'1945 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD'-HOUSE 1321 Motor Co., Inc.; without amendment (Rept. award or-subcontracts or orders; to the Com· real for knowledge may we pursue the No. 176). Referred to the Committee of the mittee on Expenditures in the Executive things that make for national righteous Whole House. Departments. ness and unity and that edify mankind. Mr. COMBS: Committee on Claims. H. R. By Mr. McCONNELL: 1260. A bill for the relief of Dr. Walter L. H. R. 2285. A bill to authorize the Secretary Lay Thy hand of blessing upon our Pres Jackson and City-County Hospital; without <>f Agriculture to grant and convey to Spring ident and upon his efforts to lighten the amendment (Rept. No. 177). Referred to.the field Township, Montgomery County, Pa., cer destiny of those who sit in darkness. Committee of the Whole House. , tain lands of the United States in Springfield Fill us all with the desire to purify our Mr. RAMEY: Committee on Claims. - H. R. Township, Montgomery County, Pa., for high selves, to walk patiently, and to dis 1558. A bill for the relief of Mrs. Alma Mal way purposes and for ornamental park pur charge our duties in accordance with lette and Ancel Adkins; with amendment poses; to the Committee on Agriculture. Thy plan. In our Redeemer's name. (Rept. No. 178). Referred to the Committee Amen. of the Whole House. MEMORIALS Mr. BYRNES of Wisconsin: Committee on The Journal of the proceedings of yes Claims. H. R. 1877. A }jill for the relief of Under clause 3 of rule XXII, a me terday wa.S read and approved. Maj. William Peyton Tidwell; with amend morial was presented and referred as ment (Rept. No. 179). Referred to the Com follows:. FELICITATIONS FROM general diffusion of mili ington Post. remarks in the Appendix of the RECORD tary information are indispensably nec The SPEAKER. Is there objection to and include therein a statement by Mr. essary for the preservation of liberty. 1• the request of the gentleman from New 0. S. Bledsoe entitled "Summary of Our A complete and generous education- · ~~ :York? Present Economic Situation." There was no objection. The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Said Milton- "'1. Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask the request of the gentleman from Mis is that which fits a man to perform justly, unanimous consent to -extend my re sissippi? skillfully, and magnanimously, all the offices, marks in the RECORD and to include a There was no objection. both private and public, of peace and war. newspaper article from the Wilkes-Barre Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask _unan It really is passing strange that as of ~a.) Sunday Independent of February imous consent to extend my own remarks today we have not learned by' experience 18, 1945, written by a distinguished mem in the Appendix oi the RECORD and in through the years that Washington was · ber of the Luzerne County, Pa., bar, At clude therein a letter from one of the right and that the safety of democracy torney Peter P. Jurchak. posts of the American Legion on the · does depend on a free citizenry trained The SPEAKER. ·Is there objection to pauper's oath; also to extend my remarks and· armed to defend itself. the request of the gentleman from Penn in the Appendix and include therein an EXTENSION OF REMARKS sylvania? editorial from one of the Long Beach, There was no objection. Calif., newspapers regarding the com Mr. ENGEL of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, Mr. LESINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask ing conference at San Francisco. I ask unanimous consent to extend my unanimous consent to extend my re The SPEAKER. Is there objection to own remarks in the RECORD and include marks in the RECORD in two instances the request of the gentleman from Cali therein a letter received from Mr. Henry and to include an editorial from the Ari fornia? · L. Stimson, Secretary of War. zona Daily Star, Tucson, Ariz., February There was no objection. The SPEAKER. Is there objection to 14, 1945, entitled "The Crimean Agree LT. DENNIS CHAVEZ; JR. the request of the gentleman from Mich-. ment," and an English translation of a igan? Polish-language news re1ease issued by Mr. ANDERSON of New Mexico. Mr. .There was no objection. l7l me on February 19, 1945, to certain Pol Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to ad CENTRALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT ish-language newspapers in the United dress the House for 1 minute. Mr. MASON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan States, entitled ·"Yalta Agreements Will The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Result in Third World War." the request of the gentleman from New imous consent to address the House for 1 minute, to extend my remarks in the The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Mexico? the request of the gentleman from Mich There was no objection. Appendix of the RECORD, and to include therein an article by David Lawrence. igan? [Mr. ANDERSON of New Mexico ad There was no objection. dressed the House. His remarks appear The SPEAKER. Is there objection to in the Appendix.] the request of the gentleman from Illi CENTRALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT EXTENSION OF REMARKS nois? Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I ask There was no objection. unanimous consent to address the House Mr. PLUMLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask [Mr. MASON addressed the House. His for 1 minute. unanimous consent to extend my own remarks appear in the Appendix.] remarks in the Appendix of the RECORD The SPEAKER. Is there objection to and include therein a poem by Dr. Levin PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE the request of the gentleman from Illi Swiggett. Mr. WOODRUFF of Michigan. Mr. nois? There was no objection. The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to ad the request of the gentleman from Ver dress the House for 1 minute. Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, the gen . mont? The SPEAKER. Is there objection to tleman from Illinois [Mr. MASON] has There was no objection. the request of the gentleman from Mich made some observations and called at igan? tention to a bill he has introduced, also GEORGE WASHINGTON-A PEACE There was no objection. making the "charge that there is too ESTABLISHMENT [Mr. WooDRUFF of Michigan addressed much centralization of power here in Mr. PLUMLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House. His remarks appear in the Washington. unanimous consent to address the House Appendix.] Mr. Speaker, it is amusing to hear for 1 minute. Mr. WOODRUFl" of Michigan. Mr. these charges made from time to time The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to ex but they come from Members whose the request of the gentleman from Ver tend my remarks and to include the cor States or respective communities have mont? respondence between myself and the received from that centralized power in There was no objection. Comptroller General, also the report sub Washington the appropriations and aid Mr. PLUMLEY. Mr. Speaker, 162 years mitted by the Comptroller General to that they have urged and sought. ago come the 2d of next May, George me. Within the hour or two we will have Washington, then President, the anniver The SPEAKER. Is there objection to before us the rivers and harbors bill sary of whose birth we observe tomor the request of the gentleman from Mich which will authorize appropriations of row, writing to Alexander Hamilton with igan? $381,968,000 to improve the harbors and respect to his sentiments on a peace es :There was no objection. creeks in many of the States. Thus far I have not heard-nor do I expect to tablishment, took occasion to say: EXTENSION OF REMARKS It may be laid down as a primary posi hear...... :.a single kick or objection to these tion, and the basis of our system, that every Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask appropriations. We will also consider, citizen who enjoys the protection of a free unanimous consent to extend my re in a few days, the Commodity Credit government, owes not only a proportion of his marks in the Appendix of the RECORD Corporation bill, which proposes an in property, but even of his personal services to and to include a letter from Mr. PageL. crease in the capital stock of that cor the defence of it, and consequently that the Hawthorne, of Creston, Iowa, which ap poration from three to five billion dollars citizens of America (with a few legal and peared in the Iowa Union Farmer. to be used in supporting prices of agri official exemptions) from 18 to 50 years of age should be borne on the militia rolls, The SPEAKER. Is there objection to cultural commodities which prices, in provided with uniform arms, and so far ac the request of the gentleman from Iowa? the last few years, have been higher than customed to the use of them that the total There was no objection. the farmers of this country ever antici strength of the country might be called forth Mr. KILBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask pated or dreamed of. at a short notice on any very interesting unanimous consent to extend my own There is seldom a week that we are not emergency. · · remarks in the RECORD in two instances. called upon to aid the States in various ~CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-I-IOUSE 1945 . . , -· . ... - . 