment compensation ranging from
SO 10 s35 per week for discharged
war workers and $40 per week for
service men, plus IS a week for
each dependent up TO s35 week
maximum. The other is the recon-
mendation OF the Senate Postwar
Committee for a revolving loan
fund to guarantee the solvency OF
state unemployment compensation
systems.
ton officials favor the George plan
over the Kilgore proposal which
they fear would lead to federaliza.
ton of state systems.
VICE PRESIDENT HENRY A.
WALLACE. defeated by Senator
Harry T. Truman OF Missouri for
denomination as President Roose-
velts fourth term running mate,
may be named chairman and ex-
pert OF agricultural products In
the postwar period.
Such an organization has been in
the making since the United Ma
tions food conference at Warm
Springs, Va, a year ago. 1t may
become an actually In the near fu-
ture and the Wallace appointment
may be announced before the No
vember elections.
There is precedent for the vice
president Of the nation to hold
other positions. Wallace himself
served as head Of the Board OF
Economic Warfare until that or
ganization was incorporated into
the Foreign Economic Administra-
ton. with Leo T. Crowley as It's
chief executive officer
The Wallace Appointment Is con-
sidered a natural" by administra-
ton forces, who see in 1t a grace
full way to move the former Agri-
culture Department secretary out
OF the political picture. II Is hoped,
too, that the appointment will serve
10 salve the wounds inflicted upon
Wallace's hackers when Truman
tumbled him at Chicago.
The international body. accord
ing TO present plans. would be
permanent organization to super
wise world production OF basic agri-
cultural commodities so as to avoid
huge SURPRISES and consequent poor
prices in the postwar period.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
determined to avoid the chaotic
conditions caused when military
SURPRISES were dumped on the mar
ket suddenly after the last war, not
only Is planning carefully for post
war surplus property disposal, but
already is liquidating some things
that are no longer needed.
For instance. unwanted aircraft
and related parts have been dis
posed OF at a high rate recently;
horses and mules which the Army
found 1t didn't need have been auc-
toned off TO farmers and thousands
OF pairs OF Army shoes discovered
unsuitable for certain military
operations have been auctioned off.