The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-09
Observations
Lawmakers Will
Face Heavy Work
Schedule
BY HELEN EssARY

and Jan. 3 when the 18th Congress
expires, attempts Will be made 70
pass legislation which would:
Authorize one and one-half
billion-dollar postwar road pro-
gram.
2-Authorize a billion-dollar floor
control program aud a half-billion
dollar rivers and harbors program.
3-Direct the United States mar
thine commission TO return the
merchant marine 10 peace-time op-
eration-another postwar measure.
-Modernize the nations for
eign service.
5-Put Congress on record as
fayoring abrogation of the British
White Paper restricting Jewish i'm
migration TO Palestine.
6-Bar further commercial use
OF the Red Cross name and symbol.
Extend for third time the
statute OF limitations to permit
future courtmartial of Rear Adm.
Husband Kimmel and Maj. Gen.
Walter Short. American command
ers at Pearl Harbor when the
Japs struck.
2-Create new ranks of admiral
OF the Navy and general OF the
Army
9-Extend equal. uniform civil
and legal rights to women by
constitutional amendment.
10-Provide that Japanese-man-
dated islands become permanent
American possessions and that ne
gotiations be opened with other
countries toward acquiring add
tional islands for protective bases
in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The problem OF compulsory mil
itary training is certain to be Wig
orously debated in Congress in
coming months, regardless of the
outcome OF presidential and con-
gressional elections.
The reason is that primary fea-
lures OF the selective service act
will expire next May Is and Con-
gress must dispose OF the ques-
ton OF extending these provisions.
Senator Edwin c. Johnson CD
of Colorado, a member OF the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee, is
on record as saying that the ex-
piring provisions undoubtedly will
be extended for the period OF the
war with Japan. Other committee
members are believed TO share this
view.
Discussion OF The act, however.
inevitably will bring up the matter
OF postwar compulsory military
training. and 1t is possible that
the extension bill passed before
next May Is will contain provisions
for some form OF peace-time train
ing.
A great deal OF discussion OF the
compulsory training idea is going
on among Senate Military Affairs
Committee members. The group
may hold hearings on the matter
in the next few weeks.
The volume of consumer goods
authorized for manufacture under
the War Production Board spot
authorization" order is showing a
marked upward trend
Since this order was announced
last August Is, the amount OF CT
william goods authorized for man.
ufacture has totaled 152 million
dollars, and WPB officials say four
or five times this dollar volume
will be approved for manufacture
in the next six or seven months
Officials point out that this did
not mean that wholesale reconver-
sion of industry Is ALREADY under
way, but that former WPB Chair
man Donald NJ. Nelson's program
for manufacture Of civilian goods
where such activity will not hamp-
er the war effort is getting into
swing.
Plans are being made for post
war WASHINGTON, and they certain.
ly do not take into account a pos
sible business collapse and wide
spread housing vscancies-that is,
a kind OF ghost capitar'-when
the government workers march
home.
A great man. will march home
from crowded WASHINGTON, where
cellars have been rented out for
apartments. But severe setbacks
have not occurred in the history
Of the District OF Columbia.
Already a grandiose plan for re
vamping Washington downtown
area is on paper. Engineers have
prepared a transportation plan
that would include a 56milllon-dol-
lar, seven-mile subway system and
elaborate stations.
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