Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 April 1942 — Page 19
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1942
The Indianapolis ‘Times
SECOND SECTION
Hoosier Vagabond
TUSCON, Ariz, April 10.—Do any of you remember Rudy Hale and his wife, the snake-catchers I wrote about several years ago? They lived way out on the Arizona desert, ran a filling station on the side, and made their main living catching rattlesnakes for zoos, collectors and for use in serum manufacture. When I first wrote about them, they had caught some 25006 rattlesnakes with their bare hands in nine years. A couple of years after that, I stopped past to see them. They were rather down-in-the-mouth. They had so depopulated the snakes that they had to drive 25 miles to find one. I stopped past again this trip. Their house and filling station were boarded up, and a big sign said, “Closed—Keep Out.” I couldn't find what had happened to them, for the desert is mighty empty out there, and there was nobody to ask. I guess they just ran clear out of snakes and had to leave.
The Rise and Fall of—Pajamas
TWO AND A half years ago. when we were last in Tucson. I bought a pair of blue pajamas. Since that time those pajamas have been twice to Panama, all through Central America, several times across the continent, twice across the Atlantic, and to Africa and South America. They are well-traveled and well-worn.
Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum
ELI LILLY likes to take off his coat and get comfortable when hes attending a meeting. He stands it a while, then starts fidgeting and winds up with: “Well, now, I think I ought to take off my coat.” . . . Congressman Charley Halleck, the wellknown Republican, called on Governor Schricker, equally well known as a Democrat, yesterday. Why? “Well,” explains Chariey, “he’s just one of my constituents and I always try to keep my constituents happy.” Edward E. Green, director of the federal defense training program, is heading for New York in a day or two in connection with his program of training workers for ho the naval ordnance plant. . . , Dr. John G. Benson, Methodist hospital superintendent, left for New York yesterday afternoon to attend a meeting of the Board of Hospitals and Homes for the Methodist church. He's executive secretary of the board, which is to have its national ccnvention here in February.
Shortage of Doctors
IN CASE YOU'VE found it difficult tc find a doctor recently, blame the war. An unofficial tabulation reveals that more than 50 of the citys physicians have left for the armed services in the last year. Twenty-one have gone from the Hume-Mansur building in less than a year and a half. But cheer up. There still are quite a few left, as the last registration made—in 1%40—listed 8359 doctors in the county. . The park board is getting ready for heavier attendance at city parks this summer than ever before, now that long trips to state parks are out of the picture. A new picnic section is being opened on the east side of White river between 18th and 30th sts. By the way, Superintendent A. C. Sallee is hoping there won't be any vandalism in the parks this summer. as there arent any replacements available for damaged equipment. . . . Yeoman (second grade) Bud Hill has received orders to leave Wednesday for F Chi CHUNGKING, China, April 10.—It is only partly true that President Roosevelt rushed through that half-billion-doilar loan to China in order to assuage the disappointment of the Chinese because of the Anglo-American tendency to put Hitler first on their list of enemies. The other reason is soon evident to the visitor in Chungking. Prices have risen to 30 times the pre-war level. The pockets of coolie chairbearers are bulging with paper money in rolls of the size that Texas cattlemen display on a Saturday night in Kansas City. At the Sing Song coffee shop, which is the main hangout here, coffee is $6 (Chinese money) a cup. That's equal to 30 cents in Amerfcan money. Most prices have doubled since December. A cheap shirt costs $8 in American money. In Chinese money, most prices sound like Hollywood movie-star salaries, A story that is told with good humor by both parties illustrates the situation. American Ambassador Clarence E Gauss paid $5 in American money for a pair of garters. He complained good-naturedly to the director of commodities, who replied. “We don't consider garters necessary.”
The People Feel Better
THE CHINESE have taken various practical steps to offset inflation. For instance, the sale of rice by the government at 25 per cent of the commercial price. And many other means have been utilized to alleviate the effects of inflation. As a matter of fact. the effects are not so appalling here as they would be in a highly industrialized country. Eighty-five per cent of the population are farmers, and the farmers do well with rising prices. At least Fimance Minister H H. Kung says the farmers feel better when they have a large roll of bills. Therefore they like the war. But if there were deflation, and less paper money in their pockets, they
My Day
WASHINGTON, Thursday — The vice president and Mrs. Wallace, Mrs, Henry Morgenthau Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Golden, Mrs. Dorothy Roosevelt and her three daughters, Mrs. Earl Robinson, and the from Mr, Goldens play “Claudia,” which is now playing a return engagement in the city, spent a unique hour with me after 11 o'clock last night. In the first place. Earl Robinson played his composition, which I hope will soon be heard on the radio because it is a contribution to the understanding of America and tells us what we, the people, must remember. Then, in lighter vein, John Golden and Arnold Johnson entertained us with reminiscences of bygone days. The president could only spare a few minutes between important conferences early in the evening, but he told me this morning that the songs really had been a joy to him. The war news is bad today. Even though it has been hanging over us for weeks, so many of us had hoped that courage could dominate hunger and weariness and over-powering numbers.