1323 ways but on such days when the pro for denouncing the Yalta Conference as sistance of the representatives at the posed beneficial legislation is considered. the most dastardly crime of the ages. Yalta Conference subsided. I might say I do not hear any. complaints regarding In typical Goebbels fashion, which Mos· parenthetically that this lie had the help these aids and appropriations.· cow always apes and emulates, Pravda of quite a bit of the mixture of vodka I wonder how· the gentleman feels stated: and red pepper which some of our own about the proposal to increase the capi· O'KoNSKI had repeated a dirty insinuation representatives had so deeply impressed tal stock of the Commodity Credit Cor· of Fascist propaganda concerning liberated on their own minds. poration? . As to his other thought, I Poland. So now we bave Pravda telling us that agree with him. Let us have the names The officfal Soviet organ also stated: the reason Poland was sold down the of all the Republicans that have been river is because "Poland acted in unison appointed by President Roosevelt to high Prom the .tribune of the House of Repre· with Berlin." This is perhaps one of positions in the various agencies. sentatives he spoke like Goebbels. the "strong" arguments used by Stalin · The SPEAKER. The time of the gen· The article also states that- which Mr. Byrnes referred to upon his tleman has expired. The Polish Government in London had arrival from the Conference. Rein ELECTION OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE been acting in unison with Berlin. forced by vodka and red pepper it was perhaps even stronger. Of all Pravda Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a These statements by Pravda are typi lies this one takes the prize. In Wis privileged resolution and ask for its im cal of the technique employed by Moscow consin we have the Burlington . Liars' mediate consideration. to fool and confuse. Anybody not in Club, w):lich makes an annual award to The Clerk read the resolution
Commission, showing the status of civil C. A. B., but the Post Office_Dep~rt~ent length of- the routes was 44 miles. · Dur ian employment in the executive depart suggested the possibility of ~ paying $1 a ing 1944 there were 240 consolidations ments, as follows: pound for carrying th~t mail. effected, and -consequently the trend is December 31, 1941------1,620, 900 We must recall that several years ago, toward longer routes. In· most of these December 31, 1942------2,810,871 when the air-mail traffic or business was consolidations _ th~ patrons have objected December 31, 1943----~------3,00},090 in its infancy, it was the established .Pol becaul)e of anticipated poorer service. December 31, 1944------3,309,0~0 icy of the Federal Government to · sub However, the First Assistant Postmaster During these 3 war years, civilian em sidize air-mail carriers in order to cre General stated that no changes have ployment by the Federal Government ate and expand routes and to encourage been made withQut an investigation has more than doubled, whi'ch is a re development and expansion of the avia and recom~p.el).dation by a post-office markable condition in view of the fact tion industry. In those days it was un inspector. that manpower requirements of the Na derstood generally that subsidies were .When the question was asked during tion have been greatly accentuated for recognized as being necessary to build the hearings of the First Assistant Post . war purposes. up this vast network of air-mail trans- master General wh~ther the Department Thus you can readily see that the old . portation. But in the hearings before plans to minim ~ ze or curtail_Rural D~ line agencies like the Post Office Depart our subcommittee a few weeks ago the livery Service, the reply was that this ment are more stable than some of the testimony indicated that, while repre branch of the Post Office Service is given . recently created war agencies, and the sentatives of the Solicitor's Office were most careful consideration. This is salary schedules that were presented permitted to appear at the hearings con gratifying to millions of rural patrons, during the hearings are far more stable ducted by the C. A. B. when these rates in view of the fact that constant efforts in the Qld-line agencies than are those were established, it was obvious that the are being made to improve postal service in some of the war agencies. _ interest of the Government was not in the cities. If you will read. the Official Register adequatelf taken care of. . NO TIME TO GENERATE FEAR and note some_of the salary ._ standards We visualize in the post-war period a Mr. Chairman, there .has been much which have been ad_opted by these war vast expansion even greater than this debate and discussion recently about the agencies, you will probably be amaz~d. 500 percent which we have had in the manpower situation of this country. There has been much criticism on the domestic air-mail routes during the past This body is awaiting the action of the part of so-called career employees of the 4 years and the question naturally arises other body on a highly controversial bill Federal Government in the Post Office, in 'my mind, and I presume in the minds which is designed primarily to boost the Treasury, and other departments be of many· of you, · whether the Congress morale of our armed forces overseas. cause they have not enjoyed the same has some joint responsibility to deter mine the fundamental factors upon The manpower situation is so acute at salary increases and the promotions in present that the prosecution of the war grade and from one grade to another. which these air-mail rates are to be established. · . is being retarded, according to Secretary I checked recently and found instances of War Stimson. In his address on in some of the war agencies where sal The question is whether current rates Sunday evening, directed particularly to aries had been increased 50 perce'nt in still provide for su])sidies, and whether the families of servicemen, Mr. Stimson the last 2 years. · Of course, that same there is any justification for subsidies exemplified the highest Army tradition thing is not true of some of the old-line when we know t.hat, notwithstanding the _ of "buck passing.'' This administration agencies. restrictions· on the use of planes, which has frequently called the attention of the AIR MAIL VOLUME INCREASES have been diverted for war uses to the Army and the Navy, all of these carriers American people to the fact that the only During the hearings, the testimony of have been operating at maximum ca thing we need fear is fear itself. There various witnesses developed some very pacity. Air mail has actually been de have been few occasions; during the-past interesting information concerning the layed, and sometimes it takes longer than 4 years, when such an adroit effort to status of domestic air mail, and I want regular mail, because of the lack of ade create fear and confusion has been made to direct your attention to page 167 of quate facilities and planes. But I be as by the Secretary in his efforts to pre the hearings and show you what in lieve that Congress should face its post sent only one side of the current war pro creases there have been during the last war responsibility. It is true that the gram. Our fighting forces iii the Pacific 4 years. Post Office Department is showing a and elsewhere are serving heroically and This testimony shows that in 1940 the profit in the handling of this air mail; magnificently. However, it cannot be total pound-miles of domestic mail