1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4107 SENATE Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President-- The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maryland. MONDAY, APRIL 8," 1940 Mr. TYDINGS. Out of order, I ask unarlimous consent for the immediate consideration of House bill 8913, the legisla The Chaplain, Rev. Z~Barney T. Phillips, D. D., offered the following prayer: tiv ~ appropriation bill. The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection to the request 0 God, the everlasting Lord and Father, who art with us in of the Senator from Maryland? all our ways, we beseech Thee, as we bow our hearts in prayer. Mr. BYRD. Mr. Presiden-t, I inquire if the motion of the to fill us with the strengthening peace of Thy conscious pres Senator from Maryland takes precedence over a resolution ence and with the knowledge that love is at the root of every which has been on the desk for some time and which went thing, for it alone can bring us back from the solitude which over under the rule. is haunted with perplexity into our true relationship with our The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maryland is fellow man and the Christ who knows the joys and sorrows of asking unanimous consent to dispense with the morning hour our ever-changing life. May we always place the value of the for the purpose of considering a certain appropriation bill. soul above the body, character above circumstance, and with Mr. BYRD. I will have to object. A resolution submitted s1mple loving worship, by continual obedience to the call of by me has been on the desk for nearly 30 days, and it is very duty and by purifying ourselves, even as Thou art pure, may important, I think, that it should be acted on. .we creep ever closer unto Thee who art the last great cer Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President, would a motion be in order tainty of life. We ask it in the name and for the sake of to proceed with the consideration of the bill to which I ·have Jesus Christ our Lord and Savi our. Amen. referred? THE JOURNAL The VICE PRESIDENT. No. The Senate met this-morn ing following an adjournment, and the provision of para On request of Mr. BARKLEY, and by unanimous consent, the . graph 3 of rule VII as to the call of the calendar on Mondays reading of the Journal of the proceedings of the calendar day is effective. Friday, April 5, 1940, was di~pensed with, and the Journal Mr. BARKLEY. Mr. President, let me say that the morn was approved. ing hour will probably not last long; it does not usually do MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT-APPROVAL OF BILL AND JOINT so; and I think there ·will probably be no difficulty about RESOLUTION having the bill of the Senator from Maryland considered. Messages in writing from_the President of the United States TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SENATOR BORAH were communicated to the Senate by Mr. Latta, one of his secretaries, who also announced that the President had ap Mr. HO;LT presented resolutions adopted as a tribute tc. . proved and signed the following act and joint resolution: ·the memory of Han. William E. Borah, late a Senator from On April 4, 1940: the State of Idaho, by Townsend Club, No. 1, of Moundsville, s. 1955. An act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to W.Va., which were ordered to lie on the table. delegate certain regulatory functions. RELIEF OF M. E. M'GIVERN On April 5, 1940: The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a letter s. J. Res. 226. J.oint resolution providing for the filling of from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a draft of a vacancy in the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Insti _proposed legislation for the relief of M. E. McGivern, which, tution of the class other than Members of Congress. with the accompanying papers, was referred to the Commit CALL OF THE ROLL tee on Indian Affairs. Mr. BARKLEY. I suggest the absence of a quorum. RELIEF OF GUY F. ALLEN The VICE PRESIDENT. The clerk ·Will call the roll. The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a letter The Chief Clerk called the roll,. and the following Senators from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a draft of answered to-their names: proposed· legislation 'for the relief of Guy F. Allen, Chief Dis Adams Donahey King Schwellenbach bursing Officer, Division of Disbursement, Treasury Depart- Ashurst Downey La Follette Sheppard , ment, which, with the accompanying paper; was referred to Austin Ellender Lee Shipstead Bailey Frazier Lodge Smathers the Committee on Claims. Ba!!.khead George Lundeen Smith Barbour Gerry McCarran Stewart PETITIONS Barkley Gibson McKellar Taft The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a cablegram Bilbo Gillette McNary ·Thomas, Idaho Bone Green Maloney Thomas, Okla. 'from the president of the Senate of Puerto Rico, stating Bridges Guffey Mead Thomas, Utah that "The Senate of Puerto Rico at the meeting held on Brown Gurney Miller Tobey April 3, 1940, unanimously resolved to request from the Bulow Hale Minton Townsend Byrd Harrison Murray Tydings United States Senate the approval of Senate bill 2547, intra- Byrnes Hatch Neely Vandenberg . duced by Senator MURRAY, to impose additional duties upon Capper Hayden Norris VanNuys Caraway Herring O'Mahoney Wagner the United States Public Health Service in connection with Chandler Hill Overton Wheeler the investigation, treatment, and control of tuberculosis," Clark, Idaho Holman Pepper White which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Clark, Mo. Holt Pittman Wiley Connally Hughes Reed Mr. HOLT presented a paper in the nature of a petition Danaher Johnson, Calif. Reynolds from members of Local No. 25, American Flint Glass Work Davis Johnson, Colo. Schwartz ers' Union of North America, of Pennsboro, W. Va., praying Mr. MINTON. I announce that the Senator from Florida for the imposition of higher tariff duties on glassware, and [Mr. ANDREws], the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. BURKE], also that the control of all tariff legislation be retained in the Senator from New Mexico [Mr. CHAVEZ], the Senators the Congress, which was referred to the Committee on from Illinois [Mr. LUCAS and Mr. SLATTERY], the Senator Finance. from Maryland [Mr. RADCLIFFE]. the Senator from Georgia REPORTS OF COMMITTEES [Mr. RussELL], the Senator from Missouri [Mr. TRUMAN], Mr. CLARK of Idaho, from the Committee on Irrigation and the Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. WALSH] are de· and Reclamation, to which was referred the bill Virginia [Mr. GLASS] is unavoidably ment of the -costs of repairs, resurfacing, improvement, and detained. enlargement of the Arrowrock Dam in 20 annual instal~ The VICE PRESIDENT. Eighty-five Senators have an ments, and for other purposes, reported it without amend- swered to their names. A quorum is present. . ment and submitted a report (No. 1379) thereon. ORDER OF BUSINESS Mr. O'MAHONEY, from the Committee on Irrigation and The VICE PRESIDENT. The presentation of petitions Reclamation, to which was referred the bill (S. 1777) grant and memorials is in order. · ing the consent of Congress to the States of Montana. North 4108 . CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 . Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to negotiate and enter Missoula Chamber of Commerce, of Missoula, Mont.; to the into a compact or agreement for division of the waters of the Committee on Military Affairs. Little Missouri River, reported it with amendments and sub By Mr. CLARK of Idaho: mitted a report China Relief Expedition the benefits of hospitali mitted a report New York City, April 6, 1940, Mr. BARKLEY. I should think so, yes; but it ought not to which appears in the Appendix.] be made a matter of public record that the Director of the ADDRESS ON TELEVISION BY HON. JAMES LAWRENCE FLY Budget has denied this information. [Mr. HILL asked and obtained leave to have printed in the Mr. BYRD. But the truth can be made a matter of public Appendix a radio address on television, delivered by Hon. record. James Lawrence Fly, Chairman, Federal Communications Mr. BARKLEY. The Senate has made no official request Commission, on April 2, 1940, which appears in the Ap of the Director of the Budget. It may be that the Director pendix.] of the Budget has no authority to give the Senator that in formation, although I am not certain about that. It seems GOLD SHIPMENT5-EDITORIAL FROM PHILADELPHIA RECORD to me that the same purpose would be accomplished-all [Mr. TowNSEND asked and obtained leave to have printed the Senator wants is the information-by eliminating the in the RECORD an editorial from the Philadelphia Record of part of the second "whereas" which indicates that the Direc Saturday, April 6, 1940, on the subject of gold shipments into tor of the Budget has willfully denied the information. the United States, which appears in the Appendix.] Mr. BYRD. I did not use the word "willfully." CONCENTRATION OF GOLD AT FORT KNOX, KY.-EDITORIAL FROM Mr. BARKLEY. The language of the "whereas" carries BUSINESS WEEK the implication that it has been willfully denied. [Mr. TowNSEND asked and obtained leave to have printed Mr. BYRD. The Senator from Virginia wants the coun in the RECORD an editorial from Business Week of March 30, try to know that this information has been denied to him. 1940, entitled "Our Old Kentucky Gold," which appears in Mr. BARKLEY. · I suppose the Senator merely want's the the Appendix.] information. I assume that if he gets the information he POOR LITTLE RICH UNCLE SAM-ARTICLE BY CHARLES BENEDICT does not desire to cast any aspersions on anybody,· or to re [Mr. REYNOLDS asked and obtained leave to have printed fiect on anybody. in the RECORD an article entitled "Poor Little Rich Uncle Mr. BYRD. All the Senator from Virginia wants to do is Sam," written by Charles Benedict and published in the to state the facts. I will say to the Senator from Kentucky Magazine of Wall Street, which appears in the Appendix.] that on January 12 I wrote to the Director of the Budget asking for this information. He replied on January 17 saying REDUCTION OF CAPITAL FUNDS OF CERTAIN CREDIT CORPORATIONS that the information was not available. After waiting 40 The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair lays before the Senate days I wrote to him again on February 28. Then the Di a resolution coming over from a previous day, which will be rector of the Budget came to see the Senator from Virginia, stated. and said he could not give him the complete information, The Chief Clerk read the resolution (8. Res. 243) sub but would give certain information in confidence. The Sen mitted by Mr. BYRD on March 12, 1940, as follows: ator from Virginia said he had no desire to be informed in Whereas the President, in his Budget message of January 3, 1940, confidence; that he wanted the information for the use ·Of estimated that it would be feasible to reduce by $700,000,000 the the Senate and the ·public. I then submitted, on March 12, capital funds of certain credit corporations established by the Gov ernment at various times as emergencies have arisen; and this resolution which has been pending since then. Whereas the credit corporations referred to in such message were I decline to modify the preamble of the resolution, because not specifically enumerated, and repeated requests to have the it is strictly and literally true in accordance with the facts. Director of the Bureau of the Budget identify or enumerate such Mr. BARKLEY. Then, Mr. President, I move to amend corporations have been denied; and Whereas it is essential, in the public interest, that full informa the second "whereas" by inserting, after the word "repeated", tion with respect to the reduction of the capital funds of such the word "individual", so that it will read "repeated individ corporations be furnished to the Senate: Therefore be it ual requests." Certainly the resolution ought not to carry 4110 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 the implication that the Senate or the House or any official not he could have done it at that time. It was an estimate. thereof in his official capacity had been denied this informa Inasmuch as this was an estimate of the President, the Direc tion. Inasmuch as the requests were individual requests, tor of the Budget may not feel authorized to break down the the Senator ought not to object to that amendment of the figures. I do not know. "whereas." Mr. BYRD. The Director of the Budget prepares the Mr. BYRD. But the resolution does not say to whom the Budget for the President. · requests were denied. It says, "Repeated requests to have the Mr. BARKLEY. He does in a way; but, of course, the Director of the Bureau of the. Budget identify or enumerate President goes over it and has something to do with it him such corporations have been denied." He could not have self. Officially, it is the President's message and not the denied the request of the Senate, because the Senate has not message of the Director of the Budget. requested the information. Mr. BYRD. If that be the case, then will the Senator agree Mr. BARKLEY. The Senator says he has asked for the to a resolution directing the President of the United States to . information in his individual capacity as a Senator. Has the furnish this information immediately? Senator any objection to saying that it was an individual Mr. BARKLEY. No; I would not agree to a resolution request? directing the President to do so. I would agree to one re Mr. BYRD. There is no need that I can see of saying that. questing him to furnish it, if it is not incompatible with the It is a question of fact; that is all. I and o-thers have asked public service to do so. I do not think we can direct the for this information, and it has been denied. President. Mr. BARKLEY. The "whereas" carries the implication Mr. BYRD. Then the Senator does not think the Congress that numerous requests have been made, perhaps by numerous is entitled to this information? Senators, and denied. Nobody has requested it except the Mr. BARKLEY. I not only do not think it is not entitled ·Senator from Virginia. to it, but the Senator has no basis upon which to make that Mr. BYRD. Does the Senator know that? statement. I have not indicated that Congress is not en Mr. BARKLEY. No; I do not know it, but I do not think titled to it. I say Congress is entitled to it. a number of requests have been made ·by those interested in Mr. BYRD. Again I ask, Does not the Senator think we the Budget. should have had the information 3 months ago, when the Mr. TAFT. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? Budget was first submitted? Mr. BARKLEY. I yield to the Senator from Ohio. Mr. BARKLEY. I am not going to pass on that question. Mr. TAFT. I should like to state that I made a request, Mr. BYRD. If we are entitled to it at any time, we were which also was denied. entitled to it when the Budget first came in, and certainly we Mr. BARKLEY. Well, I am not concerned about whether are entitled to it now, as otherwise the Congress cannot in or not the Senator from Virginia is willing to modify his telligently consider pending appropriations. "whereas." Frequently "whereases" are entirely eliminated Mr. BARKLEY. I am not going to pass on the question of from resolutions of this sort, because all the Senate wants is the time when the Senate should have had the estimate or information. The Senate, I assume, is not concerned about how accurate it might have been when made, or anything of how many individual Senators have written letters to some the kind. All I have suggested is that the resolution carries body to obtain information. It is not customary to set out the implication that the Director of the Budget has willfully the unsuccessful efforts of individual Senators to obtain in denied this information. formation as a basis for the adoption by the Senate of a reso Mr. BYRD. I will say to the Senator that it carries the lution asking for information. I think the Senator from Vir truthful implication. I can prove by correspondence and a ginia would be well within the proprieties even if he agreed personal interview with the Director of the Budget that the to the entire elimination of the "whereases," because then the information has been denied. ·Senate would get the information, I presume, simply by the Mr. BARKLEY. There are frequently failures on the part adoption of a resolution asking for it. of subordinate officers to furnish information which they If the Director of the Budget dozs not furnish the informa may not think they are authorized to furnish. This was tion in response to this resolution, or makes a report which is 'not the message of the Director of the Budget to Congress. not satisfactory, it will be an official matter for the Senate It was the President's message. .The Senator may do as he to deal with; but the Director of the Budget may be laboring pleases about it; but, it seems to me, in the interest of fair under some restrictions as to his ability to give out this in ness and in the interest of obtaining the information which formation. The statement was contained in the President's the Senator wants, he ought to eliminate the implication message, not in the report of the Director of the Budget. that the Director of the Budget; either on his own account Mr. BYRD. Does not the Senator think the information or on some other person's account, has deliberately and should have been furnished when the Budget was presented willfully refused to give the Senator the information which to the Senate on January 3? he has sought. Mr. BARKLEY. I do no-t know whether it should or not. I If the Sen·ator wants the language to remain as it is, I am do not kno-w whether or not it was possible to furnish it. It not going to object to it, but I think he ought to eliminate it. might not have been possible then to identify the corporations. Mr. BYRD. I am not willing to eliminate it. Mr. BYRD. If it was not possible to furnish the infor The VICE PRESIDENT. The question is on agreein~ to mation I request, the statement should not have been in the resolution. cluded in the Budget, because that is a question directly in The resolution was agreed to. volving the increase of the debt limit, as the Senator well knows. The preamble was agreed to. Mr. BARKLEY. That is a matter over which we have no MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE control. The President in his Budget message estimated A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. that there would be that much saving. Galloway, one of its reading clerks, communicated to the Sen Mr. BYRD. It is not a question of saving. The Senator ate the intelligence of the death of Hon. CLYDE H. SMITH, late is misinformed about that. It is a question of recovering into a Representative from the State of Maine, and transmitted the General Treasury $700,000,000 from the .assets of these the resolutions of the House thereon. corporations. The message informed the Senate that, pursuant to the Mr. BARKLEY. I do not care anything about the term provisions of the foregoing resolutions, the Speaker pro that may be used. If it is recovered, it will probably be to tempore had appointed Mrs. NORTON, Mr. WELCH, Mr. BREW that extent a saving. At any rate, whether the· President STER, and Mr. OLIVER members of a committee, to join with should or should not have included a break-down of the such Members of the ·senate as may be appointed, to attend $700,000,000, he did not do it, and I do not know whether or the funeral of the deceased Representative. 1940 CONGRESSIONAL ·RECORD-SENATE 4111
ENROLLED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION SIGNED ruary 17, 1931, which position is hereby abolished as of July The message also announced that the Speaker pro tempore 1, 1940"; and in line 17, after the words "in all", to strike out had aifixed his signature to the following enrolled bills and "$142,880" and insert "$144,540", so as to read: joint resolution, and they were signed by the Vice President: Salaries: Secretary of the Senate, including compensation as dis S.1372. An act for the relief of W. B. Tucker, Helen W. bursing officer of salaries of Senators and of contingent fund of the Senat_e, ,$8,000; Chief Clerk, who shall perform the duties of reading Tucker, Lonie Meadows, and Susie Meadows; clerk, $5,500 and $1,500 additional so long as the position is held by S. 1790. An act for the relief of the Eberhart Steel Prod the present incumbent; financial clerk, $5,000; assistant financial ucts Co., Inc.; clerk, $4,500; Parliamentarian, $5,000 and $1,500 additional so long as the position is held by the present incumbent; Journal Clerk, · S. 1856. An act conferring jurisdiction upon the United $4,000; principal clerk, $3,780; legislative clerk, $4,000 and $1,000 States District Court for the District of Rhode Island to hear, additional so long as the position is held by the present incumbent; determine, and render judgment upon the claim of George enrolling clerk, $4,000; printing clerk, $3,540; chief bookkeeper, Lancellotta; $3,600; librarian, $3,600; assistant Journal Clerk, $3,360; executive clerk, $3,180; first assistant librarian, $3,120; keeper of stationery, S. 2609. An act to reimpose the trust on certain lands $3,320; clerks-two at $3,180 each, three at $2,400 each, three at allotted to Indians of the Crow Tribe, Montana; $2,640 each, clerk in Disbursing Office, $2,400, six at $2,400 each, three S. 3068. An act to provide an additional swn for the pay at $1,860 each, three at $1,740 each; special officer, $2,460; press rela tions officers-one at $2,140, one at $1,900 in lieu of one of the posi ment of a claim under the act entitled "An act to provide tions authorized by Senate Resolution No. 428, agreed to February for the reimbursement of certain personnel or former per 17, 1931, which position is hereby abolished as of July 1, 1940; sonnel of the United States Navy and United States Marine messenger, $1,260; laborers-one at $1,740, one at $1,620, five at Corps for the value of personal effects destroyed as a result $1,380 each, one in Secretary's office, $1,680, one, $1,560, one, $1,260; of a fire at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., on October in all, $144,540. 27, 1938," approved June 19, 1939; and The amendment was agreed to. H. J. Res. 407. Joint resolution to extend the authority of The next amendment was, under the subhead "Committee the President under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as employees", on page 6, line 19, after the figures "$2,880", to amended. insert "assistant clerk, $2,520"; and in line 20, before the word ORDER DISPENSING WITH CALL OF CALENDAR "assistant", to strike out "four" and insert "three", so as to The VICE PRESIDENT. The calendar, under rule VIII, read: is in order. Post Office and Post Roads-clerk, $3,900; assistant clerk, $2,880; Mr. BARKLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the call aEsistant clerk, $2,520; three assistant clerks at $2,220 each; addi tional clerk, $1,800. of the calendar be dispensed with. I may say to Senators that it is my pm·pose to try to arrange for a call of the The amendment was agreed to. calendar on ·wednesday of this week. The next amendment was, on page 7, line 13, to change the Mr. McNARY. Mr. President, I shall not object to dis total appropriation for committee employees from "$505,960" pensing with the call of the calendar this morning, but I to "$506,260." did want to have assurance that we would proceed with the Th'e amendment was agreed to. call by Wednesday. Mr. KING. Mr. President, I should like to ask the Senator Mr. BARKLEY. That is my purpose. from Maryland what change has been made in the existing The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection to the request law with respect to the Capitol police. of the Senator from Kentucky? The Chair hears none, and Mr. TYDINGS. None. Let me say at this time, so that it is so ordered. Senators may understand, that the bill as it came from the LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS House contained recommendations for appropriations of Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President, I move that the Senate pro $23,907,744. The amount of the reduction by the Senate com- · ceed to the consideration of House bill 8913, the legislative mittee is, net, $202,224. The amount of the bill as reported to appropliation bill. the Senate is $23,705,520. The Senate committee made net The motion was agreed to; and the Senate proceeded to· reductions in the bill, and only a few routine items were dis consider the bill to create more wealth; we 'steadily make it more and more ton. It is the picture of a happy-loo~ng man, I suppose of difficult for persons past 60 to obtain any job; and then we 65 years of age, expecting that he is soon to come into relief neglect and refuse to give to retired workers the means of and security through his annuities under the Social Security buying the abundance which those machines, manned with Act. As a matter of fact, Mr. President, if we could bring younger workers, could so bountifully produce? Not only our before the Senate the portraits of those men whom this pic industrial and social realities but our political realities de ture is supposed to represent, their faces would mirror anguish, mand that the age limit shall be dropped from 65 to 60. despair, fatigue, and insecurity as they seek and fail to find That is the first important respect in which the Townsend any relief in present pension laws. bill differs from the present Security Act. Let me discuss the typical case, Mr. President; let us take What is the next important difference? Well, the proposed the average man; let us not descend into the inferno of those bill would provide about $600 a year for a retired worker. unfortunates living in the jungles, sleeping on gratings in the Fifty dollars a month is not very much to live upon. Prob streets, existing in misery in the poorhouses and old-age ably few of us could believe that a man and his wife could farms. Let us take a fortunate case; let us take the average live upon that amount. Certainly no one would say it is too case of an employed worker and see what the Social SecuritY high. I ask Senators to review the unchristian, indecent Act does for him. amounts paid under the present Social Security Act; and I Mr. President, in the covered occupations reported to the challenge contradiction when I state they are grossly insuffi Social Security Board, the average earning was almost exactly, cient. Millions of words have gone forth from the Social though not quite, $900 a year-$890, to be exact-let us say Security Board misleading and deluding the older people of $75 a month. Eighty-seven percent of those men who are America into the belief that at last their anguished hearts married when they become 65 have wives under 65. These were to have some relief and they were to be provided enough will receive no additional benefit. As a matter of fact, the to live on. average age of the average wife is about 5 years younger than There are two basic provisions in the Social Security Act: her husband at that age. First, the Federal-State matching plan; and, second, old Here, then, is the average American citizen who has helped age insurance, the contributory plan. Considering all the to build our homes and stores, to construct our railroads and pension recipients together, they average about the sum of our highways, who has helped to create the abundance of this $4 a week for each one; and we, in the wealthiest land of Nation by sweat and toil in his working years. He has reached the whole world, we who love to boast to other nations of our 65; he is filled with delight at the thought that his Govern generosity and our bounty, are content to run our factories ment is going to assist him and that he and his wife are to and machines at 50- or 60-percent capacity and point to the receive security and care from then on. So he goes to · the payment of pensions of $4 a week as a generous Christian act. Social Security Board and says, "I am married; I shall be 65 Mr. President, in the past year . I have received tens of this January 1; my wife is ·60. I have been employed for 3 thousands of letters from anguished hearts and miserable years, making $75 a month. How much am I entitled to?" homes, from men and women who have helped to build the The Social Security expert says, "Well, that is easy. Take wealth upon which the rest of us live, who now, in their de your average earnings of $75; we give you 40 percent upon clining years, are facing conditions so intolerable and so the first $50, or $20; we give you 10 percent upon the second terrible that many of them take the short suicide route to $25, or $2.50 additional. So you will receive $22.50, plus 1 escape, and many of them die of broken hearts. I can prove percent of tpat amount for each year, which for 3 years would it by my correspondence if proof is desired. make it about $23." Mr. President, generalities and figures do not mean very Mr. President, I sometimes think that most men who have much. Let us reduce the problem to one concrete case. led easy lives, most men who have been insulated against the Let us take a typical case· under the social-security law to tribulations of adversity, know but little of the great common see why it is that contributory workers in America are not heart of America, and the suffering and problems of our applying for these pensions. Because, Mr. President, that is people, because the Social Security Board in its figures to the the truth-the prophecies made by the Social Security Board Finance Committee prophesied to the Finance Committee, in that a certain number of applications would be filed and a effect, that the great majority of the men thus making $75 certain amount of money would go out are not being fulfilled. a month would retire at 65 and live on the $23 a month. In other words, the Social Security Act today is of such Mr. President, have these gentlemen ever stopped to ask negligible importance that we may say that it is practically themselves how men can do that? Apparently not, for they worthless so far as the great bulk of the American people are are now surprised that men are not retiring, and when they concerned. send out their social-security experts to investigate-to Mike Mr. LUNDEEN. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? or Jim or Bill, they seem surprised to learn that 19 times out Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. of 20 the worker will say "Mr. Social Security Expert, i: have Mr. LUNDEEN. The able Senator refers to the Social not $1 of insurance or of savings or of property and I simply Security Board. Perhaps it might better be referred to as cannot exist with my wife on $23 a month. As a matter of the Social Insecurity Board. I voted against the present fact, the Social Security Board members should not be sur Social Security Act. I exposed its fallacies. On the day after prised, for their records show that of the men working at 65, its passage I denounced this social insecurity and demanded earning $75 a month, 19 out of 20 of them have no savings or its repeal. I then called attention to the fact that action insurance. must be by the National Government and not by States As a matter of sad fact they are generally in debt two or that funds should be collected by the United States of Amer three hundred dollars. ica and disbursed under the general-welfare clause of the And the records of the Social Security Board itself show Constitution. These principles are fundamental and must that 19 out of 20 of the men in that class have no children stand. Any other course will lead to disaster. There is yet upon whom they can thrust themselves and gain anything time to mend our failures by constructive legislation. thereby. Their descent upon the homes of their relatives Mr. DOWNEY. I thank the Senator, and he is correct, for cruelly burdens those homes and brings no relief to tl;lem. Oh, it is insecurity; it is not security. But in the misleading and yes; many of them may go into homes already struck by delusive columns of newspaper propaganda that have gone poverty; many of them may bring greater misery and insecu forth to the aged people of America from the Social Security rity into the lives of their children; but the harsh fact is, Mr. Board they have been led to believe that the Social Security President, that 50 percent of the workers of America cannot. Act is a generous, effective law, when, as a matter of cold fact, help their parents, and those are the very parents who need it is a futile, impotent instrument of poverty and neglect. help. In the preparation of their propaganda the Social Security Let us see, Mr. President, how absolutely meaningless, how Board has issued this placard which I am now exhibiting. I absolutely worthless is this $23 a month to the elderly citizen. secured this from one of the streetcar companies of Washing- I take now the t:ypical case developed by the Social Security 4118 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 Board figures themselves. Mike and his wife pay $20 a month get as a matter of charity under the matching plan is greater -'tor their rent; and they have a most modest home for that than the amount the Government gives him under the plan rental. Their food costs them another $20 a month. Mike which involves taxing his wages. In other words, in many spends $5 a month on streetcar fare. He is paying $15 a States-New York, Ohio, I am not sure of Michigan, but month upon dental and medical and other bills. He has many, many States-the amount of money which is paid out about $10 a month left for clothing and recreation and news as a matter of governmental subsidy substantially exceeds the papers and telephone. As a matter of fact, he cannot live on amount of money paid out on old-age insurance based on that $75 a month, counting the unforeseen items of sickness, contributions. dental, and medical attention and other unforeseen burdens. Not only that, Mr. President, but think of this: The man Yes, Mr. President, we may degrade him down into a home whose wages are taxed, if he is married and his wife is past in the slums that he might rent for $14 or $15 or $16 a.month; 65, will have his allotment increased 50 percent, while if he we might slowly starve him and his wife by malnutrition by receives a pension as a matter of charity it will be doubled. cutting their food allowance down, perhaps, to $15 or $16 a If the man dies his wife will get 100 percent under the month; but that man and his wife cannot possibly live upon matching plan, the charity plan; but if he dies, under the that $23 a month. Hence, I say to the distinguished Senator contributory plan the wife, for some strange reason, will who honors me here with his presence, the chairman of the receive only 75 percent of the amount. Finance Committee [Mr. HARRISON], if and when he attempts Mr. President, think to what an end we· have come in the to reappraise and reexamine the workings of the Social Se State of California. Here is the Social Security Board set curity Act, he will find that the money the Social Security ting up a vast actuarial scheme to determine the pensions Board promised would be disbursed is not being expended, workers in California will receive 25, 50, yes 100 years from because men who are earning $75 a month cannot retire and now; and the amount that the workers in California will live on $22 or $23 a month. They cannot even slowly starve receive 50 years from now under the actuarial plan is ex to death upon that amount, but their starvation would be ceeded by 97 percent in the case of those now receiving rapid, indeed. charity payments. In California, the pension State, we give Mr. President, I wish I could bring before the Senate a a single man $40. If he is married we give him $80. If he composite of the hundreds of thousands of letters which are is married and his wife is past 65, under the contributory now in our records, and in the records of the Townsend or plan he will generally get around $25 or $35 a month. ganization, reciting the history and the misery of the retired Mr. President, I have talked to some persons who have people of America. Less than 20 percent of those past 60 now seen the files of the Social Security Board at Baltimore. have jobs. About 15 percent have savings. All the rest of They tell me they never could have conceived that there them are thrust into a precarious and insecure existence in a ·could be so many files in existence. A young boy from Cali land of superabundant wealth. fornia wrote me. He was 15 years of age. He had started Well, you ask me, what are the aged people of America to work in a covered occupation. The Social · Security Board going to do? I reply, if there is any Senator here who can has his card, and for 50 years the Social Security Board in answer that question, I wish he would rise and declare him tends to keep track of his earnings. Fifty years from now, self. under the actuarial scheme, it is going to allocate him less Mr. LUNDEEN. Mr. President- at the very maximum· than we now pay as a matter of gov The· PRESIDENT pro tempore. Does the S nator from ernmental subsidy in California. California yield to the Senator from Minnesota? Think again, Mr. President: If that boy of 15 should ulti Mr. DOWNEY. I do. mately marry a wife 15 years younger than he, who should Mr. LUNDEEN. He might transfer himself to the mercies live to be 85, that would mean that the.Social Security Board of the Surplus Commodities Corporation, which has recently have in the present determined by an involved actuarial sent food to some of our citizens, valued at 1 cent, and in scheme what that widow will receive one century from now. some instances, 1% cents per meal per person. See W. P. A. What omniscience! reports. All they get, I understand, is some old apples, onions, Why, Mr. President, if anybody can look back over the past and inferior flour. That might make a good text for some 20 years, with its blood and destruction and dynamic changes; totalitarian dictator. What a grand standard of living for a with its ever-increasing tempo of production; and then wlth democracy. its ever more potent machines, believe he can work out a DR. FRANCIS E . TOWNSEND plan that will successfully determine from wage payments Dr. Townsend will live in history. He stirred a Nation to its over the next decades what wage earners and their widows very depths by his fervent appeals. For years we liberals and will be paid 25, 50, 75, or 100 years from now, I must admit progressives appealed to our fellow citizens for social-security he has more confidence in his intellectual processes than I legislation. Dr. Townsend did more than all of us-he made have in mine. us social-security minded. He talked not only old-age pen Mr. President, let us go back for a minute to the typical sions-he advocated recovery legislation, and there must be case we have been discussing-the man making $75 a month. sane and sensible recovery legislation-recovery before it is too Let us see what he is going to do; and if there is a Senator late. Hats off to Dr. Townsend and the mighty host he leads here who can give him a message as to how he should live onward to paths of progress and prosperity. from now on, I should like to be able to bear some hope and Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, it is true that Mike may encouragement to that man, because this is what his letter go to his State and receive from his State an allocation for tells me is happening to him: a portion of the charity pension if the charity pension is Let us take the case of a man who is a janitor, we will say, greater than what we call old-age insurance. And that in a private school, earning $75 a month. He is beginning brings us to another weird provision of the Security Act. to get tired and ailing. He has worked since he was 15 or 18 As I have already indicated, we have two pension phases of years of age. His heart begins to bother him when he works the present law. We have the contributory system, under vigorously, when he arises early in the morning in the cold which the worker is now paying 1 percent upon his wages, and the darkness. The spring has left his limbs; his vitality and his employer an equal amount, which amount will finally has begun to fail. He is subject to sickness and dizzy spells. be raised to a total of 6 percent. We have the matching The doctor has told him he has to stop working so hard. The . plan, under which the pensions are given as a matter of truth is, he has worked for this civilization of ours for 50 years. charity, the Federal Government matching the State pay Now he is old and tired and ailing. He is entitled to rest and ments up to $20 a month. Now, let us see just how strangely a serene retirement~ A younger man ought to take his job. these plans work out when compared to each other. But poor Mike's days are not filled with the hope of a happy The Federal Government has created a system in which, and dignified retirement-only with worry for fear he may in almost one-half the States, the amount that a man may lose his job. He suffers from insomnia at night as the specters 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4119 of insecurity thrust themselves upon him, and he says to being taxed 1' percent of his pay, and that rule holds for the himself, "What would happen to my wife if I should die past 3 years and the coming 3 years. It means that for those tomorrow?" And sometimes, in the gloom and fear of the six years a man getting $3,000 a year would pay in only $180, night, he figures that he will do what tens of thousands of and his annuity would be valued by an insurance company old persons do every year in the United States-kill himself. as worth about $10,000. As a matter of fa.ct, the tables of the And in despair he questions, "What will happen to my wife if Social Security Board show that the annuities which will be I do?" And he thinks, "Well, maybe she can go out to the earned by the workers will be paid almost wholly from public county poor farm." So Mike takes a trip out to that dismal funds. abode of hell, and he sees what Mrs. Roosevelt saw, what Mrs. Mr. President, the question is asked, How will this system Roosevelt should have known she would see, because you can ultimately work? How much of the pensions will :flow from see the same fearful, tragic sights in 9 out of 10 old-age homes public sources; how much from the worker's contributions? and poor farms in the United States, where hundreds of The advisory council of the Social Security Board plans that thousands of persons who have been loyal, decent American ultimately the cost be met in approximately equal shares .by citizens now exist in tragic decay that is worse than death employers, employees, and the Federal Government·. itself. But Mike clutches at the hope that the county poor So that the Social Security Board itself estimates that, farm would be a haven for his widow if he should pass on; looking ahead, say, 20 or 25 years, when the plan is fully in and he goes out, and he sees a plain building like a canton operation, only one-third of the annuities disbursed will come ment. He walks in over a plain pine board floor, unvarnished, from the contributions of the workers themselves. The rest with 20 or 30 beds on one side of the room and 20 or 30 beds will come either from an employers' tax, which becomes a on the other side. And there he sees to what unhappy fate consumptive tax, or from Federal deficit appropriations. his own wife may come if he should die or lose his job. As These figures would seem to indicate that to the extent of he steps into that room he is met with the nauseating odor at least one-third these annuities would be financed by the that comes from the uncared-for bodies of human beings. workers' contributions. But Iet me call attention to the fact And he sees the meager food those poor, doomed persons are that the workers who pay in that one-third do not comprise given; in this land where food is destroyed. He sees all the all of the ones who get the money. And why do I say that? tragedy of the indigent aged. Let us not paint further that Here is something which should interest to the very heart tragic picture, but when the husband has seen it, he knows the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Finance, that if he leaves this world he would better take his wife along because under this strange law, while we tax workers receiv with him than let her go out there. ing less than $200 a year, we do not pay them anything at Mr. President, I realize that these are not pleasant sub all. We take their money but we exclude them from all jects to discuss. It is much nicer to put them behind us, and benefits. In other words, what this strange, undemocratic, think of our generosity to foreign nations, our wealth, and cruel law does is to take the most unfortunate, submerged our great achievements. Nevertheless, there are millions groups in America, the low-paid and the part-time workers, upon millions of American citizens anguished and insecure many of whom are doing the hard, dirty work of the world, not knowing where they can turn, who can think only of who cannot make $200 a year in money income, and we tax their own tragic plight and look only to us for relief. their hundred dollars, or $150, or $199, and, having added And what I have said I repeat, if there is one Senator who their contributions to this great fund, we then deny them knows how the aged of America can exist under the Social all benefits and pay out their money to the workers who Security Act, let him tell how a man earning $75 a month and have been permanently employed and have received higher supporting a wife, can retire and take this $22.50 or $23, be incomes. cause the Social Security Board is now met with that very I stated to the distinguished chairman of the Finance Com problem. And, sadly enough, they do not know how to solve mittee that this argument should penetrate to his heart, be it. All this vast actuarial scheme means almost nothing. For almost no money of any considerable amount is going out, cause about 50 percent of the workers in Mississippi receive less than $200 a year. So we have the strange spectacle because men who are working and making hardly enough on under this law of the money being drained out of the farm which to live cannot retire and take one-third or one-fourth areas and the poorer States to pay workers' contributions in of that insufficient amount. the wealthier regions and the wealthier States. The figures I But perhaps some of my colleagues are saying, "Will not have given to the distinguished Senator from Mississippi some of them get more than $22.50 a month?" Oh, yes, Mr. [Mr. HARRISON] hold true, though to a lesser degree, in all President; some of them will and do. Some of them get $40 the other States in the South and in all the farm areas, in a month, plus 3 percent on that for 3 years, or $41.20 a month. cluding the State of Nebraska. The great industrial, wealthy Who are those fortunate people thus comparatively blessed States and cities will profit immensely by this law. The under this strange, weird law? They are the people who are poorer rural regions suffer immeasurably. making upward of $250 a month. In other words, if one has been a wage earner at $250, $500, $1,000, or $10,000 a month, I will make a remark which might seem exaggerated, but the Government will pay him a monthly pension of $41.20. I make it after months of deliberation: If Thaddeus Stevens, If he should die and leave a widow and four children, they with all his talent and vengeful fury of reconstruction days, would be so fortunate as to get $85 a month. Consider the had desired to degrade and pauperize the South, he could not cruel machinations of this law. As I shall show later, the have worked out with his clever mind an apter constitutional money that is paid out does not come from the workers' con way of doing it than through the contributory plan of the tributions to any substantial extent. This annuity.plan will Social Security Act. be financed chiefly by public money, as I shall demonstrate I have stated to the Senate that old-age insurance would later. The Social Security Board now knows it. While in pauperize the farm States, the Southern States, the poorer the hearings before the Finance Committee they argued to States, to the advantage of the wealthy States. the members of the committee that this was a contributory Let us take one case to see why that is true. Take the plan, they now have dropped all pretense of that and admit State of Michigan, which is at the top because of its great it is not a contributory plan, but they justify it in this way: body of factory and automobile workers. In the State of "Hereafter we are going to pay pensions in America whose Michigan approximately 50 percent of the workers between amount will be determined by the amount of the earnings," 15 and 65 years of age pay contributions. In the Southern not by the amount of contributions, but, I repeat, by the States the number runs to 12, 14, 15, or 16 percent. Conse amount of the earnings. quently, in the great industrial States of the Nation about Mr. President, I have here the reports of the Social Security four times as many workers are subject to the terms of the Board, showing that for the next 20 years the amount of act as in the farm regions and the Southern States. contributions paid by a worker would not by any appreciable Let us pass on to the next factor. In Michigan-and ·amount contribute to the sum that is to be disbursed to him. Michigan is to be congratulated on it-only about 15 percent Think of it for a moment. An employee at the present is of the workers receive less than $200 a year. Consequently, LXXXVI--260 4120 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 85 percent of those who pay contributions will receive can fully understand the Security Act only after months of pensions. study, and even then there remain many uncertainties. But As I stated, in the State of Mississippi one-half the work I desire to make this point clear, and if there is any Senator ers receive approximately less than $200 a year, and of the who differs with my view I would invite his participation in pitiful percentage in Mississippi who pay contributions, only the discussion, so that what is the viewpoint of the Social about 7 percent of the total population of the State will be Security Board may be frankly defended and discussed. paid annuities. So that the law works out in this way: Out In the first place, Mr. President, as I have already endeav of funds that are principally coming from public sources, $7 ored to show, the contributory plan has degenerated into a per inhabitant will go to Michigan for $1 per capita which scheme of social dividends under which the workers will re will go to the State of Mississippi. I may say that South and ceive 80 percent of their annuities from public sources. The North Dakota are deprived equally with the Southern States Social Security Board defends such a policy. Tacitly admit in that respect, and I have the figures here to show anyone ting that the contributory plan is a social-dividends plan, who may desire to see them. they say, nevertheless, we should give out benefit in the in Mr. President, let me return to the point I was making a verse order of the need of the recipients. That is my charac while ago. While, as a matter of fact, the Social Security terization of their policy. Board now estimates that ultimately one-third of the money I think it is a fair one, because they propose to give out paid out to annuitants will come from the contributions of substantial annuities to the groups at the top and miserable the workers, those figures must be qualified in this way: and meager payments to the groups at the bottom. That amount includes the contribution from the partially Let me read to the Senate their last statement on this sub employed and the low-income group, so that one can safely ject, and Senators will notice in this statement they have say that in the State of Michigan not 20 percent of the money abandoned all pretense that this is a contributory plan. Let which is paid out in annuities will come from the contribu me quote from their own publication: tions of the workers receiving the annuities. In other words, The Social Security Act laid upon the Board an administrative if the Social Security Act is maintained upon its present responsibility probably unparalleled in the history of social. insur actuarial base, this plan will remain 80 percent a social ance--the responsibility for devising a system applicable to millions of workers whereby each person who qualifies for benefits receives dividend plan-a social-dividend plan under which we will an amount determined by his individual wages in the covered em disburse $5 and $10 to the wealthy State for every $1 for the ployment. poorer State. It has been generally accepted that the relation of benefits to Let me say, Mr. President, if there are Senators here who earnings reflects American traditions and provides for adjustments to the wide differences in the wage scales and living standards hold dear their farm population, in States which have both within the Nation. city and farm population, the Social Security Act will do this: For every dollar that will go into the rural regions, The Board has dropped all pretense that payments are to $10 or $20 will go into the city regions. In other words, I be proportionate to contributions, and now finds the index might say to the distinguished Senator from Michigan [Mr. of amount of benefit solely in earnings. VANDENBERG], whose high intelligence I have always admired, I have the honor to have present several Senators from the tl:lat if in Michigan certain counties are purely farm and South. I want to know: Are they willing, to accept that rural, as compared with Detroit, on a per capita basis, Detroit standard, under which $5 or $10 will fiow into the more under the contributary plan of old-age insurance will get .prosperous industrial communities in the North as compared $10 or $20 for every dollar paid out in the farm regions. to every $1 that they will receive in their States? Mr. VANDENBERG. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? Mr. President, that is the position of the Social Security Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. Board, for its members believe that we must perpetuate in Mr. VANDENBERG. Since the able Senator has been kind America in retirement a caste system. If a man has been enough to address himself to me, I should like to make an harassed and driven by low wages and unemployment during observation. I am somewhat familiar with the intricacies his working years, he may be enttrely excluded from benefits and the inadequacies of the Social Security Act, to which the or handed $10 or $12 a month; but if he had been so fortu Senator is so ably referring. In many aspects I agree with nate as to have had steady employment and to earn $250, him in his strictures. I think that in the long view it is going $500, or $1,000 a month, then we will give his widow and his to be utterly impossible to satisfy the security demands of orphans $85 a month. the American people with the Social Security Act, in its pres Mr. President, is it .possible that that is the viewpoint of ent prospectus; and I am completely convinced that the Sen the Chief Executive of the United States? I do not know, but ator is correct to the extent that just so soon as the resources he should speedily declare himself, for it is the viewpoint of can be safely provided to do it, without upsetting our general the Social Security Board, whose members are appointed by recovery, pensions, as a matter of right to the senior citizens him. of the United States, are, and should be, inevitable. Is it possible that it is the viewpoint of the Senate or the Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, I, of course, need not say House of Representatives? I cannot believe it. how happy that remark makes me, coming, as it does, from Mr. President, it happens that in the past 2 months two one of the distinguished statesmen of America. clients of mine died in the State of California. I should I want to say now that, while my attack upon the social like to tell about them. One of them was a man of high security law is a rather critical one, I have no criticism to ability, who died worth perhaps $2,000,000 or $3,000,000. make of either the House committee or the Senate com At the time of his death he was a comparatively young man mittee. Many of the points which are now developing were and was -receiving a salary of about $50,000 a year. He left a not foreseen even by the social-security experts. It was an wife and three or four young children. The wife and children involved and complicated subject, and I know that every will now be paid $85 a month until the children reach the Senator and every Representative took this law believing that age of 16 or 18, and thereafter, when the wife shall reach it was the best law that could be provided at that time. the age of 65, she will receive three-quarters of the primary But, Mr. President, I am compelled to say further, that annuity of the husband. That man had paid into the sys~ the Social Security Board now is actually taking the position tern a total of $90. The annuity will pay his wife and chil that, regardless of money coming from contributions, we must dren probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 to set up a plan in the United States under which what are vir $25,000. ·tually social dividends will be disbursed in the inverse order Another client of mine who died was a poor cannery of the need of the recipients. worker, whose steps were always dogged by misfortune, who I approach this question now in the hope that I can make was always cursed by lack of the opportunity to work. Per myself clear to the Senators who are kind enough to listen to haps he was not as able as some other men, but in a hard me, but this is an involved and abstruse subject, and a person world he did the best he could. His average earnings had 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4121 been $25 a month in covered employment, entitling him to were living on the hand -outs of friends and relatives. In a primary benefit of $10 a month. He, too, left several short, in a relatively prosperous year at least 14 percent of our small children and a widow. The maximum she can receive senior citizens-and probably more-were gravely in need of is double what his primary benefit would have been, or $20 Federal benefits. · a month. When that husband died probably there was not Mr. President, I shall assume-unless some Senator rises sufficient food in the house. The children probably had not and declares himself in opposition to me-that there is not a had sufficient medical care. Their bodies probably lacked single Senator who does not in his heart desire to provide soap and decent cleanliness. The family was probably 2 dignity and security of a decent kind for retired workers past or 3 months behind in its rent. Yet we have worked out 60 years of age. I assume that there is only one question in a plan which will give to the wealthy widow and children the minds of Senators, and that is, Can it be done in justice out of public money, and not out of the contributions of to the other segments of our population? Can it be done the man himself-a substantial annuity of $85 a month, without injury to our general economy? whereas the woman who needs help desperately will receive Mr. McNARY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a $20 a month, or less than a fourth of the amount paid to quorum. the wealthy widow. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. HILL in the chair). The Mr. President, Senators who are lawyers know that ordi clerk will call the roll. narily the widow of a man who has earned $250, $500, $1,000, The legislative clerk called the roll, and the following or $10,000 a month has the benefit of insurance, property, Senators answered to their names: and savings, and usually there are wealthy relatives. Such Adams Davis Johnson, Calif. Reynolds a widow has ample protection. Her husband was among Ashurst Donahey Johnson, Colo. Schwartz Austin Downey King Schwellenbach the upper 3 percent of the wage earners of America, because Bailey Ellender La Follette Sheppard we have only that percentage earning upward of $250 a Bankhead Frazier Lee Shipstead month. Senators also know that when some poor unfor Barbour George Lodge · Smathers Barkley Gerry Lundeen Smith tunate in life, earning $25 or $50 a month, dies leaving a BUbo Gibson McCarran Stewart widow and small children, usually there is no insurance, and Bone Glllette McKellar Taft there is no money in the home. There is no property, and Bridges Green McNary Thomas, Idaho Brown Guffey Maloney Thomas, Okla. there are no savings. Bulow Gurney Mead Thomas, Utah I for one will to my dying day attack and indict this law, Byrd Hale Minton Tobey Byrnes Harrison Murray Townsend which has now degenerated into a scheme of fake social Capper Hatch Neely Tydings dividends, under which, in democratic America, we now · Caraway Hayden Norris Vandenberg intend to disburse public money in the inverse order of the Chandler Herring O'Mahoney Van Nuys Clark, Idaho Hill Overton Wagner need of those receiving it. Clark, Mo. Holman Pepper Wheeler Mr. VANDENBERG. Mr. President, will the Senator Connally Holt Pittman White yield? Danaher Hughes Reed Wiley Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Eighty-four Senators having Mr. VANDENBERG. The Senator has indicated that, on answered to their names, a quorum is present. the average, the contributory system works to the apparent Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, before taking up my argu average advantage of the larger industrial States-let us say ment where I desisted, I ask unanimous consent to place in the wealthier States. But, of course, in the final break the RECORD, at the conclusion of my remarks a copy of gross down, that becames a snare and a delusion, because within income table for 1936, referred to in my main argument; the so-called industrial or wealthier States we confront in two newspaper articles of a statistical natqre, by noted turn precisely the problem to which the Senator now refers, statisticians of America, showing that the burden of non the horrible discrimination against the less-advantaged and productive workers upon th.e productive groups is less now less-privileged people in the States. So, in the final analysis, than it has ever been, and that it will be no greater in 1980 it is not a problem invidiously between the States. It is a than it is at present, or was in 1929. A table showing the problem invidiously between the citizens themselves, wherever average per capita payments to participating earners under they may live. We have the same problem in Michigan as the old:..age insurance plan by States; and the inscription exists in Mississippi as between the citizens of our own States. upon the placard which I have displayed to the Senate. Does not the Senator agree to that statement? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the mat Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, I am in wholehearted agree ters referred to by the Senator will be printed in the RECORD ment upon that question. If I had been able to secure the at the conclusion of his remarks. tables from the Social Security Board, I should have de (See exhibits 1, 2, 3, and 4.) veloped the figures showing the difference in the future fi.ow Mr. LUNDEEN. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? between city and rural annuities; but if the Social Security Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. Board has such figures, at least I have not been able to Mr. LUNDEEN. Before the Senator resumes his very able secure them. argument may I call attention to two books so well written And let me add to what the distinguished Senator from by the able Senator from California on the subjects, "Pen Michigan has said that what happens in the State of Mis sions or Penury?" and "Highways to Prosperity." I ask the sissippi is vital to us in California and to him in Michigan, attention of the American public to these books from the because we are one Nation, one people. We shall live and pen of the learned Senator from the great State of Califor prosper together or finally be all together involved in common nia, and I ask especial attention to the volume, Highways national ruin. to Prosperity, just now off the pres.s. Mr. President, as I have previously stated, I wish that I Mr. DOWNEY. I . thank the Senator. could read one composite letter of the millions which have Mr. President, before the quorum call, I had stated to the come in from the older citizens of America. Sitting in Wash Senate that it was my opinion that every Senator, without ington, it is difficult to understand what is happening in the exception, would be delighted to work out some sort of a great cities, on the farms, and in the factories of America. pension plan for people past 60, of an adequate nature, if Marjorie Shearon, in a report to the Social Security Board they believed that such a plan could be worked out without after an examination, reported that of an average group of injustice to the other segments of our population, and with 1,000 Americans beyond the age of 65 in 1937, only 128 had out injury to our economy generally. I myself am confident current earnings; only 150, or 15 percent, had savings; and that that can be done, and I wish now very briefly to ad only 73 had public or private pensions, while 203 were depend vert to certain figures which I gave at the beginning of my ing in whole or in part on private or public charity, and 446 argument. 4122 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 It is our op1mon, though it may be subject to a certain Mr. President, I may say that this problem of pensions amount of change upon further investigation, that a 2-per is, in an integral way, tied into the problem of excess sav cent gross-income tax on a national income of $75,000,000,- ings. I believe that a wise and bountiful pension plan such 000 would raise about $6,000,000,000, which would afford $50 as that provided by the Townsend bill would so tend to in a month for 10,000,000 people past 60. crease prosperity that the added consumptive tax would be As I said, 10,000,000 people constitute 8 percent of the absorbed in greater profits and in higher wages. For the population, and $6,000,000,000 is 8 percent of the national purpose of this argument, however, I am not making that income of $75,000,000,000. If a 2-percent gross-income tax contention, although Dr. Townsend primarily conceives his would raise 8 percent of the national income, one might plan to be one of recovery and full employment rather than logically expect an 8-percent increase in the cost of living relief; and I may say that Dr. Townsend, with his genius to compensate for that tax; but let me show the Senate that and his common-sense vision, has anticipated most of the that viewpoint overlooks the saving that will be made by economists in America with his theory on the effect of excess this type of pension. savings, and the need of greater purchasing power among In the first place, the present Social Security Act is levied, all of our impoverished groups. I shall later consider Dr. roughly, upon almost $30,000,000,000 of pay rolls. In a few Townsend's pension plan from the standpoint of national years it will be a 6-percent levy, which will raise $1,800,000,- recovery. But that on some future day. 000. We are now paying out approximately $400,000,000 in The argument may be passing through the minds of cer old-age assistance, and we are paying out not less than $300,- tain of my auditors, "Yes; while it is true that well-to-do 000,000 more for the benefit of workers on the W. P. A. and America ought to be willing to tax itself 5 percent upon its others on general relief rolls who are past 60 years of age. living to provide decency and security for our retired So we may say with certainty that if a general pension law workers, what of the rest of the impoverished groups of were put into effect we would save about $2,500,000,000 of America? What of the unemployed, the W. P. A., the present and contemplated expenditure under the pension and C. C. C., and the other great groups, desperate and insecure and hungry and unemployed?" Well, Mr. President, if general relief laws. As a matter of fact, in addition to that we know that hundreqs of thousands of workers past 60 there are Senators here who take the viewpoint that we would give up their jobs, which probably would make a certain must continue to live in an economy of scarcity, that we must continue to apportion out poverty, either by way of saving in relief and W. P. A.; but I do not count that savil).g, if any there would be. But asstiming a saving of $2,500,- increasing the national debt or increasing taxes, that is a legitimate argument. If, on the other hand, Senators believe 000,000, and deducting that from $6,000,000,000, we would according to the pension philosophy not only that we have have a net increase in the burden of taxation of $3,500,000,000, in America a sufficiency for all our people, but also that we which would be something less than 5 percent of a national should have the ability and will to distribute it, the argu income of $75,000,000,000. Is there one Senator here who, if ment ceases to be a legitimate one; for this particular plan he believed that a tax which would increase his cost of living will not take $1 from any of the other great groups who by 5 percent would solve this great and serious problem of are in need. As far as I am concerned, my heart and mind old-age relief, would not be willing to pay that tax? are devoted to any fair and reasonable solution of the prob Much argument has been made, Mr. President, upon the lems of all our impoverished groups. I am not concerned burden which would be thrown upon the worker by a con solely with our senior citizens; but I do not concede that sumptive tax. Let me now advert to that point. we must sit here year after year distributing poverty among · Under the Townsend bill there is an exemption for sal our people when our farms and factories are now working at aries up to $250 a month. Consequently, we may say that little more than half capacity. very probably. the worker would not pay very much more in So, Mr. President, I should like to drive home this point: increased cost of living than the pay-roll tax of 3 percent If anyone says we cannot afford, under the Townsend bill, which is designed to be levied by the present Social Security to give this amount· of wealth to our retired workers, let me Act against his wages. As a matter of fact, as far as the say to him that' there is no lack of ability in the ·business worker is concerned I think it is wholly illogical to consider men of America, in our factories and farms and workers, that levy upon his consumption as a tax at all. In reality, to produce factory and farm products for the older citizens it is an involuntary form of savings under which he and his of America as outlined in the Townsend bill. If there is family pay into a social fund a volume for which he will any lack, it is not in the productive power of the American receive at least two or three times as much as he would get if Nation; it is in our ability to distribute the purchasing power he paid the same amount of money into an insurance com under a capitalistic economy. pany; and in lieu of getting his annuity at 65, as under the I am certain, in my own mind, that under a capitalistic present act, he would get it at the age of 60, and would escape economy we can operate our productive instruments at full the worries and hardships incident to the 5 precarious, des capacity, and I hope there is no Senator here who is so de perate years between the ages of 60 and 65. featist and so dismal in his outlook that he believes we must Mr. President, it is true that as far as the more prosperous continue to operate in an era of scarcity so long as we main groups in America are concerned, they would be taxed under tain a free civilization. this measure much more than under the present law, and Mr. President, in 1929 I went out into the Sacramento Val they would be substantially taxed. As far as a man making ley, where I was practicing law, and I talked to the poultry $10,000 a year is concerned, it would cost him in increased producer; and I found that the poultry producers, with labor living probably 5 percent, or $500 a year; if he had an income that was available, could easily produce twice as many hens of $100,000 that he spent in consumption, it would cost him and twice as many eggs as he was then producing. I went $5,000; if he were one of our fortunate multimillionaires, with to the dairy people, and I found the same thing. I went to a spending income of $1,000,000 a year, it would cost him the fruit and truck people, and I went to our factories and $50,000, and the benefit of his payments and those of the railroads and stores; and everywhere in the Sacramento Val prosperous groups in general would go largely to the workers ley, in 1929, I found a latent capacity to double our produc earning less than $250 a month. tion of wealth, and I am prepared to show the definite figures What this group of our fortunates must determine, what to anyone who desires to challenge that statement. Then I successful Americans must decide, is whether they are willing carried on an investigation in the State of California; and I to give up by a consumptive tax, by way of an increased cost found that our great utilities, our factories, our great stores, of living, about 5 percent of their consumption income; and our farmers everywhere, could produce far, far beyond what I cannot conceive that there is a single American who, if he they ever had produced, lacking only the market and the believed we could thus pay our great and tragic debt to the buying power to stimulate ever-increasing production. retired workers of America, and give them security and peace Mr. President, as we all know, the most conservative esti and dignity, would not be willing to do so. mate by reputable economists shows that, in the United States, 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4123 we could now produce upward of $110,000,000,000 of wealth, as Sometime, some place, somewhere, some wise man will compared with the sixty and seventy billion we have been drive through Congress a measure, or the American people producing. Consequently, I say that no one can legitimately will adopt a constitutional amendment, providing that there make the argument that America is not wealthy enough to shall be no appropriation without a tax to accompany it. take care of its own retired citizens; of men who have been That will prove to be something which will aid the Govern forced out of jobs by the infirmities of life, or by the oncom ment in meeting its bills in the future. It might prevent ing power of technological development .. extreme inflation. senators would find a pleasure in know Mr. President, this brings me to one final point, and upon ing that when they made an appropriation there would be a this I desire to conclude my argument. I might very hon tax accompanying it to pay for it. Am I correct in saying estly say that if it were not for the proprieties I would like the new bill so provides? to talk here a week upon this subject, but I am going to talk Mr. DOWNEY. The Senator is correct. only a very few minutes longer. The complications of the Mr. ASHURST. I have studied the new Townsend bill, to Social Security Act cannot even be explained in the course of be proposed by the Senator from California, for more than 2 hours because its defects and contradictions are so many that months. I have given it the best thought of which I have the human tongue and the human brain cannot reckon with been capable, and I hope the House will send it to us; I them in any brief period. suppose the House will have to originat-e it. I happened to Mr. ASHURST. Mr. President, will the senator from Cali know the Senator from California when he was a very fornia yield? young boy, and I inflicted a torrent of words on an occasion Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. when he was present more than 35 years ago, in a county Mr. ASHURST. The able Senator said he would be de courthouse in the West. I happen to know that he is a lighted to speak a week. I am sure that I am one out of many very able lawyer, and his career at the bar demonstrates senators who would not be wearied if he did speak a week. that he has practiced law with much success. He spoke If the Senator will pardon me for a reference-it is hardly a earlier in the day about two clients, one of whom was opu question-! want to interject something in his speech. I fear, lent-and I do not make any point against that; I have no however, I will mar the symmetry and strength of the Sena envy of any opulent man or wealthy man-who had paid tor's remarks. in only $90. Is that true? A very able citizen, not residing in my State, wrote and said Mr. DOWNEY. That is true. to me, "I understand you are ·going to support the Townsend Mr. ASHURST. Whereas his beneficiaries will receive $85 bill as it is to be introduced by Senator DowNEY. I would like a month for many years. That does not arouse any envy to know what you mean by such a thing. Can you explain in my breast. The Senator adverted,. in the course of his it?" The explanation I made to that citizen was to send him able speech, to the fact that the beneficiaries of another the bill, with the statement, "The bill itself is the strongest citizen would receive a very small sum, though it is entirely argument I can make." He was fair enough to reply, "Having possible that the citizen of small means may have paid into read the bill, I am for it." the social-security fund a larger sum than the citizen of In this 1ife we are beset by many perplexing things, and fre opulent means had paid in. Could that happen? quently we are in doubt as to which way to turn. One of the Mr. DOWNEY. That might not only happen but will ·rules of moral philosophy is that, in the effort to discover what occur countless times. is right and what is wrong, we should search for simplicity. Mr. CLARK of Idaho. Mr. President, will it disrupt the Truth is generally to ·be identified by its extreme simplicity. Senator's argument if I ask him a question? A complicated matter, crisscrossed by many lines, difficult of Mr. DOWNEY. Not at all, but before I yield I wish to discernment and of analysis, may be suspected. The very sim thank the Senator from Arizona for his distinguished and plicity of the Senator's new Townsend bill indicates its truth happy contribution to the subject. and its strength. Mr. CLARK ot Idaho. I rise merely to add a confirmatory If I am correct in my analysis of the Senator's bill, it does note to the very able and eloquent address which has been not stop any issue, rent, profit, or income any man receives.· delivered by the Senator from California this afternoon, A man may be eligible for this pension at 60 years of age, pro and to the further illuminating interjectory comment just vided he does not receive or earn any salary or wages. Am I contributed by the distinguished Senator from Arizona. I correct in that? think the Senator from California would probably have little Mr. DOWNEY. That is correct. difficulty in obtaining an agreement among Senators that Mr. ASHURST. Secondly, a boy 12 years of age could fig when money is in circulation in the United States we have ure on the back of a postal card just how much each citizen what is called prosperity, that is, we have our economic plant owed and should pay the Government under the new 'Town running at somewhere near full capacity. send plan. Am I correct about that? In the days of laissez faire capitalism, in the twenties, Mr. DOWNEY. That is correct. private capital kept itself in circulation largely by the device Mr. ASHURST. Note the simplicity. They send experts of private spending and private borrowing. Then, when the from the Bureau of Internal Revenue each year so that we crash occurred, in 1930, and the present administration took may forsooth have help in making out our income-tax returns. charge of the economic and other affairs of the country, the Under existing law the wisest and the keenest and most com same money was kept in circulation by Government bor petent man must have the aid of an expert in making out his rowfng and by Government spending, in place of the old return. That is what annoys and perplexes the citizen. The private borrowing and private spending, which has more or American citizen is glad to pay something to his Government, less dried up, due to the accumulation of savings which the but he objects to the annoyance of being constantly beset by a Senator very well points out in his excellent books. Since number of perplexing questions he must answer, with the fear then we have been maintaining the plant of the United that he may be entrapped, notwithstanding he is trying to be States running at part capacity largely by Government fair. borrowing and Government spending, which it is perfectly I wish to commend to the Senate and to the country this obvious cannot go on much longer. It has probably averted new Townsend bill which the Senator from California [Mr. catastrophe, because it has kept money in circulation, but it DowNEY] has proposed. Senators will be amazed at its has done it at the expense of increased debt. simplicity. I repeat, a 12-year-old boy with his pencil could The plan the Senator proposes in his bill, which is known figure on the back of a postal card how much any citizen. as the new Townsend plan, is the only plan I have seen owed the Government under the Townsend income tax law. presented which promises to keep money in circulation, Moreover, in this bill Dr. Townsend has ·hit upon a truth which promises to maintain our economic and industrial which may ultimately prove to be the solution of this coun plants running at somewhere near capacity, without the try's financial troubles. We may come to it, and I think we vicious· counterpart of continually going into debt. should. The suggestion is, no appropriation without a tax If anyone can suggest another method of doing what side by side with it to pay for the appropriation. everyone realizes must be done, that is, keeping money in 4124 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 circulation, keeping the exchange of goods and services and speakers and philosophers of America was born there, flowing freely, yet at the same time showing us how we can to wit, the Senator from Arizona [Mr. AsHURsT]. I have do it without going further into debt, other than by the never told the Senator that before, but many times when I very direct method of gross-income taxation, I think we have been out in the lonely mining camps in the deserts of would be more than glad to hear about that plan. Nevada I have found the people there still talking of Senator Mr. ASHURST. Mr. President, if the Senator from Cali AsHURST. Senator ASHURST was taken to Arizona when a fornia will yield, the able Senator from Idaho made a state mere child, and his high ability there immediately mani ment which should not pass without more notice, although fested itself. we always notice what he says. He says that if someone can At one time, when I was about 17 or 18 years of age, when devise a better plan than the bill the Senator from California I had been expelled from a preparatory school, my father [Mr. DOWNEY] is urging, the new Townsend bill, let such a sent me out to labor in the world with a surveying crew and bill be brought forward. If someone can devise a better bill, one day I came into the town of Flagstaff, Ariz. And as I let it be done, and we will give it consideration. approached the courthouse I saw a great crowd surrounding Mr. CLARK of Idaho. Mr. President, the difficulty is that the building and there was a great air of excitement. As almost anything that is presented in order to keep this totter I walked up to the steps to see whart the occurrence was I ing economy of ours from completely collapsing involves heard a booming, vibrant voice coming out from the court deficit financing. room. I asked one of the bystanders what was up and he Mr. ASHURST. One further suggestion to the Senator. Let told me there was a famous murder case at trial, and that us assume a Senator whose salary is $10,000 a year; he and all a young district attorney, who was known as the silver other citizens should first be entitled to deduct $3,000 as their tongued orator of Coconino County, was making an address exemption. All citizens should be entitled to that exemption, for the prosecution. Even then I was interested in oratory, $250 a month free from tax, or $3,000 a year. Assuming a so I decided to listen and finally wormed my way up into a Senator's salary is his only income, $10,000 minus $3,000 crowded window and I looked out into the courtroom, where would leave $7,000, and his tax would be $140 a year. I could see the judge upon the bench, the unfortunate de There is not a Senator, not a Member of the House, in my fendant,. and the jury, and there addressing the jury was a judgment, if I understand my fellow Senators and Members great, broad-shouldered, fine-looking young man, I guess of of the House, who would not be delighted to make that con 26 or 27, holding forth with powerful magnetic oratory. The tribution. The precedent set would be wholesome. first thing I heard him say, Mr. President, was this: Mr. CLARK of Idaho. Mr. President, I may add further, Now gentlemen of the jury, as I stated to you when I began this if the Senator will yield, to say that this conception of a gross argument 1 week ago [lau ghter], I had 10 points to develop. I income tax is not new. The State of the distinguished Sena have now covered the first 2, and I am going to proceed to the third one. [Laughter.] tor from Indiana [Mr. MINTON] has a gross-income tax now and has had for some time. I assume it is working out satis I might say, Mr. President, that right there my surveying factorily. Several of the European nations, notably Italy and crew lost an employee, because I stayed to listen to all the France, have gross-income taxes, the proceeds of which are points, and I lost nearly a month's salary. applied to particular purposes; and what purpose could be Mr. MINTON. What happened to the defendant? more worthy than the retirement of the old folks to whom this Mr. DOWNEY. The defendant was convicted. For Sena- . Nation owes so much. So there is nothing· revolutionary in tor AsHURST had even then the great power of oratory which this matter. It is a perfectly fine, tested theory of taxation. has made him so noted here. The only revolutionary thing is that for once we would have When I was an amateur in the Senate several months ago, the proceeds of the tax earmarked and put right back in in my first session, there had been long and laborious argu circulation and paid to those who deserve it most. ments, and some of the columnists had been complaining Mr. ASHURST. Mr. President, when the able Senator because the Senators were taking up so much time, either from California yielded to me I was fishing around in the stating what was obviously so, or worse what was obviously dark recesses of my mind to find a world appropriate to ex not so, and I think our most distinguished orator, the Sena press what I wished to say. I could not think of the word tor from Arizona, who combines a perfect facility of language "earmarked." That is the word I meant to use. with a great philosophy and a great poetical imagination, If the Senator will pardon me further, I hope the time will rose and said there and then that he believed that any Sen come when every appropriation must be earmarked by a tax ator, without exception, should be able to say all that he to accompany it. had in his mind in the brief space of 15 minutes. That took Mr. SHIPSTEAD. