Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 1950 — Page 14

ndianapolis Times A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER > - HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W, MANZ oo "Editor Business Manager Sunday, Jan. 29, 1950

PAGE 14 CRAPS HW agers Peg

United Press, Scripps-Howard Ni Alliance. NEA Serv. joe and Audit Buresu of Ciicalations .

+ a in Marion County, § cents & or dal “i180 tor Waker dsitver by Sarria sindds » aly ent sands ie Pa . Aslly. "s Fear ay dafly snd Sundar, s hy v by $080 ll oiner stat a. supe a and

Mexico, daily $110 4 month. Sundis!

. Telephone RI ley 5581 Give Licht and the Peonie Willi Pind Thew Own Wow

~ Stand-By War Powers HE peacetime Selective Service Law should be reenacted, at Jeast on-a stand-by basis, so that mobilization of the nation's manpower can begin instantly if there is a future war emergency. Congress will be remiss in duty if it refuses the request of President Truman and the Defense Department for that. America must be ready to meet the brunt of an enemy's first attack, Never again can we count on time to pass a new draft law and set up new machinery to enforce it.

om oe yn A SELECTIVE Service Law, however, is only part of the full, stand-by mobilization plan needed for an adequate preparedness program. Last time we fumbled for many months after we were at war, We learned then how dangerous and costly delay can be when it is necessary to convert industry to war production, to impose controls on prices, rents and wages, to ration food and other commodities. Next time fumbling and delay could be fatal. And wise advance preparation might avoid a next time. Authority to do those things should be ready on the statute books so that, if sudden emergency makes doing ‘them essential, Congress will need only to pass a simple Joint resolution. » ” . » » . BERNARD M. BARUCH has played a major role in the mobilization of America's resources for two world wars, Writing in the current Reader's Digest, Mr. Baruch now urges prompt establishment of a permanent mobilization program and agency. Because we went into World War II without adequate advance planning, he says, that war was prolonged by at least a year and its cost in lives and money was vastly increased. Two and a half years went by, he adds, before our productive energies were fully devoted to the task of winning that war: A fraction of that much wasted time could mean our defeat in a third world war.

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When Ladies Disagree : R 27 YEARS a large and determined group of women 4 has fought for an “equal rights” amendment to the U. 8. Constitution, declaring that: “Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” Another large and determined group of women—Mrs. Roosevelt prominent among them — has bitterly opposed puch an amendment, contending that “absolute equality” would destroy or endanger all labor and social legislation giving special benefits and protections to members of their sex.

MERE MALES, including editors, have found this issue uncomfortable. Any man who ventured to agree with the ladies on one side risked denunciation by the ladies on the other. “iy Now the U. 8. Senate has voted, 63 to 19, to submit the proposed amendment to the states, with this clause added: “The provisions of this article shall not be construed to impair any right, benefits or exemptions conferred by law upon persons of the female sex, now or hereafter.” That is an obvious attempt to straddle the issue—to stand both for “equal rights” and for special “rights, benefits and protections’ —and how successful it will prove remains to be seen.

» ‘ » » FIRST reports indicate that few of the ladies on either side are thoroughly pleased and that many on both sides are vigorously displeased, To become part of the Constitution the proposed amendment still needs a two-thirds vote in the House and, after that, ratification by three-fourths of the states. So the prospect is that, for quite a while to come, women will continue to debate this issue, while men in Congress, in state legislatures and in editorial chairs will hope for its best possible settlement, but discuss it—if at all— with caution,

Take Your Choice E WASTE a lot of money by not doing‘ things soon enough. Take boys, for instance. Neglect costs a small fortune in taxes each year. Last Thursday night at the annual meeting of the Boys Club, Harry Gorman, director, told the board that it costs about $30 a year to keep a boy in the club, off the streets, and in a worthwhile atmosphere. Ce The Boys Club record is good. Less than one-half of one per cent of the membership winds up in institutions, tax supported. Swing your eyes to the Pendleton Reformatory. There it costs about $600 a year to try to reshape a boy's life after the sapling has been warped by social circumstance. A little more voluntary spending in such institutions as the Boys Club, and there are others, will save untold millions at the tax window. If you are thinking of thrift in government, this is one way to do it at 95 per cent saving.