was but certainly we should determine said that at home war administration 18,000,000,000, or an increase of 18 per whether the C. A. B. and the Post Office has been so efficient under the direction cent over the previous year. In 1941 Department are taking into considera of the War Department and related Fed the pound-miles carried were 22,000,- tion some of these elemental factors eral agencies. There have been wide 000,000, or 19 percent over 1940. In 1942 · which may be of prime importance in the spread incompetence and inefficiency in the pound-miles carried had grown to post-war period. the production program, with resultant 31,000,000,000, an increase of 40 percent waste of civilian manpower and extrav over the preceding year. In 1943 there MAINTAIN RURAL SERVICE agance involving many billions of dollars. were 56,000,000,00 pound-miles carried, Included in this bill is $93,598,000 for · This is not the first instance wherein or an increase of 79 percent over the Rural Delivery Service. Although this the War Department has attempted to preceding year. This analysis shows figure is a decrease of about $14,000,000 influence civilians in a sphere outside that in the past 4 years there has been under the 1945 appropriation, no provi of its own supervision. It is unfor an increase of approximately 500 percent sion is made in this measure for the spe tunate that the War Department, which in the amount of domestic air mail cial acts covering overtime pay. The should operate entirely free from politi carried. total obligations of these items for the current year were $14,587,145. If these cal influence, is subject to administra During the hearing it was also devel tion pressure and is frequently called oped that, while the Civil Aeronautics increases are carried through the next fiscal year, the appropriation for . Rural · upon to intervene in congressional Board has been responsible for fixing the affairs. rates for carrying air mail which are Delivery Service will be approximately paid by the Post Office Department, there the same as during the current year. · Within the past 6 months, one of the may be some discrepancies in the esti · Throughout the rural areas of this most pressing problems confronting the mates submitted for both domestic and country there· has been much concern Congress has been reconversion from war foreign air mail. For instance, there regarding the possible curtailment of _ to peacetime economy, largely as the re was a tentative estimate of $1 as a rate this mail service because of recruitment sult of the overly optimistic forecasts for two new routes, one from Seattle, and other problems arising from the war. made by War Department representa Wash., to Fairbanks, Alaska, and one There have been many. consolidations tives last summer. If there ·have been across the Atlantic. The Navy Depart of . routes, although dm:ing the first unnecessary turn-over of labor and shift ment has been carrying the. mail on 6 months of this fiscal year there have ing from essential to nonessential jobs, these two routes, but recently private been 1,859 extensions. - it is principally because many thousands carriers have taken-over this responsi A_s of December 31, 1944, there were· of American workers were led to believe bility. No rate has been set yet by the 32,052 rural carri&ra. and the average last fall that the war in Europe had about 1945 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1329 ended and that it was tlnie to seek per· . ican people-on Sunday evening that the T·he CHAIRMAN. The time ·of 'the manent peacetime positions. War Department's own inefficient use of gentleman from Pennsylvania has ex Because of this attitude on the part of civilian manpower has contributed pired. the administration, machinei·y has· been greatly to the creation of the very situa· Mr. LUDLOW. Mr. Chairman, I yield set up to dispose of surplus war supplies tion which, he alleges, now justifies the 15 minutes to the gentleman from Penn.:. and equipment variously estimated at be· adoption Of drastic compulsory labor sylvania [Mr. TIBBOTT]. tween fifty and one hundred billions of controls? Does the Secretary overlook Mr. TIBBOTT. Mr. Chairman, as this dollars. Obviously, a great deal of valu.;. the fact that small business and· agri .. has been my first opportunity to serve able production 'was involved in making culture have·been forced to operate with as a member of the Subcommittee on these vast surpluses available. If the limited manpower during the past few Appropriations for the Treasury, I should War Department is so efficient in esti· years while the Federal Government in like at the outset to pay tribute to the mating the productive needs of the Na creased its own civilian personnel dur .. chairman of our subcommittee, the gen tion, why did the Quartermaster Corps ing 194.4 by 302,000? tleman from Indiana [Mr. LuDLOW], who and various other agencies involved in The Secretary declared that-shortages is always faithful in his duties and un procurement, misdirect essential man are now looming up as the inevitable re tiring in his efforts to render service; power in manufacturing supplies so . sult of failure of American democracy to also to the ranking Republican member, greatly in excess of current require function on the home front. It is bu the gentleman from · New York [Mr. ments? reaucracy, not democracy, which has TABER], whose conscientious efforts on Reliable reports are available from failed to function. Is it justifiable to appropriations are known to all Mem every industrial city in this country, condemn the· families of these service bers of Congress. It is an arduous duty showing that there has been almost crim men when they have been eager and to sit ·daily through the hearings, lis inal hoarding of manpower in war pro willing to produce the necessary muni tening to the justifications from the duction. Most contractors have been tions and equipment to insure a military many executive· heads of the Treasury, completely indifferent in recruitment of victory? ' but this was greatly lightened by these labor because of the vicious cost-plus - Mr. Stimson also concludes that the two leaders and the other very able mem fixed-fee contracts. There has been no enactment of a labor-draft bill is essen bers· of our subcommittee. incentive for war industries to operate tial because it will be a signal to the men It is only natural that I should have efficiently and to release surplus labor for on the battle front that there is no longer some interesting and enlightening expe more essential uses. It is interesting to to be discrimination against them on the riences, but I was particularly impressed recall that the same War Department home front. Every American knows with the responsibilities assumed by which is now seeking to place the respon that if there has been misdirection of every member of our subcommittee and sibility upon Congress for the deplorable our war program arid. misplacement of of their desire to bring the best possible labor situation is the same War Depart civilian manpower, these blunders have bill to the floor of the House for your ment which, on June 6, 1941, addressed a been committed by the administration, approval. letter to the House of Representatives, of which the Secretary is an integral It has been said that the Appropria· urging defeat of the amendment intro part. tions Committee of the House of Rep~ duced by the gentleman from Michigan I am confident that neither Americans resentatives holds a veto power over legis~ [Mr. ENGEL] to outlaw cost-plus-fixed in combat zones nor Americans at home Iation because it controls the purse fee contracts. must be coerced or intimidated by fear in strings, but it does not have the supervi It ·was apparent in 1940 at the outset order to contribute to the best of their sion over expenditures neither does it of the defense and war preparations in ability to winning this war. If Ameri have control over the ever-expanding which this cotmtry engaged, that there cans are seeking to destroy totalitarian· bureaus of our Government. would result a repetition of the univer· ism abroad, why should they adopt total Hammering for appropriations comes sally condemned cost-plus contract sys itarian methods at home, and, thus, re not only from departments but also from tem in vogue during the First World pudiate the voluntary system which has organized movements among the people War. However, Under Secretary of War enabled our country to play so vital a