Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 June 1951 — Page 20

Telephone RI ley 5551 @ive Light ana the People Wili Pind Their Own Way

“Hi LATE James E. Forrestal appears to have been the first Washington official of cabinet rank to become ous of the State Department’s attitude toward the se Communists. + References to his very serious concern over this, and the ate Department activities, have been made by witnesses before the MacArthur inquiry, including former Defense Secretary Louis Johnson. While Mr. Forrestal no longer can gpeak for himself, he left a diary which undoubtedly would shed light on this subject. The diary is being prepared for publication but some parts of it are understood to have been suppressed. ~ Ben. Russell's committee certainly should call for the unedited document, as Sen. Knowland has proposed. The betrayal of China wasn’t an accident, and if the Forrestal diary discloses any evidence of how American cy was perverted to accomplish it, it should go into fo record of the present inquiry.

Blood in Its Eye

> Ge wholesale hiring—and extravagant’ use—of man7 power by the federal government goes right on, in spite “of an aroused Congress. While the Senate is chipping away at chauffeurs and horde of government publicity men in Washington, gency heads are racing for top honors for total number @ employees. “& Result is the number of federal jobholders. outside the military departments, is now the highest in history— 1,250,000 people. That's catching up fast with the civilian total now in defense agencies—1,265,000, and growing, too—at a time When nondefense hiring, in all reason, should be held down. © 4, At the present rate of growth, budget experts forecast million civilians will be working for the government 8 year from now. That would be approximately one in very 20 wage-earners in this country. And speaking of the federal payroll, it's already topped

,000 employees in all departments. ‘addition to its civilian workers, the federal govern“now has nearly 3,500,000 persons in uniform. Also, n’s taxpayers are supporting another 4 million on lis of state and local governments. ¢ there are warnings on every hand that we grave shortages of manpower for defense production. No doubt about it, Congress has blood in its eye. It has been slashing away at some payroll funds and is at the point of cutting time-off-with-pay, but there's still no ceiling -on hiring for nondefense jobs. We think it's time to lower the roof. No government agency—and this goes for the military, too—should be permitted to have more employees than it needs.

i's Call Them Turp s

"HEN A public man of up responsibility of ControllerGeneral Lindsay C. Warren comes to the conclusion ought to be a rule against talking official business in = or at cocktail parties, it is pretty good evidence that the moral level in the government has sunk low indeed. : “Mr. Warren has revealed another chapter in the shockg volume being written in Washington about the gifts and favors passing from people doing business with governer to government employees. 4 He said employees in a regional office of the Federal ing Administration, some time back, had accepted such

ings as nylons, television sets, liquor and watches from sople doing business with FHA. { Testifying before a Senate committee, Mr. ‘Warren commended tough laws to punish bribery. That's underuse bribery is universally accepted as a

. AND he fdvocated giving government employees an education in how the taxpayers pay the bills. That's a long _ overdue part of the training of all public employees—if it will do any good. But when the man feels it necessary to go so far as to put a curb on cocktail conversations about the public's business, he obviously is more than a little disturbed. It's all part of a descending standard of ethics. For of the things of which Mr. Warren complains were, y speaking, “within the letter of the law.” . But these employees, he testified, not only failed to see any impropriety in their conduct. They actually con- : idered accepting these gifts as “their inalienable right, a férauisite of their jobs."

MORAL turpitude may be too strong a "term for such conduct, for it denotes vileness and depravity. But these people at least have gone part way toward that extreme. So, to cut it short, let's call them turps. Ro The infiltration of these turps in the Government is ting, says Mr. Warren's words, in “waste, profigacy d utter disregard of the public interest.” Whether or not the Senafe Labor Subcommittee can 2 into the law a moral code of conduct which effectively reform the turps remains to be seen. But the effort Live.

' Is He There?