cast
There is no bitterness in this defeat because it
By Ernie Pyle
Last week they split across the shoulders from simple old age. I hung onto them a few days, until the splits multiplied to the point where I couldn't get into them without getting all tangled up. So I threw them away. The funny part is—and I didn’t plan it deliberately—those pajamas went to their final resting place in the very same city where they were bought two and a half years and some 75,000 miles ago. Isn't life wonderful?
Come On Soldier!
THE OTHER DAY, when I was visiting the Peglers, we got to talking about picking up hitch-hikers. I don’t ordinarily, but nowadays I always stop for anybody in uniform. Peg does, too, but he doesn’t trust even a soldier hitch-hiker too far. So I got to telling about the soldier hitch-hiker I picked up the other day and carried for 400 miles. This soldier told me that his request for leave came through so unexpectedly he didn’t have time to get money wired from home, so he started out without a penny. He had a long way to go and his time was short, so I lent him $10 so he could eat, and also ride the busses at night when hitch-hiking would be slow. He said he would send the money as soon as he got home, “I'll bet you $10 you never get your $10 back,” Pegler said. So the bet is on. Soldier, don’t let me down. I want that $10 of Mr. Pegler’s awful bad. Everybody else tries to hook him because they think he’s rich, so I don't see why I shouldn't have my share. I'll let you know how it turns out.
active duty with the navy at San Diego. ... Sign on a door in the federal building: Room 423, Secret Service—Walk in.
His Honor Salutes
MAYOR SULLIVAN has been taking a ribbing over a picture in one of the papers Tuesday showing him in a group reviewing the Army Day parade. Everyone else—army officers and Governor Schricker —was saluting. His honor was just standing there. Several people phoned the mayor's office to complain about his lack of patriotism. He says the photographer snapped the picture just a second before he saluted. The fact is, both he and the Governor were wrong. Men in uniform salute: male civilians remove hats and stand at attention when the flag passes. . . . Some time ago we told you about the Victory cocktail invented by Richard Allen, the I. A. C. bartender. Every time he sells one (at 50 cents) Mr. Allen puts a 50cent war stamp in a book fastened above the bar. Already the cocktails have “bought” four war bonds.
Interlude—Not Brief
A WOMAN'S inability to awaken “Bill,” had the folks out around 23d and Meridian sts. in quite a dither the other night. She drove up in front of a house in the 2200 or 2300 block, Pierson st.—the first street west of Meridian—about 1:30 a. m. and hammered on the door. There wasn't any response. Then she tried sounding the auto horn and shouting for “Bill, oh, Bill,” but “Bill” continued to snore. Next she took off her shoes and hammered on the door with the heel. That went on for maybe 20 minutes, with more horn honking, yohooing and hammering until nearly everybody within a block, apparently. was awake—everybody., that is, except “Bill.” Lights were flashing on and off in a nearby apartment house, and a man stuck his head out the window and shouted, “Quiet.” Finally police arrived and helped her in her efforts to awaken “Bill” for what our informant insists must have been at least another 45 minutes. We never did learn whether “Bill” awoke—or was even there.
By Raymond Clapper
would think themselves less prosperous. The same thing goes for the coolies. Once they got 30 cents a day. Now they get $10 or more, because the shortage of labor gives them leverage and thus wages are lagging less than is usual in an inflation. Government employers on fixed salaries have been hit the hardest. The government is issuing them commodity coupons on which they can draw fixed quantities of supplies, regardless of price, from govermment subsidized co-operative stores.
Needed: A Shipping Genius
NEVERTHELESS, THE momentum of the inflationary movement has eaused real alarm, and it was felt necessary to restore confidence in the currency. Hence the appeal for American and British loans. The government is just now issuing savings bonds redeemable in American money, the theory being that the Chinese will put money into these and thus | draw off surplus currency. Aside from the expansion of currency, it is also a fact of extreme importance that there is little aside from food on which to spend money. Furthermore, there is hoarding of commodities, as is usual during inflations. Even merchants are not anxious to sell their goods. They would rather hold them for higher] prices later on. It is hoped here that the American loan, of which | $200,000,000 is for the purpose of backing the Chinese currency, will check these dangerous tendencies. The situation is not out of control, but it has been racing so fast that there is danger of control being lost. Hence the attempt now to put on the brakes. The inflation doesn’t endanger China's war effort, as the rice supply is assured and the Chinese soldier needs little else. The big gap is in planes and other heavy stuff which must come from America and Britain. That, rather than infiation, is the real problem. China won't fold up just because of inflation. But if she can’t get weapons she can’t fight, which is the crux of the situation now. The problem is not one! for economists so much as for a shipping and trans port genius who can find a way to put weapons into! willing hands here.