themselves for large Federal expendi Patterson declared, on June 6, 1941, that part in this war against the Axis Powers? tures. Every Congressman's desk is "if the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is At this critical stage of the war, it flooded with propaganda for huge ex forbidden by law, the program for Army ·would be far more effective for the Sec penditures which mean a drain on the and equipping our troops will be greatly retary of War to make a patriotic appeal Treasury. retarded." At that time the Under Sec to the American people for an all-out In the first place, I believe the people retary gave assurances that such cost effort on the basis of voluntary service. will insist that Congress must resist the plus contracts would be carefully Unity on the home front cannot be en demands of governmental departments checked. However, the record clearly hanced by using the Hitler technique of the bureaus and various other units that discloses that there hac been little re generating fear and making implications constitute the spending branch of the straint on profiteering; and if it were that this war will last longer unless the Government. Every year these bureaus not for renegotiation, this Government American people completely surrender make their appeals for funds, and many would have lost many additional billions their constitutional safeguards. times ask for vastly more than is given of dollars because of the ineptitude and Mr. TABER. Mr. Chairman, I yield them. Weeks are spent on the job of inexperience of this same War Depart~ 1 minute to the gentleman from Penn shaving this bureau here and that bu ment in the operation of its procurement sylvania [Mr. FULTON]. reau there and bringing down the totals. program. Mr. FULTON. Mr. Chairman, I am As we consider the investigation made The peak of Civilian employment by making my maiden speech today on the for our subcommittee on the Post Office the Federal Government in World War floor of the House and I feel a minute appropriation bill for 1946 and take a No. 1 was 918,000, covering all bureaus, is probably too long. I probably would look at the amount spent for traveling ex agencies, boards, and departments en feel more at home in a Navy uniform, penses of the Post Office Department last gaged in civilian activities. On Decem· with the Navy boys here, or, I will say, year, there are reasons to believe correc· ber 31, 1944, the War Department alone just as a plain galleryite. In consider." tions should be made in the bureaus of had civilian personnel amounting to ing this bill making large appropriations this Department. The amount expended 1,177,947. This means that the War De ·or public funds, may I point out to the in 1944 was $31,254,710-that was an in partment currently is using almost 30 Congress and to the various Govern- crease of more than 3,000,000 over 1943 percent more civilian employees than ment departments that the members of and almost 5,000,000 over that of 1940. were required to operate the entire the armed forces feel that it is not too Now as we look further into the investi civilian government at the peak of the much to ask·a Government employee to gation which deals with the expenditures First World War. The War Department do a full day's work for a full day's pay. for long-distance telephone calls and also has 327,000 civil employees overseas. In concluding; may I as a galleryite and other means of communication, we find Did Secretary Stimson make a report probably an unreformed one, always that in 1944 the total amount expended upon this unfortunate hoarding of looking around as they do when they· for telephone, teletype, cablegram, and civilian labor? Did he advise the Amer· come here, say. "Where is everybody?" other communications total $851,076 XCI--84 1330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-'-HOUSE FEBRUARY '21 which is an increase over 1940 of approx ... abilities. They deserve to have a gov civilization. The truth is that Govern imately $175,000. . ernment of greater progress and greater ment control of our economic life and I realize that there are undoubtedly freedom, and not a government of rigid the regimentation of its citizens must many occasions when urgent or emer ... bureaucratic· control of all industry, .all end in destruction of individual liberty. gency business requires the use . of long .. people, and eventually of everyone. For individual liberty cannot long survive distance telephone, cable, or teletype · After hostilities cease, the role of gov the death of economic freedom. service, but it is of great concern ·that the ernment in business must be lessened in Mr. TIBBOTT. Mr. Chairman, I Post Office Department is deviating from many areas of economy if our Govern yield back the balance of my time. its policy by patronizing its competitors ment structure is to survive. We cannot The CHAIRMaN. The gentleman to a greater degree than necessary. The as a progressive nation fall into totali, yields back 2 minutes. Department's mail fadlities should be tarianism, as this kind of system thrives Mr. LUDLOW. Mr. Chairman, I yield used in every possible instance. The by war and want. 10 minutes to the gentleman from ·ver bureau heads should be held responsible I know that some political economists mont [Mr. PLUMLEY]. for the control of these policies. . have said that it is rather a good thing RURAL FREE DELIVERY PATRONS, THEY ARE We know that there may be some ex- for a nation to be in debt, because it ENTITLED TO SERVICE ~ cuse for certain expenditures now be keeps down extravagance. I realize that Mr. PLUMLEY. Mr. Chairman, I cause we are at war, and which would these political economists know more notice that the Post Office Department not be necessary in normal times; never about such matters than I do, yet I do is doing business at a profit and has ac theless, as we look ahead, there should not accept their theory. cumulated a surplus of millions, which develop a better understanding of eco If we are to follow the theory of these means that the people are paying more nomic questions than exists now~ It is political economists, what becomes of money for services than they should be admitted, too, that these questions are honesty, common sense, and honor? By in order to sustain the activities of that difficult and disturbing, but conditions our being billions of dollars in debt, does Department, as it is conducted. Gov can be -corrected if we have the will to not lighten the burden of the poor, and ernment business should not be run on a face the issues and not depend too much the middle class. It certainly will not profit basis, as against the service to on the future taking care of itself. lighten the buraen of business as it ·is which the people are entitled in return Our war effort has performed miracles, necessary to show a profit if jobs are to for the money they pay therefor. "Serv because enough Americans .have adopted be provided. As I see it, confidence must the attitude that what mus be done, can ice" should be its motto. be restored in government if we are to The Post Office Department has no be done. If our future effort requires face the difficult -tasks in the post-war further miracles, that should be faced in better friend in Congress than I am, but period. I am critical of its efforts to make a profit a similar way. The promise of the American way of As we consider the testimony of those and to accumulate a surplus by depriving life can be fulfilled in accordance with the patrons of established rural routes appearing before us from the Procure the purpose of the freedom of the· Re ment Division, Treasury Department, of the service to which they are entitled, public and without the destruction of in especially in these days of lack of gaso having to do with surplus property, we dividual freedom. I believe, deep in my were assured that every effort is being line and rubber and other facilities heart, that the matter of appropriations necessary in order for them to get to post made to build up and retain a capable is a fundamental basic one and of vital and efficient organization which will offices way off the rural routes. importance to the security and future of The fact is the Department by rule offer a high standard of service at the our country. I cannot believe that the lowest possible cost; A further premise of thumb is consolidating rural free de continuing and control of the Commod livery routes; suspending them, abolish was made that they are confident that