The Wilmington morning star., 1945-06-12
CAPITAL
CAROLINA
By DAVID BRINKLEY
Star-News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, June ia canvass Of
more than a dozen Washington experts CT
one kind or another has turned up the wide
ly-held opinion that the Interstate Commerce
Commission freight rate reduction is just
what the doctor ordered for Southern indus
try, the only trouble being that the dose is
far too small.
Virtually all pointed out that the 10 per
cent cut applies only to class rates-those
rates under which manufactured goods are
hauled And this category covers less than 5
per ceat of the freight carried in the natioa
as whole and less than 2 in the south.
The other categories are exception" rates
those set below class rates because of spe-
cial circumstances, and commodity rates
those covering materials hauled in bulk, such
as lumber, cotton, fertilizers, and so on. Both
these rate classes, which together cover more
than IS per cent of the country freight traf-
|fic, remain unchanged.
One OPA economist asked: How can an
order affecting less than per cent of the
nations freight bring about the broad move
ment of industry from the east predicted by
Southerrers and Westerners?"
1t would seem, then, that the South's vic
tory lies not so much in direct and immedi-
ate financial benefits, but instead in having
overcome the inertia that has for years char
acterized the ices attitude toward the South S
demand for fair treatment Now that Dixie S
claim to better deal has been given even
limited recognition, it undoubtedly will be
easier to get further NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
that will help bring to the South the state
of economic well being it has long deserved
and seldom had
The Federal Reserve Board, among others,
has renewed its endorsement of keeping con-
trolls on installnent buying even after Japan
is beaten. President Roosevelt, who imposed
the controls originally, always believed pro-
moters CT excessive credit buying were doing
a disservice to their customers and to the
country. He-and many others who hold 10
his theory now-believed many low-income
families were encouraged to incur more obi
cations than they could afford, and the coun-
try'S economy, therefore, was saddled with
an excessive burden of debt.
MINOR MEMOS: While reporters waited
outside President Trunans office for his
Thursday press conference, someone came in
with hot tip that General Omar Bradley
was about to be nominated to be Secretary
of War. Ten minutes later the President an
nounced his nomination to head the sick ana
ailing Veterans Administration. Marion
Shufler, secretary to Representative j. Bay
ard Clark and well known and liked in Will
mington, will be vacationing at Wrightsville
Beach later this month The Trumans
have hae the White House interior .>inted,
but the President still refuses to have the
outside touched up, even though its AZ coats
of paint are peeling in slabs and it looks
shabbier than it ever has the nations
stockple of new cars has dwindled to 2,5Ca.
+. In place of Mr.. Roosevelts famous ship
prints Mr.. Truman has decorated his office
with pictures of ancient airplanes, war bond
poster and large framed photographs of his
mother, wife and daughter. Washington
haberdashers report sales Of bow ties have
trlpled since President Truman took office.