Milford chronicle., 1947-11-14
ACoMMITTEE OF CONGRESS has been

A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS has been
told during the last few days that COMMUNIST
scrint writers in Hollywood are including sub
versive propaganda intoAthe movies.
The producers, themselves, are always
anxious to get sensational features into their
productions. The writers are trying hard.
to make 'em snappy'' so that their stun VIII
boost the box receipts. That means more pay
for the "scripterS".
The big shots in Hollywood took time off
for a trip to Washington during the past few
days to explain the Communist charges.
Among the Hollywooders who answered
present before the House Committee on un-
American Activities was President Warner
of the Warner Brothers Pictures; Sam Wood,
veteran producer and director, and Louis Is.
MAYER. production chief of Metro-G Goldwyn-
Mayer Other motion pictures chiefs were
on hand, and all of them emphasized in their
testimony that they were making every eff
fort to keep Communism out OF their shows.
The producers are all smart, suspicious
and capable. Those are important facts.
Script composers cannot put Communist stuff
over on Warner, Mayer or any of those big
shots-no matter how skillful the authors
may be-
Somehow, one must feel that the big
Hollywood producers are doing the best they
can under all circumstances" That does not
mean that they are doing perfect job.
What breed of "showmen'' in and out of the
movies, is "near-perfect?" 2"
N1@SS
CURRENT EVIDENCE INDICATES that
there is little danger of severe coal shortage
this winter There may be local scarcities of
certain grades of COAL but the overall supply
4 will, in all probability be adequate for our
needs.
This forecast, of course, is predicated on
the assumption that coal production will con-
tinue at high levels, and there will be no in
creased drain on our output for export. 1t
seems certain that 1947 production will be
about 100000, 900 tons.
The role of coal in the American econ
omy becomes increasingly important as the
population grows and general industrial ac
tivity increases. There is some fear that,
once a buyers market returns, coal will suf-
fer from competition with other fuels. Whe-
ther that happens or not will be largely de-
termined by the retail cost of coal And that,
in turn, will depend upon the cost of produc-
tion. If coal is to maintain sound competi-
tive position, it is evident that the miners, in
return for their record pay and special bene-
fits must do all in their power to increase
unit production And, by the same token,
management is spurred by its high operating
costs to improve production in every way
mum.
In the meantime, the coal industry is
keeping up with the enormous present-day
demand Coal producers and dealers are do
ing an excellent job in showing consumers
how to use coal to maximum advantage and
at minimum cost And the miners have the
highest standard of living in their history.
5000
THE RAILWAY OPERATING brother
hoods have demanded wage increases which
would total some $40OO00,OO0 year. The
demand will go through the usual channels
of arbitration and, if allowed, will eventually
be paid for by consumers in the form of high
er freight rates.
It may be that the increased wages are
justified. But, along with them, the brother.
hoods have made demands for rules changes
which would make possible new high ir
"feather-bedding' and cost the railroads ar
estimated $1000,000,000 a year at time
when they have found it necessary to ask tht
Interstate Commerce Commission for sub
Stantial increases in rates to meet current
operating and labor costs.
Twenty-eight of the A rules changes
asked would compel the lines to pay more fo
the same or less work Seven of them woul,
require additional, unneeded men to do tn
same work-much in the fashion of Petrillo'
musicians union. A typical example is
rule that would cut the length of freigh
trains in half, and very heavily increase tn
cost of moving a given volume of freight
Another would reduce the basic day for pas
senger conductors and trainmen from Is
miles to 100 miles-a run that takes only tw
or three hours "Feather-bedding" on raj
roads has reached such an extreme that
puts to shame rules of some painters union
that forbid using anything except narro,
brush for big painting jobs.
These rules changes-to say nothing
the wage request-would be powerful spu
to imitation They are fragrant example
the I'VE want more pay while we do les
work philosophy that can destroy a nj
tion.