Labor and Business Join In War Against Inflation; Disputes on Wages End
This is the first of two articles on how Canada is waging a successful fight on inflation through blanket price-fixing program.
, By FRED S. FERGUSON Times Special Writer
OTTAWA, Ont., April 10.—After four months of toil and sweat, and the enlistment of virtually every man and woman in the Dominion in the effort, Canada is able to report progress today in an unprecedented battle against the country’s deadly enemy from within—inflation. The upward curve of the cost of living index for
Canada has been checked.
This has been accomplished, not on any piecemeal or partial prieaseont ie basis, but through the establishment of an over-all ceiling on all prices, on all wages, salaries, services, rents and virtually everything that has to do with the life of the nation. It was a daring experiment, but it was presented to the country as the only means of avoiding economic disaster during this hectic war period while employment and buying power are sky-rocketing to new
Fred Ferguso n same.
levels and demands for consumer goods, accompanied by shortages, are doing the Employers and wage earners alike were appealed
to. The women of the country, who do 80 per cent of the
purchasing, were enlisted to watch their prices.
Volun-
teers from groups representing all leading industries and businesses were called in to help administer the job which is being handled through the wartime prices and trade board headed by Donald Gordon, deputy governor of the
Bank of Canada. The appeal to enlist in the fight on inflation as a matter of patriotism, by bringing about price and wage stabilization, was as direct as an appeal for enlistment in the fighting forces. The country responded, and while there was plenty of skepticism and doubt in the beginning, the degree of co-operation and hope of ultimate success has steadily risen, rather than declined.
2 2 Subsidy Is Vital A VITAL AND integral part of the Canadian price and wage control is subsidy. Heretofore the dominion has had a “wage bonus” scheme, which called for the pay-
| ment of weekly bonuses as cost of
living indexes might change. This it was reasoned, however, merely contributed to the inflation spiral by feeding more money into the race against prices.
Under the price and wage ceiling, the money is paid at the other end of the line, so that prices may remain unchanged and wages remain stabilized. The subsidy is thus for the benefit of the consumer, since payment of any subsidy is accompanied by an examination of profits, and this means profit control as part of the general picture. This, despite the fact that the Canadian income tax on excess profits is 84 per cent. It is apparent, however, that | the government would be contributing a minimum of 168 per eent in event of any excess profits being shown by subsidy beneficiaries, and this will be kept under control. As to results to date, the index | for the cost of living in Canada was based at par, or 100, as of August, 1939. This figure rose to 1071 by December, 1940. From April, 1941, to November, 1941, it rose more than 8 points to 1154. Immediately after this, however, the effects of the new price and wage ceiling policy began to show and the index for last December dropped to 1149.
s = 2
Stability Noted
IN JANUARY of this year, it was 1145 and February showed 1148. The index thus showed vir-
| tual stabilization during four
months. There was no marked
| decline, but at the rate of increase
By Eleanor Roosevelt
but in the magnificent intelligence with which they fought their battles. Having no bitterness, however, does not mean that the determination is less strong to win in the end, and to give back freedom to the people who have so long looked to us for the ultimate fulfillment of their hopes of self-government. Fighting in Bataan has been an excellent example of what happens when two different races respect each other. Men of different race and background have fought side by side and praise each other's heroism and courage. That lesson should be learned everywhere. It is raining this morning and I am glad that all of my appointments are here at home. An acquaintance of mine came to tell me of a trip just completed. that covered many miles in the United States. One of the things he mentioned was, that after his talks to different groups, one question often asked of him was: “Are the people in Washington | turning the capital into a gay and giddy eity, with! parties of every kind still going on?” This interested me because I think some one must) have planted this idea in people’s minds, for it hes | been coming to me often by letter. I ean only speak with authority on the life in the White House. There is dubs a plete
prevailing during the months prior to December, it is felt that there certainly would have been a further rise of from 10 to 15 per cent, during this four-month period, had there been no control. During the same period, without control, the index of the United has soared to 130 and
that time remain under the ceiling. This goes for the top executive, as well as the man working by the hour. Bonuses are prohibited unless it can be shown that a system of bonus payment prevailed prior to the establishment of the “basic period.”
