The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-16
Observations
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ington. But President Roosevelt
will have TO venture some kind OF
guess at this question shortly. He
can scarcely avoid 4.
The reason-FDR will have to
present a budget TO Congress in
ia luary. And he will not know
what hgures TO toss into the bud
get unless he makes some kind Of
assumption concerning the end OF
the European war.
AS finally written, the budget
may not snow what assumption
FDR has made on this point. EX-
perts are agreed, however that the
size OF the budget will depend very
largely on the official guess as TO
when Germany will collapse.
In making his surmise, OF course,
the President will have at his ell
bow the best information which the
Army and Navy can supply.
General expectation is that the
estimated expenditures for the next
fiscal year, which will begin July
!, will be well below the 100 bill
lion dollar figure which has held
for the peak war years.
-APAN'S AIRPLANE PRODUC-
TON undoubtedly has been set
back by the B.29 raids on Tokyo
particularly by damage melted out
TO the great Musashina aircraft
plant in southern Tokyo.
Official commuiques assert the
Musahina plant has been hit
twice but there is also the belief
in Washington that the factory
nay have also been hit in other
raids on the Jap capital.
Musashina is one OF the main
producers of planes for the Japa-
nese army and navy.
DESPITE PAST RECRIMINA-
tions, John L. Lewis will lead his
100000 miners back into the
American Federation OF Labor, II
any kind OF an acceptable offer IS
made by the Federation. Lewis
recognizes as we'll as ALL leaders,
the values in such re-alliance.
II is believed that AFL chieftains
are so sincere in wanting Lewis
back that they will srant him juris-
diction In organization OF chemical
workers.
Lewis has organized many OF
these under the banner of District
30 Of the United Mine Workers, but
the AFL has chartered an interna-
tional chemical workers union and
during the last pea,e negotiations
the UNIV leader refused to back
down.
With the reconyersion and post.
war period fast approaching. how
ever, the more far-seeing ALL Of
fcials want the force and milit-
ancy OF the Lewis leadership on
their side in an effort to prevent
an anticipated postwar decline in
the federation's seven million men,
bership. Some OF them see In
Lewis the leader TO wage AFL's
postwar battle with the CLIO.
CONGRESS, GETTING SOME
OF ITS NERVE BACK. is toying
gingerly with the idea Of:
Research facilities for Con-
gress as a whole.
2-More help for the individual
congressman through increasing
his allowance for clerical aid.
The idea of salary raise for
senators and representatives is still
T. hot to handle.
Most congressional observers go
along strongly with the idea that
Congress, which votes billions OF
dollars for administrative develop
ments, should have adequate means
OF investigating these needs on It's
own. They can see justification for
voting more help for the belabored
representatives whose demands
from constituents have grown con-
siderably.
But they point out that II Con-
gress is to be sincere as well as
realistic in any move to boost legis-
lativo efficiency through stream
lining" program, one of the first
things II should do is toss out the
seniority system which determines
advancement in House and Senate.
Members, however. still tremble
when they recall the wildhre OF
reaction raised by their last pen
sion" bill, the bundles for Con
gress" campaign, etc.
A few OF their number are ready
10 step out and tell the people
that the .10O00.a.yelr congressman
who pays $4,000 year in taxes,
maintains two homes and pays
fheavy travel and campaign expen.
ses. is on the average a hard.work-
ing fellow who deserves better
treatment II the nation is to have
pnod 1ovprnnnant