The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-21
Michigan in
Washington
BY ESTHER V. w. TUFTY

The time has come for the new
push for congressional approval OF
the St. Lawrence Seaway which
has been on the calendar annually
for 25 years. Senator George Aiken
OF Vermont, whose name has been
and will always be in the fore
ground when the ST. Lawrence Is
mentioned, is rolling up his sleeves
for action. But this time not only
his name but others will be known
as the co-sponsors. From the Mich
igan point OF view II is cheering
that Senator Homer Ferguson II
taking vigorous lead and has put
the Seaway down on his already
crowded calendar as a must"
Who will these men be? Sitting
down around the round table in the
air-conditioned capitol will be Sen.
ator Wagner. OF New York. twho
may be able TO straighten out the
New York power aspects SO salts
factorily the new votes may be
forth-coming) Senator LaFollette.
OF Wisconsin, perhaps the most
ardent supporter for the Seaway In
the Senate; and the senator from
another Midwest State, Henrik
Shipstead OF Minnesota.
IL these "allies" can get together
on a campaign that will get around
the old objections to the building
of the one billion dollar seaway
then the channel to the ocean may
have a chance in this session OF
Congress.
II will be remembered that the
st. Lawrence Is the one campaign
issue on which both Roosevelt and
Dewey were IN accord. Fortunately
for the proponents OF the Seaway.
Senator Truman Is on record as
friendly to the project. In a recent
press conference Truman an
swered a question about the St
Lawrence with the retort to read
his record. He cast yes" votes on
every roll call. But whether or not
he will vigorously make a personal
plea is still questionable. Certainly
the team OF Ferguson. Aiken, La
Toilette, Shipstead Is powerful
enough to impress him with the
wide support the project now has
That back in the state OF Mich
igan the interest In the st. Lawr-
ence has not wavered but In
creased. tflree Mld-Western men
came to washington to see the new
team. They were John Buekema.
secretary OF the Muskegon Cham
Der OF Commerce; w. c. Cowling.
executive vice president OF the
National st. Lawrence Association
and director OF the Detroit Port
Commission and julius II. Barnes
OF Duluth, Mimi. president OF the
National St.. Lawrence Associa-
ton.
Senator Ferguson told this cor
respondent, The work this week
has been very encouraging. We are
working at the present time on
the language and wording OF the
bill. It looks pretty good to me.
A comprehensive plan for imme-
date expansion OF health, welfare.
| education and other protective
services offered to children has
been presented to President Tru-
man for his consideration, Secrs-
tary OF Labor Frances Perkins mas
Just announced.
The report calls for major In
crease in annual federal funds to
State welfare departments which
would up" the present 10 million
dollar budget to IS million. Mich
igan's budget OF $417,36s for the
fiscal year Of 1915 would cores
pondingly Jump to SS,547'6So a
year.
The proposals. embodied in
report, represent the result OF q
years intensive study OF the Ma
tional Commission on Children In
Wartime.
The National Commission says.
"Our greatest chance for a lasting
peace lies not with US but with our
children"
Help must come in very prac-
teal forms: Adequate medical care
and health services; family insur-
ance against loss OF income from
unemployment, disability, old age
and death; and the widest kind OF
educational opportunities" de-
clared Commission members.
I'VE cannot and must not let an.
other generation OF youngsters
grow to adulthood and find again
that four out OF every ten OF our
men have physical and mental han
dicaps, as Selective Service found
among the men drafted for service
in this war;" they said.
The final aim OF the proposals
is to make maternal and child
health and crippled children's serv-
ices available TO all mothers and
children in every state.