The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-02-14

Merger Advocates
Aided by Probe Of
Pearl Harbor

Administration forces are reap
ing a harvest OF arguments for
Army.Navy merger legislation
through the hearings OF the Pearl
Harbor investigating committee.
The trend OF the argument has
been obvious. That is, that the
success OF the japanese sneak at
tack on Pearl Harbor might have
been avoided altogether had there
been a single command at Oahu
and in Washington.
Gen. George {. Marshall, former
Army chief OF stan and current
ambassador to China, has long been
an outspoken champion Of the mer-
ger.
Retired Mai Gen. Walter c.
Short, 1871 Pearl Harbor command
er, who had his day in court after
four years OF official silence. has
insisted that had he known all that
Washington knew he would have
been ready 70 Illustrate the Japa-
nese plane attack that plunged the
United States into World War II.
Although the Navy generally is
opposed to the merger proposal,
Retired Rear Adm. Husband f.
Kimmel, Shorts opposite Navy
number in Hawaii in 1s4l, has
inadvertently aided the merger
campaign.
Kimmel's claim to insufficient
knowledge of United States-Japa-
nese relations has bolstered the
merger cause.
Look for administration forces
TO use Pearl Harbor as persuasive
ammunition when President Tru-
mans merger bill comes before
Congress.
SOMETHING WENT WRONG on
egg production and farmers, urged
10 increase the egg output by gov
eminent subsidies, flooded the mar
ket with them to the point where
there is now a surplus.
There isn't enough fluid milk to
meet terrific demands.
Latest rumor is that the govern
ment is thinking Of lowering the
wheat content OF bread-much
against the bakers wishes. The
American Bakers Association has
urged OPA Chief Bowles and Agri-
culture Secretary Anderson against
''tampering" with the nations
bread
LOOK FOR MORE ALTON by
the government TO hammer down
the prices OF new homes TO levels
which the average buyer can AFFORD.
When the governments new
housing program went into effect,
the stipulation read that so per
cent Of all critical materials would
be channeled into homes costing
$4,000 or less and renting for not
more than $50 a month.
In effect, this was tantamount TO
q ceiling. But officials were gradu-
ally aware that $4,000 was 4 pref
~ stih price for veterans, who
v<ould receive preference. to pay.
They said they expected the
price to be we'll below this amount.
But now 1t turns out that most new
homes are costing about $500 and
up. This decrease isn't enough to
satisfy Representative Patman (D)
OF Texas, who has introduced q
bill in the House which would set
q 5000 ceiling price.
Whether Patman's measure win
be approved is still open to ques-
tion, but officials feel that the price
viii have TO fall II public demand
for critically-needed homes is to
be met.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT
ATIVES is losing two OF its most
colorful figures. Rep. Clare Booth
Luce, OF Connecticut and Rep.
Charles M. LaFollette, Of Indiana,
both Republicans.
LaFollette has announced he will
relinquish his House seat TO cam
paign for United States senator.
Mrs. Luce has disclosed she also
will not return TO the House next
year. She is expected to run for
the Senate.
LaFollette is unique among his
Republican colleagues in that in
philosophy he is to the left Of the
most ardent New Dealer in Con-
gress LaFollette believes the COP
should become the radical" party
In America.
Mrs. Luce Is recognized as one
OF the 10 best-dressed women In
the world. She will liven up the
staid Senate chamber should she
be promoted by the Connecticut
electorate.