At Your Expense Hoover Commission found that: The Veterans Administration had 15432 ‘employees handling 6,951,000 insurance policies, a work load of 450

policies per employee.

. 2100 employees handling 3,700,000 policies, or 1762 per em-ployee-—four times the VA rate. The commission found a VA underwriting clerk handles "an average of 12 policy conversions a day. Standard in non-government life insurance companies is 32 a day.

AVERAGE time taken to process death claims in the VA was 80 days, : . (Private insurance companies pay 71 to 82 per cent of their death claims in 15 days. - One reason for VA's poor showing: ; VA branch offices are regulated by 88 different manuals, Reading

=

Hoosiers Push Legion Program

Craig and Sherwood Fight Hoover Commission WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Dear Boss—When

‘that part of the Hoover Commission which is opposed by veterans’ organizations on deaf ears in Hoosiers will have

for a big patriotic meeting in § @ New York City this week-end @ highly pleased over their visit Se here. Oralg Included - was “an off-the un record conference with former President Her. bert Hoover who was accompanied to the Stat. ler Hotel for the huddle with the Legionnaires by Rep. Charles A. Halleck, Rensselaer Republican and majority leader in the 80th GOP Congress, Both Mr. Craig and Mr. Sherwood are oldhands at Republican politicking back home in Indiana, The latter has divided his time between party and Legion affairs ever since he came out of the Army in World War 1. He went back into the service In ‘World War IT, came out to help elect Ralph Gates to the’ governorship and was made Indiana Adjutant General.

Work Together THAT old-time Legion lobbyist, John Taylor, also was a World War II “retread” and had the rank of brigadier general. The two generals Taylor and Sherwood--—now work very well together in helping to put the Legion program ACross, “Doc” now is national chairman of the Legion's Legisiative Commission, With as long experience dealing with Indiana legislature as Gen. Taylor has had lobbying Congress, these two “experts” may well make the Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report look like political babes-in-the-woods,

Here is how Mr. Sherwood * Sherw summed up the Legion's légisM8 vel lative program on his-trip here: “The American Legion's objective in its 1050 legislative program can be summed up 4s ‘what is best for the country.’ Our principal targets in the 81st Congress are in the fields of rehabilitation of disabled veterans, national security and Americanism.

‘No Economy in Plan’ “A HOT sub now is the plan of the Hoover Commission to dismember the Veterans Administration. While the Legion is for economy and efficiency and is using all its public relations to sell the Citizens Committees which is supporting the Hoover survey, we feel there is ‘no economy in splitting up VA functiogs among the following: “United Medical Administration (this is a forerunner of socialized medicine), Department of Interior (hospital construction). Veterans Insurance Corporation (a new bureau). Housing and Finance ‘Agency (GI home loans), VA would retain the other veteran services it now has. “ “I believe this plan also would destroy veterans preference rights in government employment, “The Legion proved its good faith in supporting the Hoover recommendations (20 per cent have gone into effect) when we supported the Hoover proposed transfer of Veterans Employment Service from the Federal Security Agency to the Labor Department,

‘Scientific Approach’ . “80 you see many people are making a mountain out of a mole hill and falsely saying we are against the whole Hoover report. It consists of more than 19 volumes and Legion experts are among the few who have read them all “Our men are specialists of course in veterans affairs and have the scientific approach. I Believe these matters can be ironed out with reasonable logic.” “Doe” understands exactly what “reasonable

logic” means to Senators and Congressmen up

for re-election this year. That is why he may become the manager for Commander Craig, when and if Mr, Craig decides to run for Vice President, Senator or Governor after his year of duty as Legion head. Meanwhile the commander says he

in shunning partisan politics. It isn’t easy, that's for sure,

MARSHALL PLAN ... By John W. Love

Britain Recovering?

LONDON, England, Jan. 28--To the great No. 1 question on the scheduled end of Marshall Plan aid to Britain, Sir Stafford

Cripps replies as follows:

The estimate is extremely difficult, but, if improvement continues at about the present rate, Great Britain should be able to get along without such ald after the middle of 1952.

Sir Stafford, chancellor of

FOREIGN AFFAIRS . . . By Parker La Moore Allies Playing Into Reds’ Hands?