ity Credit Corporation left in the hands operations can be effected in the direc ing them all over the country to save of a few men to manage with the chang money when they have a surplus and tion of substantial economies. Consid ing directives of the Executive orders can ering the fact· that the agency handling at a time when the patrons anxiously be of future security and welfare of our await the arrival of a letter from their surplus property is somewhat in its in country. · ifancy, I believe it only fair to assume boys and girls in the service, which letter that those in authority will give some Here is a corporation authorized to is never delivered. :thought to conditions and be definite in issue its obligations guaranteeing pay It would be, comparably, just as sensi ment to a limit of approximately $3,000,• ble for telephone companies to discon .their policy to protect the interest of the 000,000. The Administrator of the Cor people of our country. · tinue their service to the rural areas~ by \Ve know that it is imperative to our poration has the authority to pay· milk 1·eason of the expense involved in the future economy to have Government subsidies to compensate the farmer for maintenance of the lines during these regulation in the public interest and ac the increased cost of operation. While war days. cording to law. No real American econ speaking of subsidies, I am reminded of Moreover, the rural free delivery was omy can ensue if the directives in the a letter which I receiVed a few days ago established, as its name implies, espe spending branch of the Government are from a Gold Star Mother, part of which cially in order to serve the rura!' com unnecessary or harmful. Overlapping I quote: munities now being deprived of such of agencies and inefficiency in the bu People do not want subsidies. What they service in altogether too many instances, do want is a fair and honest price for their too many, in fact, to be enumerated. reaus of governmental departments if products, but they are forced to take the allowed to have the upper hand will subsidies when they become effective in or The cost of the Rural Free Delivery Serv ultimately strangle economic freedom. · der to meet their ever-in.creasing taxes. The ice to be rendered to such rural commu Serious mistakes and muddling may taxes, so many different kinds of them, must nity is obviously now the sole determina ·bring on catastrophe. The country be paid even if we have to borrow the money tive of the question as to whether or not blundered after the last World War and to pay them. Do our boys who will be the service shall be continued or ended. !prosperity was spotty and temporary. spared to come back want to come to a land The answer is, It is ended, and the people of subsidies? We all can plainly see where ~ ~his blundering was well known to us 25 deprived of the service for which they this is leading. It ts leading to trouble at 1years ago when we were reconverting home. - have paid and to which they are entitled !! from a war of 19 months' duration. The under the law. Such a situation should present war will have lasted much Now this lady, who has expressed not not be tolerated; such a policy should 'longer, and our troubles will undoubt- only her own views on government, but not be followed to make money, as edly multiply ·manyfold. One of the the thoughts of many others that the against the contribution which the tax surest ways of making many mistakes is time has come for all those who still payer makes, which entitles him to the 1to leave the Federal Government in a cherish American ideals and principles to service provided for by law. disorganized condition. rally to their defense without considera I am in favor of extending, not crip Those serving in our armed forces are tion or self-interest. The time is here pling or curtailing service. entitled to return to their country and to place the issue fairly and squarely be Some of this surplus for 1944 should to a land which will encourage them in fore the American people, and to let them have been expended to continue to ren ithe development of free enterprise; to a decide whether they desire to sanction der service to those very areas now de country whicli stimulates men of all a program which inevitably means revo prived of it. The present policy and 'capacities to serve to the best of their lutionary changes in our country and P.lan to restrict and consolidate and to 1945 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1331 'deprive areas of service is not justified. Puerto Rico · should deliver to tis ·this This morning I received this two-page It should be discontinued. year· 1,100,ooo·- tons of sugar or roughly letter from Chester Bowles, dated Feb Since the Post Office Department 20 to 25 percent of that which the tptal ruary 20, 1945, replying to my letter shows a profit of $37,768,028 for 1944, population of this country will consume. under date of February 9, at which time ·and brings to 'the Appropriation Com But Puerto Rico may not deliver even I was protesting against the situation _mittee an estimated surplus predicted half of that amount to us unless present which was developing in Puerto Rico and at $117,643,897 for the fiscal year 1945, conditions are· materially changed be which I felt sure at that time would lead .and an estimated surplus of $265,214, cause I am today informed that as the to the closing of all of the sugar mills. .280 for 1946, it is obvious ·that we are result of the strike of workers in the cane The Puerto Rican people are citizens of ·paying too much for too little, and that fields Qf Puerto Rico every mill in 'Puerto the United States, and that is one of ·those in the rural area are getting too Rico has completely stopped harvesting our unorganized territories. We have little, too late, and not at all. · the 1945 crop. The strike is the result of no moral or legal or any other kind of . The representatives of the people in wage demands which the producers can right to treat the Puerto Rican people the rural areas should see to it that the not meet without an increase in the price as they have been treated by the Federal money .being appropriated for the sup of sugar or an increase in the incentive agencies of this Government. 'port of the Postal Service and for the payments which the growers receive from I have protested repeatedly and con continuance of theirs, who live in rural the Commodity Credit Corporation. Mr. tinuously during the last several years. 'areas, is expended for that purpose, and Thoron of the Department of the Inte Under date of February 9, I protested t".l that they are not ruthlessly and wan rior, which has supervision over Puerto Chester Bowles and I protested to the tonly deprived of mail facilities. Rico, and Mr. Goldsmith, the Federal president of the Commodity Credit Cor : Let me say again the rural free de Labor Conciliator, and Mr. Campos del poration. This letter from Mr. Bowles, livery was originally established for the Toro, Puerto Rican representative, chair which I shall insert in the RECORD so that benefit of, and in order to render postal man of the Insular Labor Relations everyone will have his side of the story, service to, people located in rural com Board, and almost every one else con in my opinion is an unsatisfactory reply munities on rural routes; ·such routes cerned, have agreed-have agreed, mind to the que.stions which I raised and the as the Post Office Department has dis you-that the wage demands cannot be protests I made in my letter of February continued ruthlessly to save money in met by the producers unless they them 9. But as usual, Mr. Bowles takes the order to show a profit. selves receive a larger return from sugar. position that his responsibility is to hold Really, now, the surplus is the measure The costs of production of sugar in down the prices; it does not make any 'of the inadequacy of the service ren- . Puerto Rico have risen sharply since Jan difference at all whether you have the dered, when so many people entitled to uary 1942, when the 0. P. A. established goods or not. service, for which they have paid, are the current ceiling price of $3.74 per It would be a lovely thing if the goods deprived thereof. hundred pounds of raw sugar. were there, if we could walk into the The policy is penny-wise and pound I might explain for the RECORD and for grocery stores and see butter at 10 cents foolish. The rural resident should not those who are interested that raw sugar, a pound, bacon at 5 cents a pound, cof be made the goat. specified as 96 degree sugar, contains fee at 3 cents a pound, and so on down Another thing: I have experienced about 4 · pereent of impurities. It is a the line, but how would you feel if there difficulty and unaccountable great delay very dark brown product. Personally were no supplies to purchase at those in reaching patrons of these rural routes. for eating I prefer to have raw sugar to prices? I would rather be sure we had I should not be deprived of my oppor refined sugar.