=n zn =
Affects Boss, Too
THE BOSS cannot raise his own salary any more than he can raise the pay of a workman. Whatever rent the workman was paying between Sept. 15 and Oet. 11 became his fixed rent, and, at
whatever rate he, and the boss as well, may have been paying for electricity, gas, water, telephone, plumbing, heating, painting, repairs of any kind, laundry, cleaning, tailoring, dressmaking, or for a haircut or shave or a hair-do or facial at the beauty parlor for the wife—all these costs come under the ceiling.
There are 12 “services” in all that come under the ceiling. A Canadian can even die knowing that it will cost him no more than the rate prevailing during the “basic period,” since undertaking and embalming are listed among the 12 services under ceiling. Most professional services, such as doetors, lawyers and financial services are ceiling-exempt.
As to clothing and other merchandise, meats, other foodstuffs and canned goods, all prices are not the same even for equal quality. For instance, if one merchant was selling a suit or overcoat for $35 during the basic period and another one offering a similar garment for $40 or $45, each retains his price under the ceiling. The merchant charging at the higher price may have a sale and reduce his price if he wants to, but the $35 price can’t be raised.
Or an independent grocer may have been selling beans at 15 cents a can, whereas a chain store was offering them at 13 cents or two cans for a quarter. The ceiling applies to the independent at 15 cents and to the chain at 13 cents. And the disposition, as the wartime prices and trade board is operating, would be to subsidize the independent and enable him to keep his price down, rather than permit the chain to break its
. ceiling in the event conditions in
the future made it difficult for both,
Canada’s Over-All Ceiling Levels
Living Costs
No strikes or wage disputes slow up Canada’s war effort or her fight on inflation. Labor, like the arsenal workers pictured above chatting with Prime Minister W. L. MacKenzie King, is protected by price ceilings,
COST OF LIVING INDEXES
Canada and Other Countries
* AUGUST, 1939:100
al
57 Sa amo
J UNITED KINGDOM
[=
{C= NEW ZEALAND UNITED §' STATES
3
1939
;
1940
i § SL
3
1941 1942
The graph above shows how, figuring August, 1939, as 100, Canada’s cost-of-living curve rose steadily until November, 1941, when the effects of the new price and wage ceiling policy began to show, it dropped in December, leveled out to a comparatively stable line going into
March of this year.
Note that curve for the U. 8. continued to rise
during the period when Canada’s dropped.
Speculation Blamed
THERE ARE a number of things not under the ceiling, such as fresh fruits and other seasonal items, live animals, birds, flower seeds and bulbs, hay, straw and so on. Onions and potatoes were put under the ceiling only last month. They were originally exempted as a result of recognition of seasonal, fluctuation of price, but when evidences of speculative influences appeared, the ceiling went on. To cover the waste in storage from sprouting, rotting and shrinkage at this time of year, however, an increase in price of five cents per bushel per month ~during April, May and June was permitted under an order issued April 2. When the new potato crop comes in, a ceiling will be put on that. There are twe questions that call for an answer: The first question is: Considering the subsidies that must be paid to maintain the price ceiling, and the administrative expenses, how much has it cost to date, and what is the ultimate cost likely to be? “We do not know what it has cost to date, nor what it’s ultimate cost may be, but whatever the cost is, it will be worth it, if we can prevent repetition of the experiences of the last war when living costs went up 94 per cent, followed by collapse, unemployment and bread lines.”
No Disputes Exist
THE NEXT question is: What is the effect and what is the reaction of labor to having a ceiling put on wages? “There is not a single strike or wage dispute in Canada. This is
HOLD EVERYTHING
that of the United States has |
shown a steady rise until it ap-
proaches that of Canada.