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28—The heated cone troversy between France and the Bonn govern. ment of Western Germany over the future of the Saar coal region points up the need for a per manent settlement between Western Germany and France, Britain and the United States. ’ The present policy of drift and day-to-day improvising is creating difficulties and playing into Russia's hands. : ; At present the Saar region is under French control under a temporary arrangement similar to the Potsdam understanding which permitted Poland to occupy and then annex a substantial area of northern Germany. ; The Saar decision was made by the Council

"of Foreign Ministers in Moscow in April, 1047—

over Russia's protest. Under it, the Saar was to be integrated into the French economy pending final determination of its status at & peace ference. iy

Intense Oppesition i IF THIS final settlement had been made before the Bonn government ¢ame into being the issue would have been closed. But resting as it does on popular support, the Bonn regime has been responsive to mounting sentiment for a reunited Germany and the intense opposition to the loss of any German territory. The Saar has passed back and forth between France and Germany for generations, and was as much of an issue between France and Germany during the Napoleonic era as it is today. Its 900,000 people speak German, and probably

_consider themselves German. But many of the. great figures in French history, including Ma¥<—

shal Ney of Napoleon's Grand Army, were born in Saarland. Much more than sentiment is involved in the current dispute, however, for France is getting 15 per.cent of its iron and steel and 20 per cent of its coal from the Saar. £77 In answering German complaints that France is treating the Saarland as a permanent possession without a formality of a peace settlement, the French reply that they do not propose annexation. But they do admit wanting what seems a dubious alternative. They would treat the Saar as an independent,

Then the Rains Came

“ fering to return the Saar

"States of Western

autonomous territory. But ft would be integrated ints the French economy, and France would be responsible for its defense and foreign ralations. This would mean creation of a French colony in the heart of Europe. Also, a new gource of friction betwen France and Germany which might become more troublesome than the old Alsace-Lorraine problem.

U. S. Obligated THE United States is concerned because what Is taking place in the Baar eventually must be formalized by & peace treaty which will re-

quire ratification by the U. S. Senate. It the

Saar is recognized as a French colony or protectorate, this country also would be obligated to defend the arrangement under the North Atlantic pact, The Saar situation highlights the fact that Russia holds the best cards in the continuing struggle for all of Germany. The puppet regime In the Soviet zone is a rubber stamp for anything Moscow decrees, backed by Communist stormtroopers who can ruthlessly suppress all opposition, just as similar forces operated in Hitler's heyday. The Western supported Bonn government is responsible to its electorate, as any representative government must be, and friendly but in no sense subservient to the Western powers. But Russia's ace in thie sleeve is her ability to return to Germany the territory assigned to Polish control at Potsdam at any time Germany becomes more important to Moscow than Po1and is: Poland under the iron control of 2 Rus-sian-dominated Red Army couldn't raise a murmur against such an action,

France Would Refuse

THE United States and Britain could not counter this bid for Germany's good will by ofcoal fields, because France would not consent. If France and West Germany could be brought together as equal members in a United with the Saar region also a member state, present difficulties would be minimized and disappear. But such a projected union is in sight. ’

: : 3 $

explanation. . The world, through force of habit, still calls it “communism” but actually it is something ertirely different, and worse. Marx would never

What Do We Need in 1950?

‘Better Traffic’

By Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry F. Dugan, Chancellor of Indianapolis Catholic Archdiocese

I am a native son of Indianapolls. I am

proud of this fact. IT am proud also to have

been fortunate to watch the progress of our: great city. » ~ The past recalled for the moment, conjures up mule cars, a turntable at the end of the lines, well furrowed, muddy streets within walking distance of the pivotal point—our Circle. i Indianapolis was a good ¢ity in those days. It still is. But time has wrought many’ changes. i Instead of the neighborhood ©] now we have the North, East, = South and West shopping cen- J ters. The old-time corner gro-4 cery is gone. In its place have stores that have taken 0 proportions of super - markets Msgr. Dugan of the chainstore family, y In the new Indianapolis, we are all involved in trafic. Whether one walks, and must from time to time hazard a crossing, or takes to the traffic lanes in a bus or the latest streamline creation of the motor Industry, trafic snarls have become all a part of living here in 1950.