- The refined sugar is the the supplies, even if we had to pay a few tunity to communicate with my constit white product. Ttie raw sugar is shipped cents more for them. But instead of uents who live on these rural routes. I from Puerto Rico to our seacoast refiner getting the additional supplies, all of the should be able to reach them and to ies and there it is put through the laun mills in Puerto Rico are closed. The know that they will get their mail dur dry, the impurities are washed out, and sugar season is passing, the time of har ing these hectic days. the result is white sugar, plus brown vest is here.· We either· gather hay while . And again, the general public has some sugar, plus some little syrup. the sun is shining or we do not have any rights in these premises as well as do . Raw sugar is being purchased by the hay fit to feed to the cattle. You either the patrons themse~ves. Commodity Credit Corporation on a basis harvest sugar and prepare your lands Each person, on every one of these of about $3.74 --per hundred pounds, and for replanting during the harvest period routes, as a taxpayer and a patron of refined sugar is selling around 7 to 7 ¥2 or you have less sugar this year and still the i>ost office, is just as much entitled to 8 cents per pound, whatever the price less next year as the result of not having .to the services of the post office, as is might be in the particular retail store planted at the proper time. any person who lives on a route with say where you happen to buy it. In Janu That is the way we have accumulated a thousand patrons. ary 1942 the 0. P. A. set this price at this shortage of 732,000 tons from Puerto It is time the rural public should be $3.74 per 100 pounds. But we should Rico during the past 3 crop years, be served and not damned. bear in mind that the United States cause we did not take time by the fore Mr. LUDLOW. Mr. Chairman, I yield Government agencies have, over a period lock and perform at the time we should ·the balance of the time allotted this side of months since 1942, performed certain have performed. There is no sense to to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. functions which have created certain these strikes in Puerto Rico. CRAWFORD]. increased costs to the producing of sugar, Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, will j Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Chairman, I in Puerto Rico particularly. ·· the gentleman yield? . ask unanimous consent to revise and ex One is the failure of the 0. P. A. to ' tend my remarks, and I shall also, when increase the ceiling price of sugar to Mr. CRAWFORD. I yield to the gen we go back into the House, ask permis compensate the growers for the in tleman from Michigan. , sion to include two letters in my remarks. creased cost of bags, fertilizer, and ocean Mr. DONDERO. The subject the gen The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to freight. A second is the wage increases tleman is discussing is one that vitally 'the request of the gentleman from Mich ordered by the War Food Administration affects many industries in Detroit. I igan? payable to the workers in the sugarcane have been rec.eiving protests, especially . There was no objection. fields. A third is the withholding of fer from the great Saunders Co., that they I. Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Chairman, the tilizer from the sugar industry of Puerto do not have sugar enough to carry on economic and social revolution continues Rico. Other ill-advised actions by the their business. It means the employ in Puerto Rico. I propose to discuss for Federal Government, these steps which ment of many people. the next few minutes the particular have been taken by the Federal Govern Mr. CRAWFORD. There is a uni phase of it in which all of our people are ment, have deprived the people of this versal shortage all over the United interested, although they pay very little country during the past 3 crop years of States, both in commercial cooking ves attention to other phases which I shall about 732,000 tons of sugar from ou:r sels and in household cooking vessels. It not mention. The one to which I wish to .sugar field in Puerto Rico. At the same is caused by some of these cussed, infer direct my remarks has to do with the time we are going along here today on nal policies carried on by the Govern question and the supply of sugar, that short rations of suga1· both in the house ment agencies here in Washington. sweet stuff we put in pies and cakes and holds and in the suga1·-co:hsumina .'fhere is absolutely no excuse for all of coffee and. tea. manufacturing plants. them. '--- l332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 21
I have studied this sugar question sugar interests can probably best be fU1• sugar. They so far have refused to increase minutely for 25 years, and the Puerto · swered by the War Food Administration. this offer, in spite of the fact that beet sugru· Rican end of it during that time. I The War Food Administration, operating growers are receiving a payment of $1 per 100 through the Commodity Credit Corporation, pounds, and cane growers in Louisiana are charge the Commodity Credit Corpora· act s as the purchasing agency on behalf of receiving a payment of 50 cents per 100 tion, the Office of Price Administration, the United States, and in turn sells raw sugar pounds and have been promised a payment the Labor Department~ the War Labor to domestic refiners. In order to give the of $1 per 100 pounds for the 1946 crop. Board, and the War Food Administration Commodity Credit Corporation greater lati Failure of Commodity Credit to offer an with negligence of duty and maladminis tude in discharging its duty of negotiating incentive payment high enough· to keep tration in connection with the Puerto for the purchase of raw sugar from Cuba and Puerto Rican growers out of the red is par Rican sugar affairs. Anybody who Puerto Rico, purchases made by the Com ticularly serious because of the fact that the wants go into the details of it must, modity Credit Corporation and sales to it island's growers cannot afford to replant their to have been exempted from price control. fields when they lose money on the sugar in my opinion, come to that conclusion Such action was taken since rising costs in being produced. When the fields are not re:.. when they know what they are studying the producing areas since the establishment planted on schedule, the yield drops and the about. of price control has made it necessary for amount of sugar which Puerto Rico can pro I think it is unfair to our people and to the Commodity Credit Corporation to buy at duce to meet ration requirements in con the Puerto Ricans, and I think it is time prices in excess of our maxitnum piices. tinental United States is bound to decline. for these Federal agencies, including Sales by the Commodity Credit Corporation As a matter of fact, over the last 3 years Governor Tugwell, of Puerto Rico; Mr. to domestic refiners are restricted, of course, a combination of factors, including (1) fail Munes Marin, of Puerto Rico, the island to the established maximum price. Any ex ure of the 0. P. A. to increase the ceiling price cess of the purchase prices over the estab of sugar to compensate growers for the in political administrator; and the Federal lished maximum selling prices is absorbed creased cost of bags, fertilizer, and ocean administrators here, to put their heads by the Commodity Credit Corporation. Both freight, {2) wage increases ordered by the together and stop this strike and open the Cuban and the Puerto Rican raw sugar War Food Administration, and (3) withhold those mills in Puerto Rico at the present crops for 1943 and 1944 were purchased by ing of fertilizer from the sugar industry and tiine. that agency. other ill-advised actions by the Federal Gov Mr. DONDERO. I think the House It is our understanding that the Com ernment, already have deprived United States modity Credit Corporation will offer the