It should be understood that no |
or prices are, or have been,
“fixed” by the wartime prices and |
control board of Canada. The prices and wages that prevail, and over which there is now a ceiling, were established by sellers and buyers themselves, or by employ= ers and employees. The time between Sept. 15, 1041, and Oct. 11, however, was established as the “basic period” by or= der of the government. Then a ceiling was put over this basic period. Whatever goods were selling
. for during that period became the
price under the ceiling. a
.a national effort without regard to class or circumstance. The country, as a whole, is trying to save itself from economic disaster. A ceiling on wages alone would obviously be unfair, and a ceiling on prices without a similar ceiling on salaries and wages would be impossible to maintain. Thus both are put under the ceiling, and labor has its quid pro quo as to wages through the maintenance of price levels.” Labor leaders, naturally, have not been enthusiastic about the wage ceiling. There has, however, been no belligerent opposition through threats of resistance, and the feeling is that the rank and file of labor, whether organized or unorganized, find satisfaction in the stabilization of rents, food, clothing and all other living costs. There is no 40-hour week in Canada. The work-week is from 48 to 52 hours, varying in localities. (And incidentally one of the first things everybody in Canada tells us, from the taxi driver or hotel bellhop, to people prominent in the government is—‘"“you can't win the war on a 40-hour week.”) Doukle time is paid for Sunday work, but it is apparent that the movement is toward a sevenday week on a shift basis which would eliminate Sunday overtime. ” 2 ”
Closed Shop Not Issue
THE CLOSED job is not an issue, so as matters stand, whatever hours labor was working in any specific industry or other business, whatever wages were be« ing received and whatever overs time arrangements may have existed during the “basic period”— Sept. 15 to Oct. 11—that is what prevails now. No change which may effect prices can be made without the consent of the War Labor and Wartime Prices and
Trade board. In department stores, offices, or
| .in industry, if a person is ads
vanced to a position of added responsibility, and this can be shown, then an increase in salary or wages may be paid. But a bookkeeper, for instance, cannot be given the title of “Treasurer” and continue to do the same work and have a pay raise approved. Even directors’ fees cannot be changed from what they were during the basic period, so that takes care of the top-dogs down to the last hair on a basis that is just as strict as that applied to the rank and file. Business was no keener about the ceiling experiment than was labor in the beginning, but swung into line and co-operation from all sources is said to have exceeded all expectations. Business initiative is not curbed below the ceiling. .
Travel Curb Debated
EMPLOYEES cannot go dashing around from one job ‘to ancther, at constantly increasing pay for the same type of work, because of the ceiling. With the workers protected against rising living
do with working conditions ine stead of wages. The drive toward curtailment of non-essential spending is also gaining momentum along with the control of prices on essentials and wages. Taxes and the sale of bonds haven't approached abe sorbing the new money that is being paid out as a result of the war effort. With industrial boonis over Cane ada, similar to those to be found on the Pacific, Coast and else« where in the United States, people are beginning to want to go places, buy this and buy that and do things. As a result a limitation on railroad travel for pleasure is being considered. In addition to the economic reasons back of this cone sideration is the fact that the Canadian railroads are busy with the war, and must conserve equipment for this work. The proposal under consideration is that pleasure travel be limited to 100 miles,
2 ” =
Nation Means Busniess
“ALL OUT,” in the opinion of the Canadian authorities, is the only way to attack the inflation problem as well as necessary rationing. The first penalty under the sugar hoarding regulations was just recently imposed in Montreal when one Ben Lubin pleaded guilty and was fined $100
for having sugar “beyond an amount normally required for household use.” When some 85 per cent of the automobile tires now in use in Canada are worn out, there just won't be any more, retreated or otherwise, as matters now stand. Every tire available will be placed in use for war purposes first. Only what's left will be subject to civilian rationing. But Canadians take all of the ceiling restrictions and control and the rationing quietly as part of their war contribution. When the rationing of gasoline was started the first of April and the first ration books were issued, a great rush of gas buying was an=ticipated during the final hours of unrestricted gas supply. Quite the contrary happened. There was no rush at all. The rationing was simply taken 1n stride. TOMORROW: The “Generals” leading Canada’s war on inflation.
BUTLER TO BE HOST TO Y. M.-HI-Y HEADS
Butler university will be host toe
morrow to the 17th annual Indiana Y. M. C. A-Hi-Y officers’ and sponsors’ conference which opened today at the Central “Y” here.
The two-day program is built on
the theme “Prepare Today—Results Tomorrow.” scheduled to address the confere ence are Parker P. Jordan, general secretary of the central *Y,” and
Among the speakers
Frank M, Liddle, state secretary of the Y. M. C, A.
* WARQUIZ_
1. This brand-new insignia, somee
times seen on the sleeve of a U. 8, marine, certainly does not indicate that he is keeper of his regiment's animal mascots. But do you know what it tells?
2. Count Carlo
Sforza has started in New York a paper which is bitterly anti-fascist which makes a special appeal to Americans of Itale fan blood. Who is Sforza?
and
3. Despite the prospect of a long
| war, Sacramento, Cal., optimistically expects peace to come before 1948, at which time it proposes to hold a centennial exposition. What do they want to celebrate—the founding of the city, discovery of gold in Calle fornia, or American final possession of that great state?
i —
Answers 1. Insignia indicates the marine
has been on service in Iceland.
2. Count Sforza was at one time
foreign minister of Italy. Opposed to Mussolini and all his works, he resigned various posts, went into exile, and now lives in New York. costs, under their existing pay,
3 qh ta to cue