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? me back to those Flagstaff days when I had heard him Mr. DOWNEY. I yield. talking as a young lawyer. Mr. SHIPSTEAD. I might add that the State of Minne Mr. ASHURST. Mr. President, I would be lacking in sota for more than 40 years has taxed its railroads on the grace and would be either less than human or more than basis of gross earnings, and many of our State taxes are human if I did not seek this opportunity to thank the genial earmarked for certain purposes. and able Senator from California, whom, as I said, I have Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, I am profoundly grateful known since his boyhood, and whom I am particularly proud for the contributions that have been made to this discussion to call my friend, and with his kind permission, I know he by the Senators from Arizona, Idaho, and Minnesota. I hope will not be offended if I circulate some portions of his speech at some future date to present a discussion of the problem in my State in the forthcoming campaign. [Laughter.] of excess savings as the cause of the break-down of our Mr. DOWNEY. Mr. President, our ever-distinguished col economy, and I hope and trust that the Senator from Idaho league has the happy closing word, and I cannot close upon at that time will enlarge upon the theory which he has any happier note than he has done, so I will now again adverted to here. advert to the last point, which will not occupy more than a I cannot conclude my remarks, Mr. President, without dis few moments. cussing somewhat the experience I had with the Senator Mr. President, one of the contentions made against the from Arizona [Mr. AsHURST] to which he adverted a while Townsend plan, and indeed any general pension law, is that ago, and I must say that it is partly the example of the dis it is not ethically or morally just to grant pensions to people tinguished Senator from Arizona that makes me want to past 60 or 65 years of age as a matter of social right, but talk another week upon this subject, though I feel compelled that those pensions should be based upon what is termed to restrict myself to an additional 15 minutes. need, and some of the most distinguished members of our Like the Senator, I come from the great and boundless executive branch have so expressed themselves; that we can West. In my younger days I spent some time around a only maintain thrift and energy and a better character by lonely mining camp near Winnemucca, which is out on the compelling the people to save, upon penalty that if they do desert of Nevada, where the great boast of the prospectors not save they shall be consigned to the poorhouse, to inse and the people generally is that one of the great statesmen curity, and lack of dignity and protection in their old age. 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4125 First let me say this also, Mr. President. It ill behooves ·Mr. President, a social-dividend plan can be urged upon any member of the executive department, or any Senator or another noble ground. It can be put on the basis of simple any Representative who has voted for the social-security justice. For our older who are now in desperate need, whose plan-the contributory part I am talking about now-to in savings have been wiped out by a gigantic depression for voke that sort of an argument against the Townsend plan, which they were not responsible, are the .very ones who have because by figures that I employed here before, which the built the productive instruments from which our food, shelter, Social Security Board cannot deny, the present contributory and clothing now come. plan is a fake . scheme of contributions, and is in reality a Mr. President, I have often said to my children that they thinly disguised social-dividend plan. will never know what real work is. I refer to the work done The only difference between the social-dividend plan of the by the last generation. The men and women who are now Social Security Act, and the one embodied in the Townsend 60, 70, and 80 years of age were largely active in the latter bill is that under the latter our social dividends would be paid pioneering stage of our Nation. They worked 10, 12, 14- equally from public moneys to all citizens of the United States yes, 18-hours a day; and if there are Senators who were past 60 who had retired from gainful employment, but under boys on farms in New England. the Middle West. or the West, the present un:Pappy social-security plan, with its social divi they will know that I speak the truth. Those are the men dends, annuities are now being distributed, but in the inverse and women who built this great industrial empire under which order of the need of the recipients. Consequently, I cannot the rest of us now live--warm, secure, and cGermany. and file the resolution later this afternoon. If present trends continue, it is predicted, in 1980 those born in Mr. President, just a few words more and I shall have con the United States each year will about balance those who die and cluded. It is my solemn conviction that there is no single the population will become stationary. "But," reports Dr. Burch, "if 20 to 45 is considered the military legislative act this Congress could perform that would bring age, the United States will have more males of fighting age in 1980 the happiness and tranquillity to a great body of American than she had in 1930 and considerably more than she had during citizenry as would the passage of the Townsend bill. the World War. In 1930 there were some 23,600,000 males between I these ages. In 1980 there will be 26,380,000, not including addi have no doubt when the actual bill is under analysis that tions through immigration. The average age of the manpower modifications and some improvements may be made in the will be somewhat greater, but there is no evidence to prove that measure which we have presented, and, of course, we would this will lower the efficiency of the Army. It may ev~n improve it. welcome any improvements the Senate might make in the "While 18 or 20 to 45 may be considered the military age, war affects the whole national economy, and males between the ages of bill. 45 and 65 are needed to take the places of those withdrawn for Mr. President, it seems to me that out of this chaotic era military service. With this in m ind, it is significant that there should at least come two new fundamental human rights. will be nearly 9,000,000 more males between the ages of 45 and 65 Which of those rights is the more important to our civiliza in 1980 than there were in 1930. Therefore, even if machines of war and industry do not have a tendency to replace the common tion and our people I would not attempt to say; but I would soldier and unskilled laborer, the United States will have abundant say, Mr. President, that if out of the insecurity and anguish manpower in time of war." and chaos of 'this era came two new American rights we There is little likelihood of Americans becoming a race of de pendent old people when the stabilized population is reached, Mr. might perhaps solace ourselves for ~11 the misfortunes and Burch's calculations show. ills that have afflicted our people in the past decade. The "While the productive age group will increase for a time and then two rights to which I refer, Senators, are the right of the remain more or less st ationary," he says, "there will be a consider worker to opportunity of employment at a just wage and the able change in the age groups under 20 and over 65 years of age. Speaking in percentages, by 1980 those under 20 may decrease from right of the senior citizens of America to serenity, security, about 35 pe!·cent to about 27 percent of the total population, while and dignity by social dividends paid them as a matter of those over 65 may increase from 7 . to 15 percent. If we receive a right and not as a matter of charity. large number of immigrants in the near future and do not have a ExHmiT 1 war , pestilence, or some ot her disaster that carries away a consid erable n umber now in the productive age group, it is possible that [Compiled from figures presented by Robert Nat han, of the Depart the old-age group of the population may reach 18 percent about ment of Commerce) 2000 A. D. Gross income, 1936 "These shifts should create a number of minor problems of From security transactions ______$125, 000,000,000 adjustment, but none that should weaken the national economy. From all of t angible goods (including real estate) 202,000,000,000 The productive capacity of the Nation, so far as age is concerned, From sale of intangible goods (teleph one services, should be as great per capita as it was in our peak prosperity year insurance, professional services, etc.)------25,000,000, 000 of 1929, and the support of dependent old people should not cost the Government-tax receipts ______10,000,000, 000 Nation any more, or as much, as it would cost to support and Income from wages, Ealaries, and interest ______62,000,000,000 educate an equal number of dependent youngsters. "The ·dependent old people over 65 can hardly hope to cast more Total gross income, 1936 ______449,000,000,000 than. one-fourth of the total vote of the Nation, even if no restric t ions are put upon their voting by the vast majority in the produc tive age, or if the voting age is not lowered to 18 years. If persons EXHIBIT 2 over the age of 35 or 40 are more conservative than those below that BURDEN oN EARNER HELD LowER Now--8TATISTICAL AssociATION HEAD age, the Nation will become more conservative. Whet her this will SAYS RE?RODUCTIVE-AGE GROUP HAS FEWER DEPENDENTs--DROP OF: 20 be good or bad for the country depends on the relative values of PERCENT IN CENTURY-PEARL SAYS GERMANS HAVE REVERSED POPULA experience and enthusiasm. But regardless of the medical sciences, TION ADVANTAGE OF ALLIES SINCE WORLD WAR nature still eliminates old people much faster than young. Practi cally all the saving of life has been in the age groups under 65 years." (By Laurence E. Davies) For a time, he says, there will be a small increase among those in PHILADELPHIA, December 29.-In the face of the increasingly vocal the "prime of life" group between 20 and 30. In 1860, when the demands of the "old folks" for adequate care, and the gains of population of the country was undergoing_ one of its most rapid child-labor legislation putting off the time when the juvenile popu increases, he points out, only about 38 percent of the whole were in lation m ay start fending for its ~ lf . Prof. Raymond Pearl, of Johns this group and more than half were under 20. In 1930 nearly 44 Hopkins University, said here tonight that "the total burden" upon percent were in the 20 to 50 age group and by 1950 this will amount the "reproducer-worker" age group in America had lessened by to about 46 percent. After 1950 the proportion in this age group will about 20 percent during the last century. decrease to about 40 percent, where it will remain practically sta Dr. Pearl assembled his figures, which he admitted might "prove tionary. The indications are that the "prime of life" group, he says, a little surprising," in his address as retiring president of the will remain practically stationary for about 200 years. Thus no American Statistical Association, celebrating its centenary at the great upset in the proportion of employables need be expected. present Philadelphia meeting held in conjunction with sessions of An increase of about 25,000,000 in the total population of the a dozen allied societies in the social-science field. Nation is to be expected before the end of the century, he says Dr. Pearl, both a biologist and statistician, accepted for his pur assuming that immigration remains unchanged and there is no poses t he classification of the life cycle in three phases, the pre monumental disaster. reproductive stage including persons up to 14 years inclusive, the reproductive stage, 15 to 49 years, inclusive; and the post-reproduc tive stage, 50 years and over. ExHmiT 3 CITES RECORDS OF 30 STATES AVERAGE PER CAPITA PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING EARNERS 1 $6.42 His figures showed, he said, that in "the always harassed" Average------~ichigan ______second group, every 1,000 of them in 1840 "had 1,084 other persons, 10.28 younger and older, besides themselves, to take care of, and in the Rhode Island------,..- io.10 main earn the livings for." 1 Based on taxable wages for 1937. 4128 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 AVERAGE PER CAPITA PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING FARMERs--Continued saw 25,000 persons march by. I can never look at a parade Connecticut------$10.04 such as this, with American :flags waving in the breeze, with New York------9.07 ~assachusetts-----~------8.68 · men in uniform, without feeling a thrill. It takes me back Illinois------8.55 through the years to many similar experiences. When I was Ohio------8.53 a mere boy I saw the veterans of the Civil War march by in Pennsylvania------8.09 closed ranks. Most of them have gone into the Great Be New JerseY------7. 83 California______7. 71 yond. It takes me back also to the days of the War with Spain; and, of course, it brings up the stirring martial days of ~~~;~~~-::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~:~::~::~======~:;~ our war with Germany, and parades of veterans since those District of Columbia______7. 20 days. Nevada------7.12 But, Mr. President, what I really rose to say was that while ~~~:n:~~~~~r_e_-_-_-:_-_-:_-_-::_-:_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-:_-::_-~-======~: ~~ this magnificent array of men and equipment, women and ~r:;o~!~~~~~a_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-:~~~~~~======~: ~~ high-school lads in uniform marched by me, and I thrilled to the martial music and to the measured steps of the marchers, ~:~:~~~:~~-======~~~~~~~~======~:~~ there was one discordant note in the whole picture. It was ~~~;~:a_~---_-:_-_-_-_-_-_-_---~----_-_-_-_-_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-_-_~~---~-~----~======~: ~~ this: I have said that the :flag of the Nation went by. There Idaho------5.53 were groups of :flags and then single :flags. Every time a :flag Utah------5.30 . went by, I saluted; but I noticed that some men who stood by Colorado______5.24 me did not salute. There were two young men, who looked to me to be about 20 or 21 years of age, standing near me. I ~is~~~~======Vermont------5.04~: ii said to them, "Were you never taught to salute the :flag of ~innesota______4.99 your country as it went by?" They said, "No." I said, "Well, ~ontana------~------4.88 it is never too late to begin"; but there was no response to my suggestion. They simply stood and with stony faces, ap parently unaffected by the sight, continued to watch the vari ous groups go by. After this experience I looked up and down the crowd on ·both sides of the thoroughfare as far as I could see. I was pleased to notice that as the :flag went by, men here and there doffed their hats-that is, some did-and some saluted; but a number, it appeared to me, did not do so. I was happy to ·notice that every Washington policeman I saw saluted and stood at attention as the :flag went by. I was happy to notice that every man in uniform who was not in the parade, but was on the side lines, stood at attention and saluted. I was happy to see two Congressmen salute, and I saw school children stand at attention and salute; and one particular little incident came to my attention when I saw a little lad 3 Compiled from: (1) Old age insurance table 61, Social S3curity years old, who was standing -with his father, salute as the Board; (2) Social Security Board Annual Report 1939, charts 4 flag went by. and 5. I know that it is not a major ·offense to fa~l to salute the EXHIBIT 4 :flag of one's country. Perhaps, in many instances, it was a [Inscription on Social Security Board placard] clear case of unintentional neglect. Perhaps, in other in stances, it was due to ignorance of what was proper. But, ~ONTHL Y BENEFITS BEGIN IN 1940 Mr. President, saluting the :flag is but a symbol of a frame of Starting in 1940, monthly checks go to workers and their families mind. By the very act of saluting one pledges himself to who qualify under Federal old-age and survivors' insur~nce. For information, write or call at your nearest SoCial Security maintain inviolate the American freedoms, the great values Board field office. . which were handed down to all of us by those who have gone Federal Security Agency-Social Security Board. before, which we have done nothing to bring into existence, Mr. DOWNEY subsequently submitted a resolution (S. Res. but which, if we are true Amer!cans, we will do whatever is 254), which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows: necessary to preserve intact so that we can hand them down · Resolved, That the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or any unimpaired to the generations that are to come after us. duly authorized subcommittee thereof, is requested to investigate Mr. President, I do not want America to become a great and report to the Senate, at its earliest convenience, with respect military nation;. I do not want America to be dominated by to (1) the provisions of the Social Security Act, as amended, relat~ a military class; but I do want my children so to love this ing to old-age assistance and Federal old-age and survivors' insur~ ance benefits, with a view to determining the effect of such pro~ country that they will be ready to ward off all enemies, foreign visions and the manner in which they are being administered; and domestic. and (2) the provisions of .the bill (S. 3255) known as the General Mr. President, when I saluted the :flag last Saturday, as did Welfare Act, with a view to determining the effect of the provisions of such bill. others, I also saluted the man who carried it and the men who were undergoing training and becoming the first line of de THE AMERICAN FLAG AND AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP fense if the occasion should ever arise to protect my America. Mr. WILEY. Mr. President, I listened with a great deal of I saluted also the veterans of former days, the living and the pleasure to the distinguished junior Senator from California dead who gave, as Lincoln said, "their last full measure of [Mr. DowNEY]. I am particularly happy to compliment him devotion" to preserve this Nation. I noticed that the Legion upon the expose of the Social Security Act and its ineffective naires in the parade were not so young as they used to be. ness. I am also happy to know where he got his ability. I Their sons and daughters were marching in uniform with knew the distinguished Senator 35 years ago in the University them. of Michigan. I have found out nqw, after 35 years, where he Mr. President, I shall continue as I was taught to do away got his start. It was looking through a courthouse window in back in my school days, always to stand at attention and Arizona, and listening to the silver-tongued orator whom we salute when the flag goes by. I still get a thrill out of the act. have all learned to love as Senator AsHuRsT. It is my hope that when I see the next parade-perhaps on Mr. President, last Saturday it was my privilege, with many Memorial Day-I shali see more people stand at attention and other Senators, to witness a great parade. It was Army Day. give the salute; for, to me, the salute is a symbol of something I stood in the shadow of the Capitol of the United States and else, and that is that the man or woman who gives it is con- 1940 CONGRESSIONAL. RECORD-SENATE 4129 scious of being an American, conscious that citizenship in this In these times, when many of our people are thinking Nation invokes duties and obligations as well as freedoms and about Europe, I myself find guidance and direction in the privileges. fervent voice of this great Confederate who long ago, un In practically all of the schools throughout the land the doubtedly. has gone to his reward. It was this country that following pledge is taught: was uppermost in his mind; and today the address of the I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, distinguished junior Senator from California [Mr. DoWNEY] And to the Republic for which it stands, indicated that it was his country and the aged of this coun One Nation indivisible. try that were uppermost in his mind. With liberty and justice for all. Some of us are called isolationists because we know there I love to see children, Boy Scouts, and grown-ups, when are many who, we believe mistakenly, are thinking in terms the occasion calls for it, stand at attention and take this of involving this country in European quarrels; and I heard pledge. such a speech just the other night. You will notice, Mr. President, that the pledge reads: "1 Some of us are called isolationists because we take the pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Amer position that as public officials we feel that America's busi ica"-not a foreign flag, not foreign "isms" or ideologies, ness is to stay in the Western Hemisphere, solve her domestic but .the flag of the United States, which is a symbol of all problems, do that which is necessary to provide jobs for the that is best in America. unemployed, and do what was suggested here today, make In the pledge there is also contained the statement, "I some provision for the aged, those who need help, to create pledge allegiance to the Republic for which this flag stands." so far as possible a self-sufficiency, so that we can, indeed, That is it. It is the Republic. It is not a Fascist or a Com when the fighting is over in Europe, reach out a helping hand munist or a Socialistic state. It is not a democracy. It is a to help them over there. We feel that to become involved in republic, with its checks and balances. It is a republic, with the European controversy would not only dissipate our useful an executive limited in function, a judiciary limited in func ness to help those "poor devils" when they need help, but by tion, and a legislature limited in function; a republic, where that very act of intervention or participation we would be the residue of power is lodged in the people. It is "One throwing away the great" .American freedoms which we as Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." trustees have no right to dissipate or be profligate with. Mr. President, I remember that a child of mine, when a youngster, came home one· day, with her eyes shining, and Mr. President, there is on the Senate calendar House Joint said to her mother: "I know what the flag is. It's not just Resolution 437, providing for a citizenship day, the idea being made up of colors-red, white, and blue; but, Mother, our that there is a need to set aside a day dedicated to the new teacher says you're in that flag, and dad's in that flag, and citizens of this country--our sons and daughters who have I'm in that flag." That teacher had "gotten across" to the become of age, and the naturalized citizens who have joined child something very important, something that it would be our ranks. My own State, Wisconsin, was a pioneer in this well for all who claim to be Americans fully to understand. work. Mr. President, I ask to have inserted in the RECORD The American Legion today is doing a great work in making an article prepared by Hugh S. Bonar, superintendent of our citizens America-conscious. schools of Manitowoc, Wis., entitled "New voter preparation Mr. President, may I be privileged to relate another inci and recognition." dent which comes to my mind? I speak of this matter now There being no objection, the article was ordered to be because the distinguished junior Senator from the great State printed in the RECORD, as follows: of Kentucky [Mr. CHANDLER] will shortly call up a bill for THE STREAM OF NEW LIFE the establishment of Citizenship Day. The bill recently Some two and a half million young men and women in the United passed our committee unanimously, and we think the estab States each year reach the age of 21 and come into their heritage of sovereign citizenship to exercise authority that was once the lishment of such a day would be a wonderful thing. So I privilege only of kings. Along with thousabds of naturalized citi want to relate this incident-and I shall not be long-which zens they become new voters. To them we must look to safeguard has stuck in my memory through the years. the foundation principle of our democracy-universal suffrage with the secret ballot. Should they not be prepared with great care for About 30 years ago, at Fond du Lac, Wis., the G. A. R. this high office and recognized with impressive ceremonies which was holding its encampment. It was my privilege to attend they will remember all their lives? How can America make the the meeting, and I remember that there was present a vet most of the possibilities of this great body of new voters? Citizen eran of the "boys in gray." I can recall nothing about the ship Day as it began in Manitowoc County, Wis., in 1939, has be come the starting point for a Nation-wide movement which makes convention except the incident in which this American took a strong appeal to everyone interested in the future of America. part. He had been a colonel or a major in the Confederate Army, and he was called to the stage to address the veterans Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, the distinguished junior in blue. As he came up to the stage, he tripped over a Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. WILEY] has just brought to the part of a large American flag standing at the corner. Then attention of the Senate a joint resolution which has already occurred the incident. He reached up and caught the stand been ordered reported from the Committee on the Judiciary ard and the· flag. With gray locks down upon his shoulders and which seeks to have a day set aside and observed as and deep-set eyes in a chiseled face, his eyes lighted with the new voters day in America, and a day upon which natural light of a great faith and he cried out to the audience, who ized citizens shall become citizens of the United States. In seemed to become electrified, because there was a man who asmuch as we have so many days to observe in the United was speaking something elemental. Taking the fl.ag in his States, so many of which are passed over almost unobserved, arms, he said, "Old glory, thank God, you are my flag again. the committee suggested the 14th day of June, because that You were the :flag of my forefathers who fought in the Revo is Flag Day. lution, who fought in Mexico, and I fought against you, but Inasmuch as the junior Senator from Wisconsin has so you're my flag again." As he said this, with tears streaming appropriately brought to the attention of the Senate the down his cheeks, he cried with a voice carrying conviction obligation we owe to this special class of citizens, I wish and appeal such as I have seldom heard, "You're my flag to tell the Senator from Arizona [Mr. ASHURST], the distin again, and I pledge to you all that I have. I pledge to you guished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, a story my sons and daughters of generations yet unborn for the which no doubt he will recall. preservation of a united nation, and her ideals of freedom, I first came as a visitor to the Sen.ate of the United States equality, and justice!" in 1928. At that time one of the Senators from Alabama I said something electric went through that audience, of was Mr. Heflin, and a debate was proceeding on the :floor which I was a part. Some superficial thinkers would call it of the Senate with respect to the courtesy to which the flag mere dramatics, but no one there called it that. It was the was entitled from the people of America. I recall some voice of a reunited America. It was the voice of a patriot, one thing he said which appealed to me, and I will have to quote who knew the need of standing by the flag. it from memory, although it has been 12 years since I heard 4130 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 that beautiful speech on the floor of the Senate. Among and girls of New York City who had become 21 years of age other remarks Senator Heflin made upon that occasion he that year met in the park that afternoon in a patriotic cele recited this beautiful piece of poetry: bration, and ended the cerebration with the statement, "I am Here's to the blue of the wind-swept North an American." So it is not a gesture. It is already on the When we meet on the fields of France, way. May the spirit of Grant be with you all, AIR BASE AT ANCHORAGE, ALASKA As the sons of the North advance. Here's to the gray of the sun-kiEsed South Mr. SCHWELLENBACH. Mr. President, within the next When we meet on the fields of France, few weeks there will be presented to the Senate a question May the spirit of Lee be with you all, which I consider of extreme importance. An issue raised in As the sons of the South advance. an editorial in this morning's Washington Post involves the And here's to the blue and gray as one question of an appropriation for -the construction of an air When we meet on the fields of France, May the spirit of God be with you all, base at Anchorage, Alaska, which was, I think through mis As the sons of the flag advance. apprehension, eliminated from the appropriation bill at the Mr. ASHURST. Mr. President, before the junior Senator other end of the Capitol. from Kentucky [Mr. CHANDLER] yields the floor I wish to con In these days we hear many people saying that the United gratulate him upon his memory of the event to which he has States is protected by two oceans. one on the east side 3,000 referred. It is remarkable to have a memory which registers miles in width, the other on the west 5,000 miles in width. so truly as does the memory of the able junior Senator from It seems to me important that there be a realization that a Kentucky. portion of the territory of the United States comes in almost I suppose, of course, that the chairman of every committee direct contact with one of the other nations of the world. I thinks his particular committee is important, and while I refer to the Territory of Alaska. realize that there are other important committees in the I wish to read from this editorial, which I will insert in its Senate, I somehow feel a deep affection for the various mem entirety at the conclusion of my remarks. I read: bers of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, of which During recent months reports have reached Washington of inten sified Russian military activity in northeastern Asia. At least three committee I am the chairman. They can bear testimony as fortified areas are under construction at Kamchatka. Gun and to the dil!gence with which we labor, having so many refined plane installations are reported to have been completed on Sakhalin distinctions to c:msider in connection with two or three hun Island and the north-central shore of. the Sea of Okhotsk. A naval air station has been created on the Komandorski Islands, which are dred different bills. I seize this opportunity to thank the only 260 miles northwest of Attu Island in the Aleutians. junior Senator from Kentucky and the junior Senator from To be sure, Russian activity in this al'ea can be explained wholly Wisconsin [Mr. WILEY] for the diligence and the zeal with in terms of its rivalry with Japan and the possibility at some time which they applied themselves to House Joint ResolUtion 437, or other of a Russo-Japanese conflict. But, whatever its present purpose, the fortificat!on of regions in Siberia not far removed -from authorizing the President of the United States of America to AlaEka cannot be safely ignored by the United States. Nor can we proclaim citizenship day for the recognition, observance, and close our eyes to the fact that, with Alaska relatively unprotected, commemoration of American citizenship. an enemy might outflank the great defensive system at Pearl Har The subcommittee held hearings and teak the testimony of bor, Hawaii, by an attack on Alaska. a number of patriotic citizens. It then reported to the main The War Department has asked for an appropriation of committee, and the main committee have reported the joint $12,700,000 for the creation of an air base at Anchorage. resolution with some amendments. I hope the able Senator I wish it were possible for every Member of the Senate fully from Kentucky at the earliest opportunity will seek recogni to appreciate the way the Aleutian Islands extend over into tion for the consideration and passage of the House joint the Pacific Ocean to a point where they are almost within resolution through the Senate. It is a most worthy measure. sight of the Russian Islands, which, as described in the morn It will result in no expense to the Government. It lays an ing Washington Post, are being fortified. emphasis, a just and ·a timely emphasis, upon the fact that I wish we could also appreciate the fact that Japan is a American citizem:hip is a high privilege, that no greater op distance of only 2 hours away by airplane at the present rate portunity and no greater honor can come to a person in this of traveling by large bombing planes from the Aleutian world today than to be an American citizen. Islands, which are a part of the United States. I am particularly indebted to the able senior Senator from The proposed base is to be at Anchorage. Last year an California [Mr. JoHNSON] for the zeal and the ability with appropriation was made for a base at Fairbanks, which is which he applied himself to this joint resolution, and for the merely a part of the completed work. Anchorage is comple help he gave to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in its mentary to the Fairbanks base. In view of the location of the consideration of this important resolution. various islands and the various points in the North Pacific Some may say this joint resolution is merely a gesture. which are being fortified by Russia, I cannot see how there Very well, Mr. President. Although I cannot speak French, I can be any other explanation than that they have the thought will say that it is a beau geste, it is a beautiful gesture, a in mind that at some time in the future the Alaskan Territory timely one, and I hope the Senator will secure recognition may be available to them alone or available to joint action by to have his joint resolution passed at an early date. Russia and Japan. Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, I may say to the dis Mr. President, I think it is a most serious mistake ·for the tinguished Senator, the chairman of .the Committee on the Appropriations Committees of Congress to neglect this im Judiciary, that we will seek recognition and an opportunity portant expenditure. We have been spending billions of dol at the earliest possible moment to advance this very impor lars for the purpose of creating defensive weapons; we have tant piece of legislation. I am sincerely hopeful that th~ dis been spending billions of dollars for the construction of war tinguished senior Senator from California will offer a sug ships. Here we have a place where we are almost in direct gested amendment which has been provided. There is a contact with another nation that is at the present moment poem entitled "I am an American," and I think it would be engaged in intense activity in constructing bases for defense, an exceedingly fine thing for the people of America if all the as it says, but wru.ch might easily be used for offense. young men and young women who attain voting age, and I wish to serve notice now that when the appropriation bill approximately 180,000 who voluntarily become citizens of the for military work is presented to the Senate I shall ask for the United States of America, would join on the 14th day of reinstatement of the item of $12,700,000 for the construction June each year, in a broadcast, which could be heard around of the air base at Anchorage. the world, and would say, "I am an American, and from this Mr. HILL. Mr. President, I wish to say in reference to time henceforth, God being my helper, I will protect and what the Senator from Washington has said that I was a defend the Constitution of the United States." member of the Committee on Military Affairs of the House at Mr. HOLT. Mr. President, I am glad to tell the Senator the time the committee held hearings, and reported the so from Kentucky that in the city of New .York last summer called Wilcox bill. That bill provided for the establishment such a meeting was held in Central Park, and over 25,000 boys of various air bases. One of the bases which the bill author- 1940 CONGRESSIONAL :RECORD-SENATE 4131 ized was the air base of which the Senator from Washington ATTITUDE OF AMERICA TOWARD EUROPEAN WAR has been speaking, the base at Anchorage. We sat for a good Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, frankly I could not have many weeks taking testimony of all kinds, hearing from many fallen upon a more opportune hour, one more suitable for the different experts, not only experts from the War Department observations I am about to make, than this. The distin and the Navy Department, but experts outside these depart guished junior Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. WILEY], the ments, and we were fully convinced that this was a very im junior Senator from Kentucky [Mr. CHANDLER], and the portant base, one that ought to be developed without delay. senior Senator from Arizona [Mr. AsHURST], and other Sena As the Senator from Washington has so well shown here this tors have this afternoon made remarks on the floor of the afternoon, the situation today is even more compelling from Senate which to my ears are thoroughly inspirational and are the standpoint of the development of this base than it was directed toward keeping America out of the unfortunate af when we had the hearings several years ago, because of the fairs of EUrope, affairs which are merely a continuation of fact that Russia now has seen fit to proceed with the develop those that have taken place there for the past 300 years, in ment of fortifications and air bases so close to the Aleutian sequence, I might add. Islands. We must remember that so far as our air defense is Furthermore, I do not believe I could have found a happier concerned, the farther out we can put these bases, the better time to make mention of that which was in my mind in regard off we are. If we have to :fight an enemy we do not want to to adequate national defense, insofar· as our northwestern fight him over continental United States. We want to fight territory is concerned. By that I mean the frontier of the the enemy just as far away from the continental United United States of America which may be described by making States as possible. Therefore it _is important that a base employment of but one word, "Alaska." such as the proposed Anchorage base be established, far off in The junior Senator from the State of Washington [Mr. Alaska. ScHWELLENBACH] has expressed precisely my attitude in ref Mr. JOHNSON of California. Mr. President, I simply wish erence to appropriations for construction of bases in that to say to the Senator from Washington that I am in hearty particular portion of our territory, and I may say that his accord with him in his proposal, and when he brings up the attitude has been backed by the distinguished junior Senator bill, if he shall bring it up soon, I shall do whatever I can from Alabama [Mr. HILL], with whom I have the honor to in its behalf. serve on the Military Affairs Committee of the Senate of the Mr. SCHWELLENBACH. I appreciate what the Senator United States, and likewise by the able senior Senator from from California has said. The Senator realizes that the the great State of California [Mr. JoHNSON]. item will come in on the appropriation bill. I am hopeful Mr. President, I am strongly in favor of establishing an air that the Appropriations Committee of the Sen,ate will insert base at Anchorage. Everyone who is familiar with the situ this item. There is a Budget estimate for it. ation pertaining to the Arctic will, in my opinion, unhesitat Mr. JOHNSON of California. If it is not included in the ingly and unquestionably agree that it would be an appropriation bill we will try to insert it ourselves. appropriation well made and money well spent to make Mr. SCHWELLENBACH. We will try. I thank the Sena expenditure of the $12,700,000 which has been suggested for tor from California. Anchorage, or, as some know that point to be, Dutch Harbor. Mr. President, as a part of my remarks I ask to have printed Lying across the broad waters of the Pacific is Japan, with in the RECORD at this point the editorial in this morning's its 97,000,000 people located on its some hundreds of islands, Washington Post to which I referred. in Manchukuo, in parts and portions of Mongolia, and in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so coastal regions of China, wherein Japan's latest conquests ordered. have been accomplished, as well as in Formosa. In view of The editorial is as follows: the fact that the Japanese have evidenced that they are [From the Washington Post of Monday, April 8, 1940] · aggressors, we know that if ever trouble comes to us from the THE ANCHORAGE BASE west it will come from Japan, and if not from Japan, trouble In eliminating an Army Budget item of $12,734,000 for the con can come only from Soviet . Russia, with its 180,000,000 struction of an air base at Anchorage, Alaska, the House last week allowed laudable zeal for economy to ride roughshod over Communists. a vital necessity. We also know that Russian territory, as a matter of fact, Alaska is far away, but the American people are now beginning is only one-half mile from the territory of the United States to realize that this Territory may some day be called upon to of America. When we made purchase of Alaska many years play an important role in defense of the American Hemisphere. For while most of the New World is thousands of miles removed ago for the price of $7,200,000, we made then the best pur fro~ the islands and the mainland of Asia, at Alaska only a narrow chase and the best trade that we ever made outside the great gap of water divides the two continents and that gap can easily Louisiana Purchase. We purchased a vast territory, accord and quickly be bridged by airplane. In his testimony before the House Appr.opriations Subcommittee, ing to my recollection, of more than 700,000 square miles, the Chief of Staff, Gen. George C . .Marshall, advocated establish which today is populated by about 60,000 people. ment of an operating air base in Alaska as a "project of major In the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Government importance." He did not suggest, as the House apparently took at that time, when we paid $7,200,000-a mere drop in the for granted, that the landing field being completed at Fairbanks would suffi.ce. On the contrary, since that project was undertaken bucket when we take into consideration the vastness of that the world situation, particularly developments in Asia, have shown potentially rich territory-we not only acquired the mainland the inadequacy of the improvements at Fairbanks. The proposed of Alaska, which reaches northward from the northern line air base at Anchorage is a minimum necessity for defense of Alaska. of British Columbia to Point Barrow, the northernmost point During recent months reports have reached Washington of in the Western Hemisphere, and stretches from east to west intensified Russian military activity in northeastern Asia. At in the Bering Sea, where we obtained a number of important least three fortified areas are under construction at Kamchatka. islands from which we now derive annually several hundred Gun and plane installations are reported to have been completed on Sakhalin Island and the north-central shore of the Sea of thousand dollars as the result of our fur trade, but in addi Okhotsk. A naval air station has been created on the Komandorski tion we obtained the Aleutian Islands. Islands, which are only 260 miles northwest of Attu Island in the The Aleutian Islands, as my colleagues will very readily Aleutians. To be sure, Russian activity in this area can be explained wholly recall, extend from Unalaska, mentioned a moment ago by in terms of its rivalry with Japan and the possib111ty at some time our distinguished colleague the junior Senator from Wash or other of a Russo-Japanese confiict. But, whatever its present ington [Mr. SCHWELLENBACH], or from Dutch Harbor, to the purpose, the fortification of regions in Siberia not far removed from westernmost island of Attu. They are a string of islands Alaska cannot be safely ignored by the United States. Nor can we close our eyes to the fact that, with Alaska relatively unpro extending in the direction of Japan. As a matter of fact, tected, an enemy might outfiank the great defensive system at the island of Attu is only about 2 hours by airplane from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by an attack on Alaska. Japanese territory. I therefore say that in the interest of Under the circumstances, the elimination of the Anchorage base item from the Army appropriations bill was unfortunate. It is adequate actual national defense we should spend $12,700,000 to be hoped that the relatively small sum needed to begin that properly to fortify our possessions by way of establishing an project will be restored by the Senate. aviation base at Dutch Harbor or Unalaska, which are in the 4132 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 immediate proximity of each other; and after the establish Mr. President, rather than take up the time· of the Senate, ment of such a base there we should unquestionably develop this morning in my office I dictated a description of Wrangell Coast Guard bases upon virtually every . one of the 10 or 12 Island and something about its history and the facts concern islands of considerable size between Unalaska and the island ing certain expeditions in the immediate proximity thereof. of Attu. Next year we should make a suitable appropriation I ask that the statement which I prepared about Wrangell for the establishment of an air base on the island of Attu. Island be published in the Appendix of the RECORD. Our island of Attu is in the immediate proximity of Japan. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so Many Americans are afraid that in a few years we shall be ordered. involved in war with the Japanese. However, I entertain a Mr. REYNOLDS. Wrangell Island is about the size and contrary idea, because I believe that after the Japanese shall area of Jamaica, which is just south of Cuba. I think we ought have finished their present undertaking they will not be look to have Jamaica for the protection of the Western Hemisphere ing for any fUrther trouble, if they ever look for trouble in under the Monroe Doctrine, and particularly for the protec our section of the Western Hemisphere. tion of the Panama Canal. Certainly we ought to have it if Mr. VANDENBERG. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? we are to spend an additional $300,000,000 to establish a second Mr. REYNOLDS. I am happy to yield to the distinguished set of locks in the Panama Canal, about which I heard some Senator from Michigan.· conversation this morning in the Appropriations Committee. Mr. VANDENBERG. I merely wish to observe that if we Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have inserted in get into a war with Japan it will be solely because of the the Appendix of the RECORD an article which appeared in the bankruptcy of statesmanship at one end of the line or the Washington Post of February 26, 1939, in respect to some argu other. ments upon the floor of the Senate last year, when Wrangell Mr. REYNOLDS. I thank the Senator for that observation. Island was mentioned. So much for our fear of Japan and suggestions as to fortifi The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the article cations in the immediate proximity of Japanese territory. will be printed in the RECORD. Let us now take into consideration what has been said Mr. REYNOLDS. Preceding my statement in regard to by the Senator from Washington [Mr. ScHWELLENBACI:I]. Wrangell Island and the article from the Washington Post, I In addition to the Aleutian Islands, together with the main should like to have printed in the RECORD the resolution which land of Alaska, in the Russian purchase we acquired Little I now submit, and which reads as follows: Diomede Island. · There are the Little Diomede and the Big Resolved, That the Secretary of State is requested to make a report to the Senate at the earliest practicable date with respect to whether Diomede Islands. The Diomedes are to be found in the or not the United States has a valid claim to sovereignty over Wran Arctic Ocean between Nome, Alaska, and Ouellen, Siberia, gell Island. which is a bit to the north at an angle. The Russians own the Big Diomede, which is near the mainland of Siberia, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution submitted by the Senator from North Carolina (S. Res. 253) will be referred and we own the Little Diomede, which is only a few hours' to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and will also be ride by boat from Nome, Alaska. The Little Diomede, which printed in the Appendix, as requested. belongs to the United States, is only about one-half mile from the Big Diomede, which is owned by Soviet Russia. Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, as I stated a moment ago, I am of the opinion that we can establish legal ownership of Therefore, the territory of the United States is separated Wrangell Island, which will be tremendously valuable within from the territory of Russia by only half a mile of water. a few years if a controversy should arise and this matter were On the north of the Diomedes we find Wrangell Island. turned over to some international body, committee, or court. Wrangell Island is about 60, 75, or 80 miles in length. There In that event it might be shown that the property is now that is a fine harbor there. It can be very well used for an of the Russians by way of occupancy. We might suggest to the airplane base. In view of the fact that it is in immediate Russians that they let us have the island in liquidation of their proximity to Russian territory, and particularly Siberia, indebtedness to the United States of America. that portion of the Soviet Union where so many Russians My recollection is that prior to the time the Russians took are being sent from the East-that is to say, Odessa, Mos over half of Poland, just a few months ago, the Russian Gov cow, Stalingrad, and Leningrad-for the purpose of gold ernment owed us more than $300,000,000. mining and agriculture, I am of the opinion that we should Mr. ASHURST. Nearly $400,000,000. now ascertain for ourselves the status of the ownership Mr. REYNOLDS. Nearly $400,000,000. I am very grate of Wrangell Island. ful to my distinguished friend, the Senator from Arizona. In Historians claim that the first flag of any nation ever addition to that, since the Russians took two-thirds, or cer to be placed upon Wrangell Island was placed there around tainly more than one-half, of Poland a few months ago they, 1862 by Captain De Long, or some of his associates on the I think, should b.e called upon to assume the Polish debt; and Jeannette Expedition. From time to time we have in a sense the Poles at that time owed us about $300,000,000 or some claimed posse:Esion of the island, but I understand that the such sum. In view of the fact that the Russians took over island is now in the possession of some Siberian Eskimos a large portion of Poland, lock, stock, and barrel, they must, and about a dozen Soviet soldiers, who are claiming posses of necessity, assume at least half of the Polish indebtedness sion and saying that we are not now entitled to possession, to the United States at the time they took it over. Therefore, in view of the fact that they have been pleased to apply the Russians owe us $150,000,000 on that account, which the statute of limitations. would make a total ·of $450,000,000, and the Germans owe us If one sh6uld fly an airplane from New York to Manila, $150,000,000. I hope we will be able to collect from both of one would of necessity pass directly over Wrangell Island. them. Twenty-five years from now, Wrangell Island will be one of Mr. President, the remarks of distinguished Senators a the most important bases in all the world for us and for the moment ago on the flag of our great country and the vivid Russians for the reason that it is located only a short dis description given by the Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. WILEY] tance from our Alaskan Territory and, on the other hand, of the thousands of uniformed men parading under arms so only a short distance from Siberian territory, and particu majestically on last Saturday, April 6, within the shadow of larly that part of Siberian territory which Stalin's commerce this great Capitol Dome, reminded me that 23 years ago last department is now endeavoring to populate by sending great Saturday the United States Congress declared war upon Ger numbers from the east to that section of that vast empire, many. I recall reading in the columns of the local press the which covers one-sixth of the entire surface of the earth. very vivid description of that parade of last Saturday, which, Some day we may become involved with Russia. One never unfortunately, I was not able to see. At the end of one of the knows. We do not know what will happen in the future, and newspaper stories there was a paragraph of about four lines I think it would be well now to call upon our State Department that struck me with more force than anything I have read to ascertain the legal status of Wrangell Island. I am of the in the newspapers, interesting itself, in geniune Americanism. opinion that we can establish legal ownership thereof. There were three or four lines which fell from the lips of one 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4133 . of the greatest patriots, one of the greatest statesmen this when the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. LUNDEEN] went back country has ever known or will ever know so long as we re to Minnesota and proceeded to his law office and sat down, main a republic. I wish the statement of that great states it was not long until a mob came, dragged him out of his man, of that great beloved man, could reach the ears of every office, placed a rope around his neck, yelled, "Hang him"; single mother of America who will be called upon to give brought his furniture out on to the street, saturated it with her son's life in case we should become involved in the Euro oil, lighted ·and destroyed it, and ran him out of town; and pean war, because if those few words could be brought to the he was lucky to escape with his life. But the years passed. attention of the mothers of our land there would never be and the American people realized that they had been tricked, participation by America in Europe's squabbles, according to and that our participation in the war had not ended all war the desires of Mr. William Frederic Wile, columnist of the for all time, spared Christianity, or saved democracy, and Evening Star. they recognized the fact that they had done to the Senator What were the words of that patriot who does me the high from Minnesota, Mr. LUNDEEN, a great injustice. honor to listen at this. hour, and who provides me with inspi Mr. BARKLEY. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? ration at this moment when I speak of my country, the Hon Mr. REYNOlDS. Certainly. orable GEORGE W. NoRRIS, the senior Senator from the great Mr. BARKLEY. I do not think the Senator's expression · State of Nebraska, when according to my recollection, he that the American people had been "tricked" into war ought said in remarking about that parade that there should be to be allowed to go unchallenged. There are many Mem mourning crepe on the highways. Doubtless a number of bers of the present Congress who were here at that time, other Senators read the statement of the distinguished pa and I happen to be one of them. I was a Member of the triot from Nebraska. House of Representatives at the time. I voted on the 6th of I am regretful to state that there are people in this country April, 1917, for the joint resolution which acknowledged a today who believe it to be the duty of the United States of state of war which was already in existence because of the America to spill the red, ripe, racing blood of our sons upon ravages of the German Government upon American lives foreign fields at this hour; but there is one man in the Senate and property. toward whom I am looking now and from whom I am deriv Many nien had honest differences as to the wisdom of ing my inspiration, the only living Member of the Senate who that course. I share the Senator's encomiums upon the voted on April 6, 1917, not to send the sons of American Senator from Nebraska [Mr. NoRRIS] and other Senators mothers to Europe to stop all wars for all time, to rescue and Members of the House who had the courage to vote Christianity and save democracy, and that one man in against the declaration of war; but the declaration of war America today above all, thank God, GEORGE W. NoRRIS, has occurred 2 years after President Wilson had done every lived to see the fallacy of our participating in the quarrels thing within the range of human possibility to persuade the of Europe then, which, prior thereto, had continued for more German Government not to violate the rights of the Amer than 300 years. Thank God for that patriot! ican people, and it is not quite fair to say that we were I want to say, in perfect frankness, that, for the life of me, tricked into a declaration of war. We entered the war in I cannot yet understand and do not know what they are defense of a policy which for 100 years and more, ever since fighting for over yonder in Europe. Certainly England and the War of 1812, the American people ·had not only declared France have not declared war on Germany because Germany and advocated, but had been willing to fight for. aggressed upon and conquered Czechoslovakia and old Aus Whether that may now be considered a mistake is a tria, and parts of Poland, because, if that had been the reason matter for anybody to satisfy his own conscience about. It for France and England to declare war, France and England is sufficient . to say that when the present war came on we would have declared war upon Russia, because Russia took were not willing even to take the chance of sustaining and the lives of thousands upon thousands of people of Finland defending the rights of the American people, the violation when Russian soldiers bombed the women and children of of which had caused us to enter the war in 1917. It is my the populations of the section where war was raging. belief that by the enactment of the Neutrality Act which Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? is now the law, keeping our people out of the war zones, Mr. REYNOlDS. Certainly. keeping our flag from the belligerent territories, keeping our Mr. CHANDLER. While I would not take from the dis ships away, and preventing our people and our comnierce tinguished Senator from Nebraska one iota of credit for the from entering regions which for 100 years they have always many achievements which he has performed for the benefit been supposed to have the right to enter, we have made at of the people of the country, I should like to ask the Sena this time a proper and yet the greatest sacrifice that any tor from Nebraska or the Senator from North Carolina, if, nation ever made to avoid war. perhaps, the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. LUNDEEN], who now serves in the Senate, did not also cast a vote against I am thoroughly in sympathy with that policy. I think America's participation in the war in 1917? the European war which we entered cost us infinitely more Mr. REYNOWS. I am very happy to answer that ques than we could ever get out of it by any stretch of the tion. I said a moment ago that our distinguished and be imagination, and that while we are making sacrifices to keep loved friend, the Senator from Nebraska, was the only living out of this war, those sacrifices will not be as great and are Member of this body who voted against war; but another not as great as those we would make if we should get into it; distinguished colleague of ours, the junior Senator from and I am in sympathy with everything anybody says or Minnesota, the Honorable ERNEST LUNDEEN-and I am very does to keep us out of this war. · grateful to my delightful friends for mentioning the inci Surely, however, the Senator from North Carolina did dent-at that time, April 6, 1917, was a Member of the House riot mean that those of us who felt that under our oaths of of Representatives, and he, too, voted against our participa office, under the leadership of the great President of the tion in the war. Since the junior Senator from Kentucky United States, Woodrow Wils:on, we should vote for a decla.. has mentioned that, it might be interesting for him to learn ration of war, had tricked the American people into the that at that time this country was burned up with propa war; and I do not think it is quite accurate to say, also) ganda of all sorts in the effort to get us into the war, and a that the American people got into the war because of man then, of course, of necessity, had to be possessed of a propaganda. great deal of courage and daring to resist that propaganda, Of course there was propaganda. There is no very ac for propaganda is more deadly than. all the swords in the curate definition of propaganda. What anybody writes world; as the Senator knows "the pen is mightier than the about anything may be described as propaganda; but the sword." thing which dragged us into the war and made the American I am told upon good authority that propaganda was so people finally willing to go into it was the outrages com strong in this country, and feeling so ablaze and aflame, that mitted against our peo}lle, the murder of American citizens 4134 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 against all the protests of the President of the United States, declared 3-mile limit from American shores. In other words, the Secretary of State, and Congress, and everybody else. Mr. Wile says that we should all become intervention I do not think my good friend the Senator from North ists, that we should all become internationalists, that we Carolina meant by what he said to the effect that we were should go over there now, that we should send American tricked into the war. to intimate that Congress, or the sons to man the guns which we have already sent and are President, or the people themselves who felt that that was now sending. Mr. Frederic William Wile said we are living the only course we could pursue, had tricked anybody into in a fool's paradise while we continue to assume the position a declaration of war. we now are assuming. Mr. REYNOLDS. I thank the Senator very much. I am Mr. President, before Mr. Frederic William Wile wrote really, genuinely very happy that our leader, the Senator that he should have consulted the poll which, I am informed, from Kentucky, took occasion to make those observations was taken by the Ladies' Home Journal of the mothers of now, for fear ~omeone might have misconstrued my remarks. America, the result of which was that more than 90 percent Of course, it would be far from me, as the Senator knows, of the mothers of American bo-ys voted to stay out of this to cast the slightest reflection upon any man· in this body. war. The mothers are going to control the Nation. Despite · It was simply a question of opinion. I believe that every what Mr. Frederic William Wile say, I cannot help but Member of this body always votes his conscientious con believe that the mothers are right and that , Mr. Wile is victions. Some of us divided on the question of neutrality. wrong. Some of us were for lifting the embargo; some of us were Mr. CLARK of Missouri. Mr. President- against it; but we all know that we were entirely consci The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BROWN in the chair). entious, and were voting our conscientious con-victions. So, Does the Senator from North Carolina yield to the Senator if anything I said would lead anybody to believe to the from Missouri? · slightest degree that I had in the slightest way cast a·n Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. asper.sion or insinuation upon any Member of this body or Mr. CLARK of Missouri. Does the Senator think that of the other body of Congress, I want that thought elimi there are more real Americans in this country, ·including nated; and I thank the Senator frcm Kentucky very much. fathers and mothers, than there are Wiles, or does he not? Mr. President, I have before me extracts from the columns Mr. REYNOLDS. Yes; Mr. President, there are a great of the Washington Star of Friday last, by the pen of Mr. many more. But, I wish to say to my distinguished friend, Frederic William Wile. I desire to read to you his remarks, the Senator from Missouri, that there are many Wiles in and make comments thereupon. Then I want to compare this country. Like the Senator from Missouri, I read many what he says with the attitude taken by the Scandinavian magazines, I read many newspapers, and letters which are countries. In making that comparison I believe I shall be sent to the public forums published in the various news able to show that Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, the Scandi papers throughout the country. Thousands and thousands navian lands in the immediate vicinity of the warring fac of people in the United States today believe that right· now tions, are not only desirous of keeping out of the present this Government, our Democracy, should send its young boys European squabble, ht,It they are going to keep out of it; to Europe to be murdered, and to bleed to death upon for whereas on the other hand in this country, 3,000 miles away eign fields, in order to .save the situation for some other from the base of conflict, there are persons in the capital of country. our country who are insisting that we get into the war. Mr. CLARK of Missouri. I agree with the Senator that Let me read parts of this article and see about that. After there are certain very potent forces moving in this country in Mr. Wile had commented upon the primary election which the way the Senator suggests. My only thought is that the took place in Wisconsin the other day, in which our friends Senator is attaching too much importance to an exploded, old President Roosevelt, Vice President Garner, District Attorney interventionist such as Frederic William Wile. Dewey, ·and the Senator from Michigan, Mr. Vandenberg, Mr. REYNOLDS. I thank the Senator. I probably should were involved, he said: not even have given Mr. 'Wile the credit of recognition, but I In other \Y'Ords, the suggestion is ventured that nationally sig thought it would provide me with an excellent opportunity to nificant as these local political developments may be, they are small bring to the attention of the Members of this body the wide potatoes alongside · the issue which demands· vastly more of the spread propaganda which is honeycombing this country from United States attention, viz, the danger that Germany may win the European war. Such a disquieting pm:sibility is reluctantly but the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the heavily timbered for realistically envisioned in authoritative American quarters. Its ests of Michigan to the pine-clad slopes of Florida. implications and perils for the Western Hemisphere overshadow the Mr. WILEY. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? Presidential campaign as completely as the Washington Monument obscures Steve the Greek's White House popcorn and peanut stand. Mr. REYNOLDS. I am glad to yield to the Senator from Whether· the next President's name is Roosevelt or Dewey, whether Wisconsin. the Budget is balanced, whether or not farm-parity prices are fixed, Mr. WILEY. I have been listening with a great deal of at whether the relief allotment is $1,000,000,000 or $2,000,000,000, whether the Hull reciprocal-trade agreements should or should not tention to the distinguished Senator from North Carolina, have congressional approval, whether officeholders should partici and my only contribution to this subject is that I think he is pate in politics, whether the next House has a Democratic or Re doing a fine work in demolishing the very idea that Frederic publican majority-! contend that no one of these issues, or all of them put together, today amount to a hill of beans, compared to William Wile has brought into the open. I cannot agree with what will happen to us and the rest of the world if the Nazis defeat the distinguished Senator who just spoke that the Senator Great Britain and France. from North Carolina is attaching too much importance to Even without HAM FISH, of New York, and BOB REYNOLDS, of that matter, for the reason that Saturday night at an Army North Carolina, screaming isolationist sophistries from the Capitol rooftop, it is difficult enough to persuade the American people to Day banquet I heard substantially the same sentiments spoken extend their international thinking beyond the 3-mile limit, or to by an Army officer. contemplate the world in terms of anything but the next 30 or 60 Mr. President, the trouble is that such persons are en days. Until someone with a claim on the country's ear and without November votes in mind thinks up a more vertebrate sentiment than deavoring to cause the American people to become conscious "stay out of war at any cost," the chances are slender that we of something which is not a fact. In the first place, England shall be pried loose from the fool's paradise we now inhabit, cease and France are not going under. In the next place, these per imitating the ostrich, and generally act like men instead of mice. sons draw the conclusion that if England and France should In other words, Mr. Frederic William Wile says we are act go under we could better the position of America and the po ing like mice instead of like men. He says the American sition of the mothers. of America and their sons by inter people are a lot of ostriches, sticking their heads in the sand vening. That in itself is a wrong conclusion. so that they cannot see what the world sees, and Mr. Frederic Mr. President, what we must do is simply to see that people William Wile says we should do something about it. everywhere keep their mental apparatus working calmly. I disagree with Mr. Wile. He says·we are living in a fool's That is the point I wanted to make. I believe that the paradise, because we cannot see beyond the length of our American people should keep calm, no matter what may hap noses; because we cannot envision anything beyond the pen in the future. Last night at midnight the voice of Europe 1940 ' CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4135 ' spoke again of oncoming events that will be tremendous in who should serve as cannon fodder, are ostriches. He also their significance. When they do come on, if we remain calm says that America is looking for a courageous leader; that and not subject to hysteria, we shall see the clear American some man of courage should rise in all his might and lead way. the youth of America to slaughter upon foreign shores. The Senator suggested that we were tricked back in 1917. Mr. President, let us see what that gentleman, the attorney 1 cannot agree to that, but I can agree that we were blinded general of Ontario, had to say. I read from an article which 1back in the days of 1917, thinking we were going to save the was sent to me: world for democracy, and we went out and shed our blood, URGES CANADA TO ENLIST AID OF UNITED STATES IN WAR and gave our money without getting anything in return. CANNINGTON, ONTARIO, April 3.-The Ontario attorney general, _ The best part of it is that now we know that one war does Gordon Conant, today told an audience of farmers and businessmen not prevent another war. So if we can keep America thinking that it is Canada's duty to "do everything Within our power to enlist the active support of the United States in the cause of the straight we will go straight. Allies." Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator very Saying the success of the allied cause "may be very doubtful" much, and I think he has stated the situation very plainly unless active participation of the -United States is made effective at an early date, Conant declared: and clearly. It looks to me as though we were rather blinded "No sacrifice on our part will be too great if that can be accom into entering the last war. Our Representatives in Congress plished." conscientiously felt-we all did, as a matter of fact, whether we were in Congress or not-that by entering that war we In other words, Mr. Conant, the attorney general of Onta would stop all wars for all time. We felt that we would thereby rio, insists that the United States participate acth'ely, which s2.ve Christianity and save democracy. But fortunately for means physically. this hour and for this time, the passage of time has revealed Mr. HOLT. Mr. President- to us that we were blinded to the situation, and that our par The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from ticipation did not have the result which our brothers across North Carolina yield to the Senator from West Virginia? the sea told us it would. -Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. Let us see about that. It did not stop all wars, for since the Mr. HOLT. Does not the Senator think more of the attar ... World War, Italy conquered about 15,000,000 people in Ethi ney general of Ontario for that statement than he does of opia. Since the World War there raged in Paraguay and certain people in the United States who are trying to get us Bolivia a tremendous war which took as its toll about eight into the war? Mr. Conant's country is in the war, and there tenths of the male population. In addition to that there are some individuals in the United States who are trying to raged a civil war in Spain which began in July 1936, and get us in, and have no particular basis for their effort like lasted until last year, in which more than 2,000,000 people were that on which Mr. Conant stands. killed. In addition to that, there has raged in Asia a war Let me say that if I thought as Mr. Wile thinks-that there between the Japanese and the Chinese, and up to date more was a battle on to save the world for democracy-~nd I than 1,000,000 Japanese have been killed, and more than believed in that, I would be the first man to enlist and go over 3,000,000 Chinese have been killed, and more than 100,000,000 instead of sending some boy. But I imagine that wnen the Chinese have been rendered homeless out of a population of time comes he will claim exemption on the ground of his age. from 450,000,000 to 500,000,000. So much for the hope of end Mr. REYNOLDS. I have never had the pleasure of meet ing all wars. Our intervention did not do so. ing Mr. Wile .. · I occasionally read his. column. He is very . Furthermore, our intervention certainly did not result in fluent with the pen, but this is a time when I cannot agree sparing the temples of God, because in Russia every single with him. · · one was razed to the ground. The same thing took plac·e in Mr. CLARK of Missouri. Mr. President, in line with what Spain during the raging of the civil war there. And as for the Senator from West Virginia has said, I might suggest democracy, since the World War it has been much weaker. that, while Mr. Wile might ~e too old to lead the boys to Speaking of _democracy, I wish to say that, in my humble slaughter on this oceasion, we have had war several times, in opinion, if we are sucked into the present war in Europe, the history of the Vnited States during Mr. Wile's. lifetime democracy ·in this country will be destroyed. at least twice, when he probably was of military age, - in Referring to the great American flag, as did the able junior 1898 and 1917. If the Senator knows of Mr. Wile leading Senator from Kentucky a moment ago, that flag of red, white, anybody to slaughter anywhere, I should like to have him and blue, which provides the ·inspiration for all Americans, recall the o.ccasion. I much prefer to see that flag upon the soil of America than Mr. REYNOLDS. I do not know of Mr. Wile leading any elsewhere. I do not desire to see that flag leading regiments body to slaughter. of young Americans to their death and to their destruction in Mr. CLARK of Missouri. The Senator's suggestion was Europe, and to the destruction of democracy in the United that the articles of Mr. Wile were calculated to develop the States of America. fact that there was no great leader to lead anybody to But Mr. Frederic William Wile says that we ought to go slaughter. Mr. Wile had two chances before to lead soldiers over there now, that it is our duty to do so, that we are to slaughter. living in a fool's paradise, and we are like ostriches. Mr. REYNOLDS. He had an opportunity, and perhaps What did he say further? did not take advantage of it. Winston Churchill, now civilian generalissimo of Britain's com In reply to what the Senator from West Virginia has said, bined fighting services, might have had our FisHES, REYNOLDES, NYES, TINKHAMS et al. in mind the other day when he said: "There of course, we must be perfectly honest and frank about these are thoughtless, dilettante, or purblind worldlings who sometim~s things. I do not really blame Mr. Conant. Mr. Conant is a ask, What is it that Britain and France are fighting for? To this Canadian; his first love is for the British Government, and I answer: 'If we left off fighting, you would soon find out.'" Britain and France do not intend to leave off fighting until every free if we were Canadians we would endeavor likewise to enlist 1 1 nation in Europe is liberated from the grip of insecurity and fear. the services of the American people, and secure the material . The Allies believe that even distant and disinterested bystanders, aid of the American Government, knowing, as they know, • like ourselves, in the event of Nazi victory, would soon be con that we are the most powerful Nation upon the face of the : fronted by the jungle law for which Hitlerism stands. It is for ' that reason that Ontario's attorney general dares to suggest that earth. But the point upon which I lay stress by way of "Canada's duty is to do everything Within her power to enlist the directing criticism to Mr. Wile, if I may, is that Mr. Wile active support of the United States in the cause of the Allies." This says that Mr. Conant is right when Mr. Conant says that observer- they should do everything they possibly can to get the United Mr. Wile- States into the trouble, and to participate in the war. believes millions of Americans share corresponding views, are only Mr. HOLT. In other words, Mr. President, does not the ' waiting for courageous and farsighted leadership to beat their senti Senator feel that the real danger from propaganda is be ments into deeds. cause of American propagandists, who are sailing under In other word~. Mr. Wile tells the mothers of America tbat American citizenship colors, trying to get us into a -foreign they and their husbands, the parents of American children, war where we have no business? LXXXVI--261 4136 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 Mr. REYNOLDS. This is real, genuine propaganda, de HOPE UNITED STATES WILL FIGHT signed for the purpose of getting us into the war. Mr. Wile The British hope that if the war becomes a long struggle and the Allies are hard pressed the United States will join in to prevent a says that we are ostriches; that we are living in a fool's G€rman victory. They eagerly seize upon any suggestions or indi- paradise; that we should have sense enough to see beyond cations supporting this hope. · the end of our noses; that we should have sense enough to It is admitted generally in London that so long as the war re get out of this condition and look across the seas. He vir mains unsettled, there is scant chance of bringing about any shift in American isolationist opinion. tually says that we should send all our forces over there to Nevertheless the British frequently draw a parallel between now help. and 1916, in the days before the United states' entrance into the Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, will the Senator from war 23 years ago tomorrow. North Carolina yield? Mr. REYNOLDS. I am very much obliged to the Senator. Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. I might remind him that it is my recollection, and probably Mr. CHANDLER. My distinguished friend speaks so elo also his, that after we sent our boys over during the World quently that I always sit near him and listen to him. The War they said, "You came too late." That is my information. thing that will offset this propaganda is a continuation of At the outset I stated that I was going to make a compari speeches such as those the distinguished senator makes here. son between the attitude of Mr. Frederic William Wile and I imagine that every night all over America mothers whose the attitude of representatives of the Scandinavian countries. boys would have to go to war, when many of the fellows Mr. Frederic William Wile lNes in Washington, D. C., in the who write would not have to go, and do not expect to go, Capital of our country. He is a fluent writer, he is a well . ponder what the Senator says. It is all right with these known newspaper columnist. Mr. Frederic William Wile says writers to let someone else's boy go, but if the Senator will that we should get into the war now, that we are living in a keep reassuring the mothers of America that they will not fool's paradise not to, and that we should send our young boys have to send their boys across the ocean again, he will have "over there" to die. For what? Not for democracy, not for more stars added to his crown. Christianity, not to stop all world wars; but the "come-on" Mr. REYNOLDS. I am very grateful for that extremely cry now is, "Come in to create a new world order." That high tribute paid me by my distinguished friend from Ken does not have the ring the old "come-on" cries had-"save tucky. I say with genuine sincerity that I am sure no greater democracy; save Christianity; stop all wars for all time." Of tribute could possibly be paid me than the one which has just course, such a cry appeals to all Christian people in the United fallen from his eloquent lips. States. Mr. HOLT. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? I have just spoken of Christians-God-fearing, God-loving Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. people. I cut an article from a newspaper this morning headed Mr. HOLT. If the Senator would not object, I should like "Joint church stand against war urged." It looks to me as if to read from Saturday's Times-Herald about Mr. Conant's not only the Christian mothers but the other church-going speech. The English had no objection to his making those people are against Mr. Wile in this matter. Mr. Wiie says remarks, but they did not want him to be caught making that the church-going people of America are wrong. Mr. them. May I read from the statement? Wile says that the Christian people are wrong-that they are Mr. REYNOLDS. Certainly. living in a fool's paradise. Let us see. I have stated what Mr. HOLT. I read: the mothers have said. The mothers said, "No, Mr. Wile; we [From the Washington Times-Herald of Saturday, April 6, 1940] are not going to send our sons over there, because we love our BRITISH "HusH" IDEA IT's UNITED STATES DUTY To FIGHT-WANT boys." Let us see what the good church people say in answer FACTS TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES to Mr. Wile: (By Don Campbell) JOINT CHURCH STAND AGAINST WAR URGEI>--DR. PRETTYMAN HoNORED LoNDON, April 5.-0n the eve of the twenty-third anniv~rsary of ON EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY the United States entrance into the World War the British Gov Joint action by all American churches to keep this country out ernment tonight put the "hush-hush" on any suggestions it is of foreign wars was urged yesterday by Dr. John F. B. Carruthers, America's duty to enter the present war on the side of the Allies. of Pasadena, Calif., at the Church of the Covenant. Nevertheless American sentiment on the question of entering or As an overfiow crowd listened to his peace appeal, the wartime staying out of the war is one of the chief topics of discussion, and chaplain of the Senate, Dr. Forrest J. Prettyman, was honored in that is why thousands of Britons are following the course of the another church,. the Emory Methodist, on his eightieth birthday. Presidential race in the United States with almost as much interest as if they were electing their own Prime Minister. ONCE A PASTOR HERE Dr. Carruthers, a former assistant pastor of Covenant Church, . SOFT PEDAL ON PRESSURE declared he considered his antiwar sermon as timely because it They want to know whether President Roosevelt will seek a third came the day after the twenty-third anniversary of America's entry term, whether an Allied sympathizer will get the nomination, and into the World War. whether the American isolationists will come out on top. On April 6, 1917, the clergyman said, "the attitude of church and But the government, in accordance with Downing Street instruc state on the neces~ity for war was the same." tions, is soft-pedaling arguments on the question of whether the "But times have changed," he added. United States is bound by moral and humanitarian responsibilities "Today, the church, with its 50,000,000 members and some 200,000 to line up with Britain and France. clergymen, will have to part with any government that would send Too much high-pressure salesmanship of the Allied cause, the our youth across the ocean to take part in an armed confiict. British have found, only generates sales resistance among the American people. MUST TAKE STAND Agitation along the lines of America's "duty" have backfired "If the church in America, as a leading force in goveriunental in too many instances. principles of American commonwealth, refused to take a stand The new British policy is that th~ Allies have an excellent case, against participation of the United States in a foreign war, it might strong enough to win Am.erican support, and the facts should be as well be dead and buried as far as spiritual infiuence with our allowed to speak for themselves. youth is concerned." In this connection the Ontario speech of Attorney General Gor Dr. Prettyman, the father of E. Barrett Prettyman, former don Conant saying it was the duty of Canada to do everything to corporation counsel here, was lauded on his long service to human draw the United States into the war on the Allied side was at odds ity and the Nation by Daniel C. Roper, former Secretary of Com with the official British policy. Britain has no power to dictate the merce, and by Dr. Horace E. Cromer, pastor of Emory Church. policy of a Canadian or Ontario official. Dr. Prettyman was chaplain of the Senate during the adminis FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY trations of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Nevertheless, there is no reason to suppose Conant's speech was Our good friend, Frederic William Wile, says we should unwelcome because it provided a further opportunity to sound out send our sons over there to be slaughtered for Great Britain American opinion without incurring any official British respon sibility. and for France. But the mothers of America say "No." Mr. Furthermore, the Canadians are in a far better position to urge Frederic William Wile says that the mothers and the church the United States to join the war than the British because, as people of this country are wrong. But 50,000,000 Christian Britons say of the Canadians, "they, too, are Americans helping church people say Mr. Frederic William Wile is wrong. Whom the cause of the democracies in Europe." "We are fighting for democracy and therefore we are fighting the do I prefer to believe? I prefer to believe the mothers of war for the United States as well as for ourselves," many Britons America and the 50,000,000 Christians who attend church complain. every Sunday, ·rather than to believe the warmonger, the 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4137 man who would bring death to the sons of America to satisfy trade relations with all sides and that they must resfiect interna tional law regarding our territorial waters." his hatred for Hitler and Germany. 