consumers of 732,000 tons of sugar. This is and the country should know that the equivalent to about 12 pounds per .capita, or gentleman from Michigan [Mr. CRAW· Puerto Rican sugar interests an incentive payment of 40 cents per 100 pounds in addi almost 50 percent of the current annual FORD], who now has the floor, has grown tion to the maximum selling price for the household sugar allowance. up with the subject of sugar from his 1945 crop. Negotiations for the purchase The loss of 732,000 tons 1s established as early life and has been active in nearly of the Cuban crop are still pending. follows: In 1942 Puerto Rico produced 1,148,- every branch of that industry. I do not I trust that I have given you a full ex 000 tons of sugar. Considering the .urgent believe there is a man on this floor on planation of the functions of this office with need for sugar in the mainland United St ates respect to the purchase and sale of raw and the surplus of labor in Puerto Rico and either side of the aisle who is better other factors, it certainly is reasonable to qualified on the subjec~ of sugar than the sugar. Please be assured that there is noth ing in the structure of our price ceilings assume that the island would have increased gentleman from Michigan [Mr. CRAW· which is in any way discriminatory against its production over the 1942 level if it had FORD]. . the Puerto Rican sugar producers. Nor is not been for the obstacles which the Federal Mr. CRAWFORD. I thank the gen· there any attitude favoring the Cuban pro Government placed in the way of the sugar tleman.. · . ducers prevailing in this office. I shall be growers. However, instead of increasing, the Mr. Chairman, in addition to this happy to assist in answering . any further island's sugar production has declined Puerto Rican trouble we have a situation questions which may remain in your mind. sharply from the 1942 level. In 1943 the pro Sincerely, duction fell to 1,039,000 tons, a drop of 109,- in the states where sugar aeets are 000 CHESTER BOWLES, Administrator. tons. In 1944 the production was 723,000 grown, where beet sugar . comes from. tons, a drop of 425,000 tons from 1942. The Just now the sugar-beet fields should fur· 1945 crop is estimated at 950,000 tons, a drop nish the · people of this country with ASSOCIATION OF SUGAR of 198,000 tons from 1942. Adding together 1,875,000 tons of sugar per annum. I PRODUCERS OF PUERTO RICO, the decreases for the 3 years, we arrive ai do not have any idea that you will get Washington, D. C., February 19, 1945. a total of 732,000 tons, which the American 1,100,000 tons. I am satisfied at this Hon. C. JASPER BELL, consumer very well could have had, but did Chairman, Committee on Insular Affairs, not receive because of the Federal policies particular time of the year there will be House of Representatives, mentioned previously. a shortage this year of at least 700,000 Washington, D. c. Failure of Commodity Credit to offer Pue1·to tons of sugar from the beet sugar pro· DEAR CONGRESSMAN BELL: The radiograms Rican growers at this time an incentive pay ducing areas of the United States, which which you have received recently from the ment sufficient to avert production losses includes our great State of Michigan. La· Farmers Association and the Association of and sufficient to permit them to stand the bar conditions are bad and growing Sugar rroducers requesting an investigation cost of replanting their fields means a stlll worse on account of so many young of the handling of the Puerto Rican sugar further loss of sugar in 1946, because pro situation by the Federal Government arise duction is certain to fall unless-the replant farmers being inducted into the military !rom two related developments. ing proceeds on a normal scale. forces. , One is the current strike, which has closed In addition, it appears that the current The letters referred to follow: every sugar mill in Puerto Rico and com strike will continue indefinitely unless labor OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION, pletely stopped the harvesting of the 1945 gives in or unless Commodity Credit either Washington, D. C., February 20, 1945. crop. The strike 1s the result of wage de grants an additional incentive payment, out The Honorable FRED L. CRAWFORD, mands which the producers cannot meet of which increased wages can be paid, or House of Representatives, without an Increase 1n the price of sugar or unless the Federal and insUlar governments Washington, D. C. an increase In the incentive payments which can convince the labor unions in Puerto D!:AK MR. CRAWFORD: I am pleased to ac· the growers receive from Commodity Credit Rico that wage increases are not justified knowledge receipt of your letter of February Corporation. at this time in view of the reduced incomes 9, which .affords me an opportunity to ex· Mr. Thoron, of the Interior Department: of the Puerto Rican sugar growers. plain the functions of this agency with re Mr. Goldsmith, the Federal Labor Concillator; As indicated in. Mr. Roig's radiogram from spect to prices for the sale of raw sugar Mr. Campos del Toro, chairman of the Insular Puerto Rico, the Association of Sugar Pro &hipped to the United States from oti-shore Labor Relations Board, and almost everyone ducers Joins the Farmers Association in ask producing areas. else concerned have agreed that the wage ing that the Committee on Insular Affairs You are aware, of course, that the prl· demands cannot be met by producers unless investigate the Puerto Rican sugar problem mary function of this agency is to stabilize they themselves receive a larger return !rom and make suitable recommendations to the commodity prices 1n order to prevent in· sugar. adminifl,tra.tive agencies of the Government. Very truly yours, ftation. Maximum prices so established Costs of sugar production have risen sharply ' must be generally fair and equitable, and, since January 1942, when the 0. P. A. estab-· DUDLEY SMITH, Director. ' tor obvious administrative reasons, must be 11shed the current celling price of $3.74 per Mr. TABER. Mr. Chairman, I yield , of general appl1cab111ty. The existing maxi 100 pounds of raw sugar. As a. result, almost the balance of my time to the gentle .. : mum price of raw cane sugar of 96 degrees all of the 14,000 small sugar growers in VuRSELLJ. , polarization, duty paid, cost, insurance, and Puerto Rico lost money last year, and so did man from nlinois [Mr. fl'eight, 1s $3.75 per hundredweight at buyer's all but a few of the companies. Mr. VURSELL. Mr. Chairman, I receiving point. In spite of this !act and 1n spite of their would like to take the opportunity of Your specific question pertaining to an atated desire to stimulate increased produc making a few observations rather apart apparent offer by United States agencies to tion of sugar, Commodity Credit has oftered from the appropriation bill which we are purchase raw sugar from the Cuban interests Puerto Rican sugar growers an incentive pay. now discussing. The first observation I at higher prices than offered to Puerto Rican me11t of o~ly 40 cents pe~ !QO pounds of raw: should like to make is that I am fearful 1945 .CONGRESSIONAL. REC01;\D-· HOUSE 1333 we are getting a little too far .Jeft from years, a man who is respected for his ply for this Nation in the first quarter center. That statement has a rather Americanism, gave utterance to the of this year, and they predicted further familiar sound to the .Members of this thought that t~e record of Felix Frank shortages as -the year runs on. Yet, Gen House. It was recently made by the furter, one of the Justices of' the Su eral Hershey and the President recently President shortly after his ·ina .ugura ·preme Court ought to be the subject of insisted on drafting practically all farm tion. The thing that brings that to my investigation by the committee recently boys. Added to the diffi.culty of produc mind is, first, the nomination by the established in this House to investigate tion has been the lack of farm machinery President of Mr. Wallace for the pow subversive activities. The gentleman which is more acute this year than last. erful position of Secretary of the De• went further; branding him as the Ras Unless agriculture is properly recognized partment of Corrimerce. Many reasons putin of this administration, and sug we may find that we will go into such a have been given for such action. I think gested that possibly they might find such serious ·decrease in food production that the President gave the best reason when