The Ypsilanti daily press., 1946-03-21

House Committee
Likely to Block
Wage Minimum

The Truman Administration IS
worried and working hard to save
its minimum wage bill from being
scuttled in Congress. Postmaster
General Robert Hannegan, Demo
cratic nationl chairman. has
stepped in 10 try to straighten
things out Hannegan made a per
sonal trip to Capitol Hill on the
tough assignment.
Supporters anticipate that the
Senate will pass a bill boosting the
presen: Accent hourly minimum
wage and that similar legislation
will get by the House Labor Com
mittee. But they fear that the
House Rules Committee will block
consideration OF either bill.
In 1888 the Rules Committee re-
fused to permit a House vote on
the fair labor standards bill, estao-
fishing a minimum wage OF 40 cents
an hour for interstate commerce.
Supporters forced action, however,
via the petition route.
There appeared grave doubt whe-
ther sufficient signa:ures-2lS, a
House majority, are needed-could
be obtained in time to permit en-
actment o. the legislation before
Congress recesses or adtourns for
the summer.
During .he London UNO meeting
British Foreign Minister Ernest
Bevin invited Cuban Ambassador
Guillermo Belt 10 a small luncheon.
Before II was over Belt had boosted
his country's stock with the Brit
Usher.
II happened like this: After the
luncheon Beyin offered Belt. whose
country regards itself as source OF
the finest smokes available. Puer-
10 Rican cigar. Belt took the cigar.
shifted It, and murmured "ersat'
under his breath. He slipped 1t in
to his pocket.
A moment later the Cuban Of
fered Bevin one OF his own Havana
cigars. Bevin smoked It and, ac-
cording to Belts perhaps biased re-
port, luxuriated in the aroma.
81 knew had won a victory" the
Cuban reported to friends. 1T
would be hard after that for Bevin
to return 10 any other cigars.
had scored a point ;or Cuba in In
ternational relations"
Brass hats in both Naval Air
Transport and the Air Transport
Command are worried over the lack
OF good ground personnel as the
result Of too rapid demobiliza:ion.
Many officers, aware Of the short
age, are refusing to ny in these
service planes.
One naval commander reports
that on flight to the Wes. Coast
he noted that new crew took over
the plane at Dallas, At San Diego
the crew brought the MATS plane
in nicely but the commander, a fly
or himself, noticed that no one shut
off the motors.
Finally, he reports, one Of the
crew came back and admitted that
no one in The crew knew how to
cut off Me motors. The commander
did It for them.
Republicans in Congress are con-
sident that they will carry the
House at least in Noyember's cleo
tions. II they do, the country can
expect a series Of Investigations in
TO a variety OF subjects few on
the actual conduct OF the war II.
self.
Asked whether the COP had
such investigations in mind, Re-
publican House leader Joseph w.
Martin, Jr., Of Massachusetts, smil-
ingly replied:
Sure. Our slogan Is: open each !
session with a~prayer and close 1t
with a probe. ."
Even though Great Britain Joined
with the United States and France
in warning Spain to oust Franco,
the London government Is expect.
ed to go slow in taking punitive
measures for noncompliance.
Diplomatic observers, noting that
Franco has served notice he will
not quit, point out that former
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
virtually pledged non-interference
with FL Caudillo because he sat
out" the war. The present British
government, OF course, is far to the
left OF the Churchill regime. But
current London-Moscow difficulties
are viewed as applying the brakes
TO further British action.
Strong schools OF thought in Brit.
ain support the theory that the Rus.
SLAMS might attempt TO institute
some form of Communism in the
guise Of republic in Spain. This,
II Is pointed out. would lover Brit.
jsh prestige on the continent.