The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-07
Observations
Congressman Lea /
Continues Fight
For Vote Reform
~ HELEN EssARY

After the greatest show on Cap
itol Hill since the midget sat on
the lap OF ]. p. Morgan. political
observers are certain that Con
gress will pass the George bill and
then the Senate will confirm eH-
Vice President Henry A. Wallace
as secretary OF commerce.
The legislation. introduced by
Senator Walter George Cd OF
Georgia. shears away from the
Commerce Department control over
the governments multi-billion-dol-
lar lending agencies.
These were transferred 10 com
merce by Congress when towering
Jesse Jones became secretary sew
eral years ago. Wallace. to make
a place for whom President Roose-
yelt fired" Jones from the cabinet,
would inherit the dictatorship over
the worlds greatest banking oper-
alton.
But the Senate commerce com
niittee has approved the George bill
and the Senate and House are al
most certain TO follow suit in the
next few tdays. That puts the
shaggy-browed Wallace definitely
"out" in his prospective role as
"caliph OF world finance"
Should the George bill fail OF
passage "a remote chance. indeed
Wallace might not be confirmed by
the Senate for the cabinet job
Despite labors vociferous de-
mands that the cost OF living be
rolled back, all was not serene
when WPB and OPA announced
the program to save consumers 500
million dollars annually by fore
ing production OF low-cost clothing
and textiles.
Spokesman for Dave Dubinsky's
Ladies Garment Workers tAFL)
and Sidney Hillman's Clothing
Workers (CIO) protested that the
program might have a repressive
effect on wages.
price clothing producers will be
required to start turning out sim
pie, serviceable. low-cost garments
the employees wages may decline.
II you're thinking OF getting that
nving room furniture reupholster-
cd. or buying new draperies. you'd
better move fast. The supply OF
the fabrics Is getting short-and
viii not be replenished for a con
siderable time.
Rugs will be tighter. too. become
more and more scarce as rug looms
are converted to the cotton duck
program.
An unknown motorist proved
that anything can-and does-hap-
pen In wartime Washington. The
driver. aiding sorely pressed trans
portation in the capital, offered a
ride the other day to several gov
ernment workers on their way
home from the office.
Elated at their good fortune, the
federal workers hoped in the car.
To their amazement, the driver
4 pulled out guest book. explain
ing as he busily collected their au-
tographs, that he always had his
guests" sign up-adding that he
refused to take mo" for an answer.
49,
Members OF Congress want more
money for representing the folk
back home. All they get nowadays
10 $4,000 year. How much do
they want? Well, It varies.
Rep. Emanuel Celler CD OF New
York says s12,500 a year will do
the job. But that's not enough
for Rep. Carl Vinson Cd OF Geor-
gia. who says $4,000 is his mini
mum requirement. And Rep. Adolf
J. SABBATH (D) of Illinois went
farthsr-he'd have to have 81
500 tax exemption for the solons.
The Navy. for the first time since
the war began. lifts the curtain
on some OF the Armament secrets
of it's mighty. new ships.
The most modern battleship
class. the department says, packs
a terrific wallop with nine 16inch
guns in triple mount. 20 five-inCh
double-purpose guns IN twin
mounts and many smaller anti-air-
craft weapons
Heavy cruisers. like the Balti-
more. carry nine elghtinch guns
in threes, IL flve-inch ack acks and
many smaller types.
Destroyer fire power remains a
closely guarded Navy secret