3. The newspaper Sjoefarts Tidende said Norway could disprove Mr. HOLT. Mr. President, will.the Senator yield? any Allied charges that she had abused her neutrality and that Nor Mr. REYNOLDS. I gladly yield. wegian and British representatives should meet to exchange opin ions· on questions raised by the Allied communication to Norway Mr. HOLT. Would it not be far better if the individuals and Sweden. · who want American boys to die for an ideal should join the STRESSES NEUTRALITY Foreign Legion and fight for the ideal, instead of sending Koht's speech before Parliament was devoted to emphasizing the some other boys across? neutral position of Norway despite pressure from both Allies and Mr. REYNOLDS. Certainly. Germany, and it was taken to mean the Government was deter mined to avoid involvement in the conflict except in extreme cir Mr. HOLT. They may join the Foreign Legion of France. cumstances that would threaten this country's independence. Such Mr. REYNOLDS. Certainly. There is nothing illegal about a policy was regarded as meaning that Norway would oppose with it. I do not think the State Department has taken any action armed force any violation of her neutrality, but even if such an to prohibit it. Certainly they may go to Canada and enlist, incident occurs she would still try to limit it to an incident and avoid being drawn into war. or they may go to Algiers, which is a French colony, or to any In this connection one passage of the foreign minister's speech of the Allied countries, and enlist. was of particular importance. He said: Mr. HOLT. Does the Senator know of any propagandists ONLY STRIVES FOR PEA9E who are accepting pay for their writings who have enlisted "If the Allies should demand that we halt our general independ in active service? ent trade and cooperation which is now being carried on according Mr. REYNOLDS. I noticed in a newspaper a couple of to international law and which we ourselves by our own desires have confirmed, then it would either be terrible for them, or, if we favor days ago that American aviators are being sought and offered one side, it would be in open contradiction to the neutrality which high prices to · enlist in Europe. I had the clipping in my we are obliged to maintain. Thus our country would be immediately office, and intended to bring it with me. . involved in war." Getting back to the comparison of attitudes, I have told the It was against any one-sided action which would result in Norway being "immediately involved in war" that Koht warned. Senate about Frederic William Wile. He wants to get us Norway, he said, is not interested in who wins the war and is only into war. He is right herE! in our Capital. Let us see the striving to maintain her neutrality and keep out. difference between the attitude of Mr. Frederic William Wile, Listen to this statement. He is interested only in his an American citizen who wants to get his own country into people. Let me repeat: war, and the attitude of representatives of countries within a Norway, he said, is not interested in who wins the war and is stone's throw of Germany. We are 3,000 miles away from only striving to maintain her neutrality and keep out. the war, and yet many persons are afraid we are going to be "Norway has never been interested in joining any belligerent in a in it. Many persons want to get us into it. The letters in great war," he continued. "I emphasize that the Norwegian Gov ernment also in ·its co~ercial policy has strictly maintained a the public forum columns of the press say that we ought to neutral attitude, and we desire to retain trade connections·with all go over there. countries. We are trying to maintain a normal, peacetime level of Mr. HOLT. Mr. President, will the Senator yield? our trade with foreign countries. Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. "So far no belligerent has charged that Norway has been un neutral, except Germany in the City of Flint incident. Mr. HOLT. Mr. Wile ought to define the word "we" as "However, as soon as Germany was informed by the Norwegian meaning someone else, when he says "we" ought to go· over Government they opined that Norway's attitude was satisfactory." there. He is not speaking in the first person. Mr. REYNOLDS. I think the Senator is absolutely correct. SWEDEN CLINGS TO NEUTRALITY STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, April 6.--8candinavia steeled itself tonight Mr. President, let us see the attitude of the representatives to withstand Allied and German pressure that aroused the gravest of the Scandinavian governments. We recall that Norway, fears for the neutrality of Norway and Sweden. sweden, and Denmark did not get into the last World War. Official and private sources in Stockholm and Oslo no .longer at .. They were within a stone's throw of the war for more than tempt to conceal their concern. Unconfirmed rumors were adding to the tension which was brought to a head by a communication 4 years, and they did not get into it. We were 3,000 miles from Great Britain and France and by German warnings that away, but we got into it. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are Scandinavia must resist any pressure to aid the Allied blockade today within a stone's throw of a repetition of the same thing, of the Reich. Both Sweden and Norway emphasized they were determined to and they are not going to get into it. Let us see what their maintain the strictest neutrality and acknowledged that any one representatives say about it, in order to compare attitudes. sided action regarding trade with the belligerents would be almost I want the Senate to listen very carefully to this. This article certain to draw them into the war. is entitled "Norway Defies Allied Blockade; Warns of War. In Oslo, Premier Johan Nygaardsvold declared Norway would insist on carrying on normal trade with both Germany and Britain, Oslo Vows to Fight for Independence." and in Stockholm official circles said that Sweden adopted the same OsLo, NoRWAY, April 6.-Premier Johan Nygaardsvold and Foreign attitude. Minister Halvdan Koht today strongly reemphasized the determina tion of Norway to carry on normal trade with belligerent nations, Mr. President, this morning, in the Washington Times to defend this nation's neutrality and to avoid any one-sided action Herald, I read one of the finest editorials I ever read in my by which "our country would be immediately involved in war." life. Evidently it was originally published in the editorial Their statements assumed particular significance as a result of columns of the New York Daily News, because in italics at delivery of communications from Great Britain and France regard ing the Allied interest in the position of Scandinavia toward Ger the bottom is the notation "Copyright, 1940, News Syndicate many and Russia and of statements at Berlin that the Nazis were Co., Inc." watching the alleged efforts of the Allies to force Norway and I shall not take the time to read the entire editorial to Sweden to aid the blockade of the Reich. the Senate, but I hope every Member of this body will read it, Judging from the way this inan talks he must be a states because it is one of the finest I have ever read. The editorial man, because his remarks impress me as coming from a man is entitled "Invincible Uncle Sam," and it concludes with who is interested in the people of Norway and only in the these words: people of Norway. What does he say? For Uncle Sam, the best advice ever thought up is still "Mind POSITION OF NATION your own business"-by staying home and cultivating democracy Three developments outlined Norway's position: in a land which cannot be successfully attacked as long as its 1. Koht, speaking to Parliament, said Norway was not interested people do mind their own business. in aiding any belligerent, that she would fight only for her liberty There never was a truer saying upon the face of the earth. and independence and that "our country would immediately be in the war" if Norway contradicted her own neutrality policy by Instead of going over to Europe to fight for democracy favoring one side or the other. He said he did not believe Britain against communism, I think we ought to stay at home and would violate Norwegian neutrality. fight against communism in this country, for the maintenance This statesman is interested in Norwegians, and not in and continued life of democracy. . Germans, British, French, or anybody else. Mr. President, in addition to asking that this very excellent 2. Nygaardsvold, in an interview with the United Press, said he . editorial be published at this juncture in my remarks, I ask believed the belligerents "understand that we must carry on normal also that the printed words in italics preceding the edit~rial 4138 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 be printed, because they are a warning that we should hear COMPARISON OF ELECTRIC RATES BETWEEN MUNICIPALLY OWNED every day. They are from George Washington, the Father AND PRIVATELY OWNED PLANTS of his Country. What does he say? Mr. NORRIS. Mr. President, I desire to make only a very Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike short statement. for another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on I hold in my hand a comparison of electric-light rates one side, and serve to veil and even second ·the arts of influence on made by the Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., of Kansas the other. City, Mo. The heading is: Mr. President, as we all recall, those words are from the SHOULD ELECTRIC-LIGHT RATES BE INVESTIGATED? Farewell Address of the Father of his Country, who, fortu This is a comparison of consumers' electric-light rates as nately for this land then and now, was possessed of good old between municipally owned plants and privately owned common horse sense. · plants. The comparison deals first with cities of 50,000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the edi population and over; and the comparison is made on con torial will be printed in the RECORD. sumptions of 25 kilowatt-hours, 40 kilowatt-hours, 100 kilo The editorial is as follows: watt-hours, and 250 kilowatt-hours. In every case the com lNvismLE UNCLE SAM putation shows that the rate paid by the domestic consumer Americans who want us to go directly or indirectly into the of electricity who gets his current from a municipally owned European war on the Allied side sp~t up into two main schools plant is a much lower rate than that paid by the consumer of thought. who gets his electric current from a privately owned plant. There are the idealists who, like Woodrow Wilson and his friends For instance, in cities having a population of 50,000 or in 1917, feel that we ought to fight because democracy somewhere in the world is in danger, and in order to bring about "a firm, just, more, if the domestic consumer consumes 25 kilowatt-hours, and lasting peace." and gets his electricity from a privately owned plant, he pays That sounds too much like· old times. It is a mere rewrite of the on an average $1.44 for the service. If the plant is munici 1917-18 slogans about "making the world safe for democracy" (which we didn't do), and fighting "a. war to end war"-which war pally owned, he pays $1.07 for the same service. ended only in an infirm, unjust peace which lasted 3 months short If he consumes 40 kilowatt-hours, and the electricity is of 21 years. furnished by a privately owned utility, he pays $2.11 for the The other school of interventionist thought is the more practical service. If it is municipally owned, he pays $1.61 for the one, if you accept its major premise. This school believes that if Germany and Russia win this war service. our own country will be in danger of conquest by this alliance of If he consumes 100 kilowatt-hours, and buys the elec totalitarian nations. Hence, this school feels that it would be tricity from private parties, he pays $4.06. If he buys it much better and cheaper for us to fight for democracy on French, Scandinavian, and Asiatic fronts now than to chance having to from a municipally owned plant, he pays $3.14. fight for its defense on our own territory at some later time. If be consumes 250 kilowatt-hours, and buys his elec The chief trouble with this second class, of interventionists, we tricity from a privately owned plant, he pays $7.44. If believe, is that their major premise is wrong. We don't think he buys it from a municipally owned plant, he pays $5.85. American democracy is in such danger as all that. Worked out in percentages, if the consumer uses 25 kilo WILL EXHAUSTED NATIONS FIGHT? watt-hours, the municipal plant furnishes it to him at 25.7 For one thing, the Germans, if they win this war at all, are 999 percent less than the privately owned plant. chances to 1 not going to win it by any such relatively cheap blitz krieg as they performed in Poland. It promises to be a long, ex If he consumes 40 kilowatt-hours, the municipal plant hausting, and costly war for all concerned. Afterward, it will be a furnishes it to him at 23.7 percent less than the privately long time before the power politicians of the victorious nation or owned plant would furnish it. nations can persuade their people to go off on some new adventure of conquest, not to mention getting up the money and the mate If he consumes 100 kilowatt-hours, the municipal plant rials for same. furnishes it to him at 22.7 percent less. For another and more important thing, we believe that if the If he consumes 250 kilowatt-hours, the municipal plant Germans and any conceivable post-war allies of Germany should furnishes it to him at 21.4 percent less. try an attack on the United States, we could lick the whole combi nation. So, with the comparison of populations of 25,000 to 50,000, We have a huge land area to begin with, for the absorption and of 15,000 to 25,000, and of 7,500 to 15,000; in every instance, gradual killing off of any expeditionary forces that may be able to without a single exception, the consumer gets his electricity get a foothold on our shores. from the publicly owned plant at a very material reduction Look at what the Chinese are doing to the Japanese. from what he would have to pay if the plant furnishing the AN INVASION-IS IT POSSmLE? electricity were privately owned. But could any enemy even get an invasion of this country well started? The first question· that is usually asked, and one which We have a network of the world's best motor roads, and about probably is in the minds of Senators who are listening to 36,000,000 automobiles at the present writing to travel on them. me, is, "What about taxes?" That is a fair question, an We have the best railroad system in the world. With these facilities, honest question. It is the :first one always asked. It is said, we could shuttle armies back and forth from coast to coast to meet any invaders, and welcome them with bloody hands to hospitable "The municipal plant does not pay taxes." Let us see what graves. this comparison shows. It shows that while the municipal Our factories can turn out airplanes faster than any other na plant cannot pay taxes as such, it pays a certain amount in tion's factorles can; we have a big Navy to be beaten before the would-be invader can set foot on our coast line. Our natural re lieu of taxes in service-for instance, by supplying street sources make us almost self-sustaining, so that even an airtight lights free or at a very much reduced rate, or by paving blockade of the United States would be at worst inconvenient. streets, or by building a city hall, or something of the kind All of which adds up to this: That the United States on its home so that in every single instance over the United States the territory is invincible. We are not, however, invincible when it comes to sticking our municipal plant on the average pays more taxes than are neck out where we have no business doing so. paid by the privately owned plant. HOW WE CAN BE BEATEN For instance, this statement, while not containing a divi Send an expeditionary force to Scandinavia, or the western front, sion by population, compares taxes paid with money paid or the front which may be forming in the Near East and the Bal in lieu of taxes by municipal plants of the entire United kans, and we can lose most or all of those men just as easily as any States, covering all domestic utility rates everywhere, in other nation can. Try to fight Japan on a sea front including the Philippines and Guam; and we can be trimmed by Japan, and prob every city, in every hamlet; and it shows that the private ably will be, and will deserve to be. utility plants over the United States pay 14.4 percent of For Uncle Sam, the best advice ever thought up is st111, "Mind their income in taxes, while the public-utility properties your own business"-by staying home and cultivating democracy pay 26.8 percent in lieu of taxes, making a difference in the in a land which cannot be successfully attacked as long as its people do mind their own business. payment of taxes in favor of the municipal plants of 12.·4 percent-that much more than is paid in taxes by the Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, at this point I yield to my privately owned utilities. friend and colleague the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. NoR Another question will probably be in the minds of Sena RIS], after which I shall resume. tors as they listen to me: "Where does this information 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4139 come from? 'Who furnishes it?" I have said that the com reason why only one additional judge was provided for in the pilation was made. by the Burns & McDonnell Engineering eighth circuit, instead of two, as was recommended by the Co., of Kansas City, Mo. They get all their figures from Judicial Council of the United States. The reason is that an public sources. They get the information from the report investigation was made somewhat over a year and a half ago of the Federal Power Commission which made this investi by .the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, of the various gation under a resolution passed by the Senate. From that increases recommended by the Judicial Council. A subcom report the compilation was made. It could have been made mittee of one Senator, one of the most competent members by a Senator or anyone else, although it would take con of this body, I may say, was sent to the eighth circuit for the siderable time. purpose of making the investigation. He reported that one Mr. President, I ask that the comparison furnished by additional judge was imperatively necessary in that circuit. Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. be printed in the He said that two could be very easily justified, but that it was RECORD at this point of my remarks. possible that the circuit might be able to transact its business The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so with one additional judge, and the committee, out of an ordered. excess of caution, in the recommendation of additional judges The statement is as follows: recommended only one additional judge. SHOULD ELECTRIC RATES BE INVESTIGATED? Mr. President, the position of the Senator who investigated Comparison of residential electric rates of all cities operattng under the matter of the eighth circuit was entirely justified at that private ownership and public ownership in the United States time, because at the time of his investigation the eighth February 1940 circuit had three retired circuit judges, who had never retired from the active performance of their duty. Although techni Average rates cally retired circuit judges, they performed as arduous and as efficient duties as they had when they were active judges. Cities of- Mini- 25 kilo- 40kilo- 100 kilo- 250 kilo- The three were Judge Faris, of Missouri, Judge Van Valken mum watt- watt- watt- watt- charge hours hours hours hours burgh, of Missouri, and Judge Booth, of Minnesota. ------Since the time of that investigation Judge Faris has died, Population 50,000 and over: Judge Booth has become totally incapacitated, and Judge Van 183 private utilities ______$0.78 $1.44 $2.11 $4.06 $7.44 Valkenburgh has become less able to perform the service 21 municipal plants ______$0.59 $1.07 $1.61 $3.14 $5.85 Municipal rates are lower which he had performed before his retirement. by----·------percent __ 24.4 25.7 23.7 22.7 21.4 Population 25,000 to 50,000: Therefore the situation has completely changed, and I 170 private utnities ______$0.84 $1.59 $2.32 $4.37 $7.34 think that any investigation will disclose the fact that two 32 muniripal plants ______$0.79 $1.43 $2.10 $3.85 $7.00 Municipal rates are lower judges in that circuit are imperatively needed now, as was by ______percent __ 6.0 10.1 9. 5 11.9 4.6 recommended by the Judicial Council 2 years ago. Population 15,000 to 25,000: 234 private utilities ______$0.85 $1.59 $2.32 $4.35 $7.87 Mr. President, at this point I ask unanimous consent to 53 municipal plants ______$0.78 $1.43 $2.10 $3.94 $7.23 insert in the RECORD as a part of my remarks a letter written Municipal rates are lower by ______percent __ 8. 2 10.1 9.5 9.4 8.1 to me, in response to an inquiry I made, by the Honorable Population 7,500 to 15,000: Kimbrough Stone, presiding judge of the eighth circuit, to 536 private utilities ______$0.86 $1.63 $2. 38 $4.44 $7.90 107 municipal plants ______$0.78 $1.48 $2.13 $4.18 $7.68 gether with a statement of information which he attached to Municipal rates are lower by ______percent__ his letter to me. 9.3 9.2 10.5 5. 9 2.8 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so Comparison of taxes, donations, and free services in percent of base ordered. revenue 1 for aU electric plants in United States The letter and statement are as follows: Percent UNITED STATES CmCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CmCUIT, Contributions in form of taxes, free services, and donations from municipal plants ______26.8 · Kansas City, Mo., March 19, 1940. Han. BENNETT CHAMP CLARK, Contributions in form of taxes from privately owned plants ____ 14.4 Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: I noticed in the Kansas City Journal of last night Contributions by municipal plants in excess of contributions that the Senate Judiciary Committee had reported out a bill for by private plants------~------12.4 additional judges which apparently includes but one circuit judge 1 Base revenue--revenue from ultimate consumers. for this eighth circuit. Last week the House passed a similar bill, All information taken from Federal Power Commission reports. except that it was amended to include two circuit judges for this Compiled by Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Kansas City, Mo. circuit. The need for two circuit judges in this circuit is very real and APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL JUDGES pressing. As you know, we got along for several years because we Mr. had three retired judges.. Judge Faris has died, Judge Booth is Mr. CLARK of Missouri. President will the Senator totally incapacitated, and Judge Van Valkenburgh is slowing up from North Carolina yield to me. decidedly. This loss of help from our retired judges has resulted in Mr. REYNOLDS. I yield. a liberal use of district judges on the court of appeals during the Mr. CLARK of Missouri. I asked the Senator from North past year. There is quite a sentiment in the bar that district judges should Carolina to yield at this time because it is necessary for me not be ·used on the appellate court but that appeal cases should be to leave the city this evening. It had been my hope that heard by appellate judges only. Irrespective of this view of the bar, during the course of the day, as was originally anticipated, all of the district judges in this circuit have so much work to do House bill 7079 might come before the Senate for considera that it is not right to put upon them this extra burden. Of course, one additional judge would help, but it would not meet tion. It is a bill providing for certain additional district and the situation fully by any means. The only remedy is for two circuit judges in the United States courts. additional circuit judges. · Mr. President, at this time I send forward an amendment I earnestly hope that you can take the time to contact the Sen . which I intend to propose to that bill when it comes before ators in the seven States of this circuit and see that the court gets this needed help. I am sure that not only the circuit and district • the Senate for consideration, and since it is necessary, be judges in the circuit will be grateful but also the litigants who have cause of imperative matters, for me to leave the city this cases in any of those courts. afternoon, and possibly I will not be able to return for a day I am enclosing herewith a statement of some of the reasons why or two, I wish to make a very brief statement in connection this help is needed and hope you can give it consideration. With kind personal regards and best wishes, with the amendment. I ask that the amendment be printed Sincerely your friend, and to lie on the table~ KIMBROUGH STONE. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment will be received, printed, and lie on the table. STATEMENT BY JUDGE KIMBROUGH STONE, SENIOR CmcUIT JUDGE, Mr. CLARK of Missouri. Mr. President, the bill as it is EIGHTH CmcUIT reported from the Senate committee, as a substitute for the The necessity for two additional circuit judges in the eighth circuit arises from three coacting influences which are (I) increase House bill, provides for one additional circuit judge in the of work, (II) decrease in number of judges to do the increased eighth judicial circuit. I am thoroughly familiar with the work, and (W) method of doing work. 4140 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8
Moscow, has been stealing together every point presented by counsel. Through years of ex property from American citizens on a grand scale, secure in perience, this is the best method we h ave been able to develop to the belief that the Government of the United States would put into the decision the informed judgment of every judge who do nothing about it. Trouble is brewing. Thousands of sat--a result intended by Congress and, therefore, one to which the litigants are entitled. Spanish anarchists and communists have already entered Clearly this method involves an enormous amount of work. We Mexico. Many of these, I am advised, are leaving Mexico for could reduce our work by two-thirds if only the one judge who the United States, entering this country as Mexican citizens. wrot e the opinion made this thorough investigation. Also, opinions Our Government has favored Mexico in too many ways. could be gotten out faster and more cases disposed of if we did not do the work this way. But such gain in dispatch of business A time of reckoning is at hand. By acts and conduct, Mexico would be at the sacrifice of good work. When Congress required is essentially a colony of Soviet Russia. three judges, it did not intend that two of them should be mere Our nationals working and owning property in Mexico "yes" men and figureheads. We have regarded it as our first ana great duty to be as near have been driven out. They have had their farms and right as possible. This is the basis of our method. means of livelihood taken from them. In many cases they IV. NEED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL JUDGES have been returned to the United States penniless and The net result of all the above is that the court of appeals of this· destitute. circuit has for the past few years had more work than the five active judges alone could possibly have done; that this work has been kept Compared to this, it is reported there are residing in the up to date only because of the help of the three retired circuit United States approximately 1,000,000 Mexicans. Many of judges and, later, by use of district judges. The help from retired these have conveniently become American citizens to be eligi circuit judges has now, in large part, finally ceased. Either the ble for relief. Others displace American labor and thereby docket must fall behind, district judges must be used, or the court must have additional circuit judges to help do the work. The add to our unemployment rolls. necessary man power can come only from one of two sources-by The unemployment question alone is not so important as use of district judges on the court or by additional circuit judges. the fact that subversive political doctrines adopted by Mexico Use of district judges: There has been substantial objection by the bar to having the determination of appeals participated in are dangerous to the peace and welfare of our Nation. To by trial judges. This is not the place to discuss the advantages or avoid danger to our own country and its institutions, and disadvantages of such practice, but I merely call attention to this to protect American interests in Mexico, some consideration attitude of the bar as an existing fact. of this problem must be given by Congress. With 1,000,000 A more important thing is the practical situation in the circuit. That situation is that the district judges in this circuit have all Mexicans in the United States, presumably loyal to the they can do to look after the work in their own district courts, Mexican Government and in accord with its communistic and some of them are overburdened. To place upon them the policies, danger impends to the welfare of our Nation. Its further work of service on the court of appeals is obviously unfair to them and to the litigants in their courts. While it may be better peace and safety may be disturbed. I am, therefore, intro to have some districts fall behind rather than to have the court ducing a resolution dealing with the subject. It limits the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 number of Mexican aliens residing or engaged in occupations, No; I am interested only in the people of Colorado; I am inter business, or work in the United States to an equivalent num ested in seeing to it that my constituents in this State get the jobs first; and if there are any left over, I want the people of the ber of Americans residing or engaged in similar activities in adjoining States to have them; and then, if there are any left over, Mexico. the Mexicans can come in and take them, I send the resolution to the desk and ask that it be referred But the chief executive at that time, Governor JoHNsoN, to the proper committee, but I desire to read the last para did not by that statement halt the Mexicans. So what <;lid graph thereof: he do? He called out the National Guard and placed them Resolved, etc., That all Mexican aliens residing in or engaged in at the border, and he told the Mexicans they could not come occupations, business, or work of any character in the United States shall hereafter be limited to an equivalent number of citizens of in, and they did not come in. The result was that, instead of the United States gainfully engaged in Mexico; and all Mexican the unfortunate labor in his State being ground down, Gov citizens who have within the last 12 months signified their inten ernor JoHNSON found work for his people, and he turned the tion of becoming naturalized American citizens shall be accepted by the United States unless they are or are likely to become public faces of the Mexicans southward to their own land. burdens in any manner; and all Mexican aliens in excess of Ameri Let us see about this. Here is another article: cans in Mexico as provided herein shall be deported within .1 year SPANIARDS IN MEXICO PUSH "RED" ACTIVITIES--GOVERNMENT IS after the date of the enactment of this resolution. UNDISTURBED--HASTENS THEIR CITIZENSHIP (The joint resolution introduced by Mr. REYNOLDS (S. J. MEXICO CITY, February 5.