evidence as would make impeachment it will not only bring greater hardship to he said in substance that he felt Mr. necessary. our people but might slow down the win Wallace was entitled to most anything I wonder whither we are drifting in ning of the war. he wanted in the Government because this country. We never had anything To make matters worse, the President of the very splendid services ·he had ren like this a few years ago. ·We did not and Secretary of War Stimson are ad dered in the recent campaign. In other have those problems to contend with. vocating the National Service Act that words, again promulgating the old· doc Our present leadership should discour would probably take 1,000,000 more men trine which comes down through the age their growth, rather than to con out of the already thin line of farm pro pages of the history of this country and stantly encourage them and the evil duction and civilian distribution forcing other countries~ ''To the victor belong influence that seems sure to follow. them into war plants that are over the spoils... · Moving again to the left, there has staffed already as well as into war plants That is rather a far cry from the •been considerable publicity in the news that are understaffed. vaunted liberalism of the New Deal and papers recently that an order has been Secretary of War Stimson is as wrong the supposed strengthening of the Civil promulgated by our military authorities in the position he takes in insisting on Service as one of our governmental in giving the right. of promotion to officers this draft bill now as he was 1 year ago stitutions. There has been considerable in the military service, to men who are when he insisted that the Congress discussion in the Senate, which at once known Communists, placing them in a should pass the short-ballot bill rather voted no confidence in Mr. Wallace by position to pierce the veil of secrecy, and than the State-ballot bill which finally the passage of the George bill. Some to know all the facts regarding our secret · became law. of them have charged that it was a formulas and implements of warfare, de In his recent report he is forced to ad major gesture of recognition of the ef vised· by our scientists; giving them an mit that of all of the soldiers who voted, forts of the Sidney Hillman Political opportunity to get into a position where, 99% percent chose the long ballot rather Action Committee. That the appoint if perchance their love for communism than the short ballot. ment was the P. A. C. political pay-off. is greater than their love for their own He is 99% percent wrong in the posi Well, for good measure, you might throw country and their own institutions, they tion he takes now in favoring this draft in Mr. Browder, Mr. Bridges, and the might be able to wreak terrible harm to bill. rest of that·motiey gang. I indict these the military and the defense of our The Army has over 1,000,000 civilians leaders separate and apart from the country. I submit this is another evi employed. The Army, of which he is its C. I. 0. as an organization, because there dence of moving much too far to the head as Secretary of War, is one of the are many splendid American citizens left. worst. hoarders and wasters of labor in who have joined the C. I. 0. in order to This is not Republican criticism. It the Nation today, yet, he makes no sug help better their ·general working con comes from leading Democrats such as gestion and apparently no effort to put ditions through collective bargaining. I the chairman of the Committee on Mili his own house in order. It appears that hope that some day, because of the com tary Affairs of this House, the gentleman he has heard his master's voice or has munistic leadership which has infiltrated from Kentucky, Congressman MAY, who yielded to his persuasion in going on the itself into the C. I. 0., those men who seems to be alarmed if he is quoted cor radio in an attempt to alarm the fathers believe in the American principles of rectly in the newspapers. He suggests and mothers of this country, doubtless in government as they have been handed that if they are going through with this the hope that they will put pressure on down to us and which have contributed thing they will be called before his com the Congress to pass an act that will to the great success of this country, will mittee so that the military leaders may cost the Government additional billions find it necessary to leave that organiza be interrogated, and find out why it is of dollars rather than to pass an act that tion and again amalgamate themselves necessary. will clear up the hoarding and wasting of possibly with the American Federation The gentleman from Kentucky, Con labor and will get the production the of Labor. gressman MAY, said in his opinion there Government needs without resorting to Now, getting too far to the left again, are enough red-blooded Americans about the totalitarian policies of a work-or-jail comes the recommendation by the Presi whose patriotism there is no question to bill under the threat of heavy fines and dent of that social worker, Mr. · Aubrey officer, staff, and lead the military forces jail sentences. Williams, to head that great forward of this country. The general movement of this Govern looking Rural Electrification organiza These are just some observations on ment too far to the left of center is a tion. Naturally, you would think in an matters that I think are giving great con- challenge to the Members of Congress appointment that has such power and , cern to the American people. I think and which they must meet and, in my judg such possibilities for the future develop I know that they are giving great con ment, ultimately will meet, before we ment and good of this country there cern to the Members of this Congress. reach the point where we will lose in fact could be found among the old-line Demo I believe it is a challenge to the Mem the representative government in this crats someone who had had experience, bers of this House to attempt to take over country and the liberty it assures its someone whose background would impel as often and as much as they can so that people while our boys are ·making un.:. the Chief Executive to place in that im they who have the responsibility directly heard of sacrifices on the battle fronts portant position such a man who is as the representatives of the people shall of the world in the belief they are help fitted by training to fill such a position, do their full share in guiding the destiqies ing to save such a government to which and to appoint a man who has the con of this Nation in the interest of the peo they can return when the war is over. fidence of the people. ple they represent. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the Some of the leading Democrats One of the previous speakers referred gentleman from Illinois has expired. All shouted ''Red, again when his name to the much-talked-of recent manpower time has expired. was ·presented for consideration by tliat bill. I was interested in reading an ar The Clerk will read. committee· in the other body. To my ticle from the American Meat Institute TJ:ie Clerk read the bill. mind, another illustration of probllbly published in the paper the other day. Mr. LUDLOW. Mr. Chairman, I move moving a little too far to the left of ,This is an organization that should have that the Committee do now rise andre center. A couple of days ago one of the knowledge a:p.d the right to speak. port the bill back to the House with the the leading Democrats of this House,' a In this article they stated there would. recommendation that the bill do pass. man who ·has served with distinction for be a drop of 38 percent in the meat sup-. l'he motio~ was agreed to. 1334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE ;FEBRUARY 21 Accordingly the Committee rose; and bill that the HouS'e passed in the last the cause of the great river and harbor :Mr. McCoRMACK having taken the chair session of the Congress. As I under.. . bill. · as Speaker pro tempore, Mr. P~IEST~ stand it was agreed to by the conferees, Mr. MARTIN of. Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman of the Committee of the Whole but unfortunately, during the last day or . Speaker, will the gentleman yield? · House on the state of the Union, reported so of the sessions of the other body, due Mr. SABATH. I yield to the distin that that Committee, having had under to perhaps too much conversation or guished minority leader. consideration the bill