Indianapolis’ citizens must develop a traffic consciousness. And some master mind should

, develop a good system of one-way streets to

relieve traffic congestion. What ever happened to the curfew whistle? The curfew bas be¢n talked of as an aid to curb juvenile delinquency. There are too many teen-age 4nd preteen-age children romping downtown streets most any night in the late hours. -

Curfew-minded parents could bring the hil

dren home, provided the parents are home, too, I napolls’ improvement needs are too umes to set out here, But one thing in my mind“would be a great help.

Could we hope for an auditorium proportion=. ate to the size of 1950 Indianapolis? mT

What are your ideas on ways to improve Indianapolis during 1950? Send your suggestions to: "nT Editor,” The Times, 214 W, Maryland

CLOTHING COSTS . . . By Earl Richert Wool Price Boom

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28—World wool prices are soaring and you may get caught for higher prices on better-grade wool suits, But, as a taxpayer, there's something to cheer about. For the world-wide shortage of high-grade wool, ciimaxed now by the biggest wool price boom In Australia’s history, has enabled Uncle Sam to perform something of a peacetime miracle, He has whittled down his

A life insurance company issuing similar policies had

the exchequer, discussed Britain's economic and financial outlook with 15 American jour nalists who have been looking over the two-year progress of the European Recovery Program.

» THE big question of whether Brit. alin or any other - country can do without American assistance if it stops, as scheduled, In

Mr. Cripps Feonomic Co-operation Admin. istration brings in its budget request for the fiscal year be ginning next July. If anybody could answer it for the United Kingdom, Sir Stafford should be the man, In his belief, Marshall Plan ald money could continue to decline at the proposed rates for the next two ‘and a half vears, and, at the end of that time, the British would have about the same standard of living they have today. In other words, other means

freer movement of goods and money will take place. Their mobility 1s gaining slowly, prospects continue to improve in & number of commercial directions, and productivity is waxing in industry. Yet British economists are pointing out that the Chancellor's very restrained optimism is based upon the assumption that all the favorable factors will continue in their present strength and no new unfavorable ones will show up. No new must arise on the

price « support-purchased wool stockpile from the huge total of million pounds in September, 1046, to a mere 35 million pounds now-—and with only comparatively small losses, Nearly 28 million pounds of government wool were sold just in the past two months alone. ” . .

THIS contrasts sharply with other commodity situations, in which surpluses are breaking acreage is being cut back and the government fis trying virtually to give many commodities away, abroad. “Wool is the only place I can think of where the sun is shining,” said one department official. ’ But the wool situation wasn't after

prices were much that importers could bring in foreign wool and pay the tariff at prices below those maine tained by the government's support of an average of 42% cents a pound to growers. ». . r BUT return of Russia, France and England to world

& i : 3

owned wool is of the type for blankets and women's coat ings. Demand for the coating wool has remained particularly

Agriculture officials were uncertain what effect the soaring Australian wool prices would

HH A ET ETT A BE SIS SET

hope for is “s gress will ret: can be starte * Administ: general mobi Administraf on wheat and gressmen to | priations fro: too much. J reduce ECA-f and wheat e: further acrea Senate Ma Lucas argues doesn’t send © to be paid fo anyway, th prices.

Democrats POLITICS Pennsylvania best chance =i turing state nominate PI Treasurer F

. worth.

State leads may have a hands, but ¥ intra-party re take him. Di pose GOP Ci in Philadelphi 000 majority election. . Look for mall, Republi Jersey Hous cant when J as resigned. sional distr mandered lo favor, Gov. Alfre to be conside ticket, stayed fight betwee Harry Harpe! was member inet. Howevi gen County 1 shellacking.

Put Blame BLAME for ing House lo belongs to P He's quoted quiry, no- m volved, but Frank Bucha vestigating C off till he's a his ground. to hope Buch investigating Truman com War. - Buchanan a sound organi starts. Committee in itself is n there are ab practices.”

Tackle Ta HOUSE W Committee first on tax starts work pose is to ge how Increase come from & fore repeal ¢ considered. Democrats saying Mr. whole excise fed, not just | his message. Chairman of House Ju tee is on against proj partment co ing point | Celler refus appointment ferees to me and conside Some other diclary Com possibly Rey ter of Penns

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