-Various Rightist and anti-Communist Res. 242), which was referred to the Committee on Immigra organizations have been protesting from time to time against the tion, appears under the appropriate heading "Bills and joint activities of Spanish emigres here. Two principal complaints are resolutions introduced.") made against them. Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, in pursuance of my Thousands of the Loy;;tlists from Spain are making their statement in regard to our relations with Mexico, I dare say way over the seas to Mexico with a view to eventually entering Mexico has no better friend upon the entire face of the earth the United States and joining in activities with the Com than the United States. To the south of us, lying across the munists in this country in an endeavor to overthrow our muddy waters of the Rio Grande, there is a vast area popu Government. And the Communists are exceedingly bold. I lated by 15,000,000 people, who have been aided in many ways notice that they are defying unhesitatingly Mr. MARTIN DIES, by the people of the United States. For instance, annually of that great all-American committee which has done so we are buying from Mexico more silver than we are buying much for our country for some time past and has brought from any other country in the world. As a matter of fact, out from under cover those who have been doing the devil despite the great development of the silver mines which men ment in this country for the past several years. The article have dug in the bowels of the earth in the silver-mining continues: areas of Peru, we continue to be the best purchaser of silver The first is that they are actively spreading Communist ideas, in Mexico has ever had. defiance of article XXXIII of the Mexican Constitution, which lays In addition to that, during the past year more than 300,000 down the rule that no foreigner may meddle in domestic politics. The second is that those of them who have military experience are American tourists took millions upon millions of American being trained to act as officers of the "workers' army" in the event dollars into the Republic of Mexico, by way of that great and that internal trouble should break out. finely engineered highway leading from Laredo, on the These protests, however, are usually directed against specified border of Texas, to beautiful Mexico City, the capitai of individuals and not against the Spanish refugees as a whole. The Mexican Government does not appear to be in any way disturbed Mexico, 700 miles southward, which lies more than 7,200 feet by the Communist activities of a part of these Spanish refugees above sea level. or to anticipate any difficulties in this respect. . I think there are in this country too many Mexicans. They So far the Government has refused to take any measures. In deed, the Diario Official on January 23 published a decree declaring are coming here to take, and they are taking jobs which that all Spanish residents of Mexico were immediately eligible for rightly belong to American citizens. I like the Mexican peo Mexican citizenship. This means that an easy way has been af ple immensely. Once upon a time I had the honor conferred forded to the Spaniards to carry on in perfect legality the Com4 upon me of being invited to address the Mexican Senate, munist activities that they hitherto carried on in violation of the constitution. which invitation I accepted; but, at the same time, I do not This decree, incidentally, raises an interesting question in con They have confiscated about $450,000,000 worth of our oil nection with American immigration restrictions. It is evident that properties, and, in addition to that, they have confiscated any Spaniard can now enter the United States by the simple ex thousands upon thousands of acres of fertile land which had pedient of coming to Mexico, acquiring Mexican citizenship, and crossing the frontier into the United States on a Mexican passport. been bought and was being tilled through American dollars. The American immigration quota has, therefore, virtually ceased to When we speak of those tremendous haciendas, when we exist .where Spaniards are concerned. speak of the oil investments there, we are not actually refer As a matter of fact, there is no immigration quota existing ring to great and powerful corporations, but we are speaking of the American people, because innumerable widows and between the United States and Mexico, or any of the Central orphans have their funds invested in the stocks of companies and South American countries. The article concludes: It is worthy of note that the number of Spanish emigres in that were organized for the purpose of buying those lands, and Mexico is not great and that only a · very small part of them is companies, such as some of the large oil companies, for the engaged in political activities. The last time an official count was purpose of developing the resources which are found south of made--early in September of last year-the total number was given the Rio Grande. I like the Mexicans very much. They are as 5,787. Some hundreds have arrived since then, but the total very hospitable and kindly people, and Mexico is the most ~ow probably does not exceed 6,500. colorful country lying to the south of us, perhaps, with the Mr. President, in further pursuance of this subject, I desire exception of Guatemala. to read from another article which appeared in the New York Speaking of Mexican labor coming into this country daily, Times, as follows: weekly, monthly, and yearly to take the jobs of American FIFTEEN HUNDRED SPANIARDS SEEK MEXICAN CITIZENSHIP--cHANCE FOR citizens, I am very happy to be able to see to the left of me THEM THEN TO ENTER UNITED STATES IS NOTED my friend from the great Rocky Mountain area, the distin MEXICO CITY, April 5.-Applications for Mexican naturalization guished junior Senator from Colorado [Mr. JoHNSON], who have been made for 400 families of Spanish refugees, comprising abo-qt 1,500 persons, or almost a quarter of the total of Spanish was the chief executive of that State for a number of years. Republican emigres in this country. It is expected that most of In pursuing this subject I recall to mind the fact that sev them will be granted soon. eral years ago, when he was Governor of the State of Colo The emigres are eligible for citizenship, provided they can prove rado, thousands upon thousands of Mexicans came from the they were born in Spain and have now taken up residence in Mexico. Naturalization is then granted without further formalities Republic to the south into his State and pushed out of em at the discretion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ployment thousands upon thousands of Americans who were Fears have been expressed in the senate here that this simplified there engaged in gathering beets for the sugar-beet industry procedure for granting citizenship to Spaniards might result in Washington's withdrawing the privilege Mexicans now have of of the State. So thoroughly interested was the junior Sena entering the United States without being subjected to the immi tor from Colorado in the people of his own State having the gration quotas that apply to citizens of all nations except those of jobs which rightly belonged to them, that he said: the American continents. 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4143 The Mexican naturalization law, Ill fact, ls regarded in some known; and if it can be ascertained, I am sure the excellent quarters as having the effect of canceling the United States immi gration quota on Spain, since any Spaniard apparently might come members of the committee can do so without much diificulty. to Mexico, acquire Mexican citizenship almost immediately, and DEMPSEY was constituted a subcommittee of one to make the ,then enter the United States on a Mexican passport. · investigation. A group of senators is debating the advisability of demanding an extroardinary session of congress to reconsider the naturalization I recall that because I spoke to Mr. DEMPSEY day before law, which became operative only 3 weeks ago. yesterday when I made inquiry as to when he was going there. Mr. President, I have here another article, entitled "Ten DEMPSEY was constituted a subcommittee of one to make the investigation. Preliminary investigation already had been con thousand Spanish refugees already in the country." ducted by George Hurley of the Dies committee staff. This dispatch is from Veracruz. By the way, I might add Decision of the committee to embark on a thorough inquiry of that, according to my iriformation, the greatest number of the Mexican situation followed repeated reports to Chairman DIES Spanish Loyalist refugees, many of whom are Communists; (Democrat), of Texas, of the committee that both Communist and or they would now be in Spain, are entering through the port Nazi agents are extremely active in Mexico. of Veracruz, and from Veracruz, of course, they go up by EVADE ALIEN LAW These reports, DIEs disclosed, not only indicate that the totali railway to Mexico City, and spread out to other sections of the tarian agents are seeking control of Mexico-- country. I understand that a number are now at Acapulco, on the West Coast, and many are at Tampico, where it is said It is my recollection that much of the oil was sold to the they are causing much trouble. Nazis- This article is dated Veracruz, July 9: but make it a base of operations to carry on espionage and propa ganda in the United States, thus evading the alien propaganda TEN THOUSAND SPANISH REFUGEES ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY registration law. VERAcRuz, July 9.-The total number of Spanish refugees already The committee not only rejected proposals designed to curb DIES, in Mexico amounts to 10,000, for to the 944 who arrived yesterday but approved his proposal for a sweeping investigation of the Pacific on the steamship Ipamena, and the 1,000 who came before on the· coast, including the Hollywood movie colony, and consumers' steamship Sinai, there must be added those who· have come into organizations. Mexico through the northern frontier. Two thousand more are expected on the 21st of this month on the steamship Mexique, and Mr. President, in conclusion so far as the resolution is con it is estimated that in the course of 2 months, within which term cerned, I have before me a clipping from a Washington news the immigration must be completed, the total number of refugees paper, the Times-Herald, entitled "Speaking :Mexico's Lan will be 40,000. The above information was obtained ·by the special correspondent guage," in which I note that one of our colleagues in the of Excelsior from officials of the Department of the Interior who House, Hon. THoMAS C. HENNINGS, Jr., of Missouri, is about to are now in Veracruz. take some action to bring about justice for the American in Excelsior is a daily newspaper published in the city of vestor and the American people. I ask that this article be Mexico; and the investigation and estimation of 4.0,000 were printed in the RECORD at this juncture. made by one of the members of the Department of the There being no objection, the article was ordered to be Interior. printed in the REcORD, as follows: It is to be noted that from the total of 10,000 refugees already in SPEAKING MEXICO'S LANGUAGE our country there should be deducted a large number who are not If there are any Mexicans left who can understand that their .leftists, and who formerly lived here but left the country to join country's success depends on decent, peaceful relations with the the forces of Gen. Francisco Franco. United States, they had better read and take seriously House Reso The majority of the 944 refugees who have just arrived are tech lutions 454 and 455, introduced Wednesday by Representative nicians and industrial workers, and only 400 of them will engage in THOMAS C. HENNINGS, Jr., of St. Louis, Mo. . agricultural activities. These provide for a congressional investigation to determine None of these refugees will be taken to Mexico City, since it has whether it is true, as charged, that Mexico has been violating inter been decided to send them to the St..'\tes of Aguascalientes, Coahuila, national. law and denying justice to American citizens by seizing Colima, Morelos, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, and American property, and if these charges are true (the resolution Tamaulipas. reads): Representatives of the various State governments are now in "The Congress may take any and all means available under the yeracruz awaiting final distribution by the officials of the Depart Constitution to the end that commensurate justice be obtained." ment of the Interior. Mr. HEN.NINGS' idea of commensurate justice, the Mexicans may be interested to know, is to exercise the powers granted Congress in I assume that if the 400 agriculturists are allowed to article I, section 8, of the Constitution, specified as follows: ~ enter, it will be to till the soil which was stolen from Ameri- · "Congress shall have the power to * • * declare war, grant .can nationals who had invested their money down there. letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water." I have before me a clipping entitled "Refugees." This is a He is very frankly working to convince Congress that the only, ·letter to the public-forum column. The writer says: way the people of the United States will ever get justice in their Sm: Los Angeles County alone in a 2-year period spent $2,358, claims for damages in Mexico is by congressional letters of marque r088.21 in hospitalization of Mexicans. Our Nation, holding the and reprisal. 'world's unemployment record, cannot afford to admit more immi WE HAVE BEEN THE GOAT SINCE 1905 ·grants--Mexicans from the south, Japanese from the Orient, or Intelligent Mexicans ought to be grateful to learn that the num Europeans--despite sob-stutf propaganda about refugee children. ber of Senators and Representatives who are about done listening E. E. G. to the President and the State Department on how to deal with Mexico is rapidly growing. They are eager to take their exclusive That man, like myself, does not want -a single alien from direct action. any part of the world to come to the United States until every It is not mere impatience with the run-around we have been employable unemployed worker in the United States has been getting on both silver and oil that has them aroused. It is resent ment at the abuse we have been taking ever since the Mexicans provided an opportunity to earn a living. went crazy in 1905 and began to seize foreigners' property right and The next article to which I refer I cut out some days ago left. They haven't stopped since, but have only got worse. and saved for the proper opportunity. It is entitled "DIES Now this Hennings resolution could be just the thing to tip Congress into independent action. And don't think that the phrase Checks 'Red,' Nazi Bases Beow Border. DEMPSEY To Report ''letters of marque and reprisal" is a mere quaint relic of 1776 power •on Alien Agents Using Mexico." politics. As late as 1895, the British exercised the right of reprisal WASHINGTON, February 28.-Representative JOHN J. DEMPSEY to collect claims against Nicaragua; the Dutch smacked Venezuela (Democrat), of New Mexico, directed by the Dies Un-American the same way in 1908; and we did it to Mexico ourselves in 1914, Activities Committee to investigate reports that Communists and when the marines landed at Veracruz. The Villa expedition of Nazi agents are using Mexico as a base of operations, plans a spe 1916 was also a form of reprisal. cial trip to the border within 10 days. These are touchy times in the world and Congress is in a black mood with Mexico anyhow . . It wouldn't take much to get this I shall be very happy indeed when the subcommittee of Hennings investigation going on. And if it ever does, reprisal in that committee makes an investigation of affairs down there, some form is certain. because I am told, in letters written to me and by individuals Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, in connection with Mexi- . who advise me in person, that hundreds of Mexicans are com can immigration, I have a bill to limit immigration into the ing across the border daily in violation of our law. If a Nazi United States and to establish a quota system covering all base exists there, we ought to knock it out. If a Communist countries and areas located in North, Central, and South base is operating there, to the detriment of the American America, and the islands adjacent thereto, and for other pur people and the American Goveriunent., that fact should be poses. It will be recalled that we have no quota system for 4144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE APRIL 8 Mexico, Central America, South America, or the West Indies. had a very prompt and very courteous reply from the Secre That fact is important in view of the fact that residing south tary of State of the Haitian Government in reference to the of us, in the countries of Central and South America and the sale of citizenships. West Indies, is a population equal to that of the United States I ask unanimous consent that the letter and translations of America, which I believe our census this year will show, is · be printed in the RECORD. about 135,000,000 to 140,000,000 people The bill has to do The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so with restricting immigration, and I have prepared remarks .in ordered. particular reference to the bill. The matters referred to are as follows: Mr. President, Members of the Senate are thoroughly aware REPUBLIQUE n'HArn, that I believe that the most satisfactory way to deal with the SECRETAIRERIE D'ETAT DES RELATIONS EXTERIEURES, alien problem in the United States is definitely and positively PCYrt-au-Prince, 17 Janvier, 1940. to suspend all entries into our country for a term of year.s, Monsieur RoBERT R. REYNOLD:, Senator des Etats-Unis d'Amerique, but as an alternative to that proposal, if the Senate will not United States Senate, Washington, D. C. agree to suspend all immigration for a period of 10 years, I MoNSIEUR: J'ai regu votre 1ettre du 6 janvier en cours me priant offer a bill which in simple terms establishes a quota system de vous dire si Ies conditions indlquees par M. Edouard Horelle dans une lettre dont copie en ma possession sont exactes relativement a for the Western Hemisphere. It establishes this system with !'acquisition de la nationalite haitienne. due regard to the good-neighbor policy, of which our President n y a lieu de noter. a cet egard, que desireux de soulager sans trap is an ardent advocate, and in which I gladly and happily join nuire aux interets nationaux, le malheureux sort fait aux Israelites our President, because I have always been very much im· au autres refugies, man Gouvernement avait decide de leur per· mettre d'obtenir la nationalite haitienne en s'adressant-a un agent pressed with the friendliness of the people of all the countries haitien a l'etranger. Mais de tels abus sont survenus dans l'execu to the south of u.s. tton de cette decision que le Gouvernement a decide de rapporter Let me digress at this point to say that I am very happy le decret-loi du 29 mai 1939 qui regissait la matiere. indeed to note that in some of the countries to the south of us Veuillez agreer, Monsieur, les assurances de ma. consideration our trade within the past year has increased 33 percent, and distinguee. in some instances as much as 52 percent. I hope the State -----. Department and our Commerce Department may succeed in {Translation of the foregoing letter] Sm: I have received your letter of January 6, in which you ask continuing that increase in trade with our neighbors to the whether the conditions indicated by M. Edouard Horelle, in a letter south. of which I have a copy, are correct relative to the acquisition ot The bill takes as a basis the average entries of immigrants Haitian nationality. admitted from countries of the Western Hemisphere and It is to be noted on this point that my Government, being anxious to aJJ.eviate Without too much, injustice to the national islands adjacent thereto for the 4 fiscal years 19.36 to 1939, interest the unhappy lot of the Jews and other refugees, had de· during which the good-neighbor policy has been in effect. cided to permit them to acquire Haitian nationality upon applica· For this reason it cannot in any way be construed as discrimi· tion to a Haitian agent abroad. But so many abuses were discovered nating; against our friends to the north of us or to the south in the execution of this decision that the Gove.rnment has decided to cancel the decree law of Mlcy' 29, 1939, which regulated the of the Rio Grande; but, at the same time, my quota proposal matter. establishes a very definite safeguard against an influx of alien Respectfully, refugees who are making Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America a mere stepping-stone to cover their entry The Haitian Government, having decided to increase the number of social organization of publics utility, has voted a new law on into the United States by naturalization in those countries naturalization. Any foreigner not living in Haiti at the present against which we now have no quota limitations. time can become Haitian citizen in making a special vow at ~ (At this point Mr. ·REYNOLDS introduced Senate bill 3730, Haitian consulate and the new Haitian citizen will come to Haiti which was referred to the Committee on Immigration, and at any moment. The foreigner after the vow will have the Haitian nationality-:-Haiti will be great open for same. appears under the appropriate heading, "Bills and Joint In order to give to the foreigner willing to become· Haitian citi· Resolutions Introduced.") zen the necessary authorization of making, at any Haitian consulate, Mr. REYNOLDS. I am perfectly aware that our existing the Government vow requested by the law, the Haitian Govern·· ment will take as contribution to the social government organiza· statUtes have written into them a safeguard that only persons tions of publics utility from any foreigner a. gift of $1,500 for single born in the Western Hemisphere are eligible for entry as non· person and $.2,000' for a married couple, and the Wife then become quota immigrants, but I need hardly say that the enf~rcement also Haitian citizen, and for the children of 18 years the gift shall of the existing law is not of such a character as to give any be of $1,000 each. Each individual beside the gift shall pay to the Government a assurance that the place-of-birth provision will be · adequate register tax of $300 per individual. · to protect us. As a matter of fact, there are often very grave Any organization that my proposition say to look for foreigner difficulties in establishing the birthplace of an alien seeking willing to become legally Haitian citizen will be free to ask to the individual for any amount within commercial limits which they to enter our shores. will think necessary to cover expenses and fees. I think my esteemed colleague, the Senator from Pennsyl The cable expenses, my special expenses, and fees for the complete vania [Mr. DAvis], will assure the Senate that I am in no way success of this transaction will be $500 per each individual. exaggerating by saying that aliens in transit through Canada I beg you again to excuse the liberty taking by me, say to write you regarding this special business; but not having a real good have succeeded in entering the United States by obtaining adviser in United States of America, I believe you wm be kind duplicate birth certificates of Canadian citizens by the simple enough to help me. practice of paying a small fee for a copy. The danger of the Always at your entire disposal in Haiti, and hoping to hear from you soon, I beg to remain, situation is well exemplified by the facts set forth in a letter Yours very truly, from a high official of one of the countries to the south of us. (Signed) EDouARD HoRELLE, I refer to Haiti, the capital of which is Port-au-Prince, and General Secretary of the Government of Haiti Post Office which has as its territory a part .of the island on which the Department. Ex-Chief of Immigration Department of Dominican Republic is located. Haiti. Mr. President, I should like to read that letter at this time. Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. President, I am about to conclude. I do not read French-- · I may say that in the. particular country from which Mr. BARKLEY . . Mr. President, will the Senator yield? this letter emanated I am advised that the situation has been Mr. REYNOLDS. Certainly. cured, at least temporarily, because I wrote to the Secretary Mr. BARKLEY. Does the Senator hope to conclude his of State of that country and received a most courteous re remarks this afternoon? sponse advising me that such grave abuses had arisen under Mr. REYNOLDS. Yes; I am about to conclude. the provisions of the law referred to in the letter I have I sent this letter to the Library of Congress and asked that just had printed in the RECORD that the law had been it be translated. I send to the desk the letter from the Hai repealed. tian Government and its translation, and also the transla I am casting no aspersions on any country in our Western tion from the State Department, of the letter in regard to Hemisphere, because I recognize the fact that in our own the purchase of eitizenships in Haiti; and I may add that I country we are none too careful about the way in which per- 1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 4145 sons circulate under false names and obtain official docu Mr. HALE. Mr. President, I send to the desk a resolution ments certifying to their identity under the false names which I ask to have read. they are utilizing. In this connection I recall to your minds The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be read. the fact that Earl Browder was recently convicted as a result The resolution (S. Res. 255) was read, considered by unani of his ability to obtain from our State Department a pass mous consent, and unanimously agreed to, as follows: port under a false name. Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow the · In the light of these facts it is only reasonable that the announcement of the death of Hon. CLYDE H. SMITH, late a Repre Congress of the United States should respond to a widespread sentative from the State of Maine. Resolved, That a committee of two Senators be appointed by desire, which has been growing over a period of many years, the Vice President to join the committee appointed on the part that the great gap in our immigration laws 'Qe closed and of the House of Representatives to attend the funeral of the that we establish at least quotas which will prevent the deceased Representative. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to entry of any flood of immigrants which may arise as a result the House of Representatives and transmit a copy thereof to the of the extraordinary conditions now existing·throughout the family of the deceased. world. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the second resolving EXECUTIVE SESSION clause the Chair appoints as the members of the committee Mr. BARKLEY. I move that the Senate proceed to the on the part of the Senate the. senior Senator from Maine consideration of executive business. [Mr. HALE] and the junior Senator from Maine [Mr. WHITE]. The motion was agreed to; and the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business. RECESS EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED Mr. HALE. Mr. President, as a further mark of respect to the memo·ry of the deceased Representative, I move that The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BROWN in the chair) laid the Senate stand in recess until12 o'clock noon tomorrow. before the Senate messages from the President of the United The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 5 o'clock States submitting sundry nominations, which were referred and 45 minues p. m.) the Senate took a recess until tomor to the appropriate committees. row, Tuesday, April 9, 1940, at 12 o'clock meridian.