STATE DEPARTMENT has announced that its * board has reopened its investigation of about ns, including Ambassador-at-Large Philip C. John Carter Vincent, now U. 8. consul general

iment emphasized that it had no new “either Mr. Jessup or Mr. Vincent. original policy the loyalty board had to find e that an official or employee was disloyal. r of Apr. 28 requires the board to loyalty it doubts. ; ip is the principal American repre‘foreign ministers’ meeting in ion whatever about his loyalty, 2 for. the Uni States at a

FOREIGN AID BILL . Pa es Re : i =~ Lawmakers Like lke’s Work, Sharpen Up New. Economy Ax

tribute substantially-to the Western European

Jaz billion peak of World War II when there were

WASHINGTON, June 22—Short of a miracle, the administration will not get anything like the $8.5 billion it's % asking to back up Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's Western European army and to continue overseas economic aid programs. A group of 18 House members has just re- ; turned from having a look at Gen. Eisenhower's show and, for the most part, they seemed impressed with the job the General is doing in trying to pull together a military effort that Cis loaded with conflicts. woh BUT House Foreign Affairs Committee mem-

. bers, who will open heari n on the big overseas fund request, A all the

support this trip may have generated the meas~ ure is sure to have rough going in the House. In the Senate the signs are already clear that * the foreign aid bill will be a particular target of economy. Sen, Harry F. Byrd (D. Va.) has called for a $3 billion cut in this fund and has insisted that “so-called economic aid” be abolished. Of the total asked, $64 billion would be for direct military ald overseas and 2% billion for economic help. Sen. Walter F. George (D. Ga.), influential chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has sald a big cut must be made in overseas

DEAR BOSS . . + By Dan Kidney

Ghostly Gab In Washington

WASHINGTON, June 22—This is a ghost story. It involves two Hoosier freshmen Republican Congressmen who made speeches on: the House floor and one who didn’t, but got the text printed in one of hfs hore town papers. The latter was Rep. Charles B. Brownson, Indianapolis, who was too busy to deliver his ghosted speech condemning President Truman for comparing the Korean casualties with U. 8. traffic deaths in addressing the Highway Safety Conference here last week. He just turned the text over to the In‘dianapolis Star. Those who made delivery in person on the House floor were Reps. John V, Beamer, Wabash, and William G. Bray, Martinsville. The latter lashed out against White House ghosts who do not let the President roll-his-own speeches. He neglected to explain that he had not rolled the one he was giving either, Nor did Mr. Beamer mention the fact that the tough talk he was dishing out was ghost talk,

The Hoosiers were among a half dozen more delivering similar messages. All were prepared and distributed by the Republican Congressional Committee from their headquarters at George

Washington Inn, directly across the street from the old House building. Brains of that operation is Robert Humphreys, high;powered and high-paid, former Indianapolis newspaperman. He took over and made the place hum, after resigning as national affairs editor of Newsweek magazine to do so. Previously, he had long experience covering: the House for International News Service.

The Ghost Talks

AS A fair sample of the ghost vs. ghost battle, here is what Mr. Bray had to say: “The newspaper accounts of President Truman’s address to the Highway Safety Conference stated that when he made his unfortunate comparison of Korean casualties and highway casualties he was departing from his prepared text. This means that those remarks represented the real Mr. Truman, This was the President expressing his thoughts without benefit of ghost writers, anonymous advisers, or political censors. “It has now become clear that the American people must look to such occasions for a true understanding of the man in the White House. Mr. Truman's letter threatening to beat up Paul Hume, the music critic of the Washington

William G. Bray « + « ghost to ghost

"Post, his letter to a member of Congress com-

paring the Marine Corps to the Russians, and many other such letters and speeches that slipped through the White House watchboys have given us an insight into Mr. Truman that we could have obtained in no other way. “I regret exceedingly that it is only by such displays of intemperance and pique that we are able to understand the President, but they are . at least more informative and revealing than the carefully ghost-written and rehearsed utterances which are the usual fare.” Mr. Bray frankly admitted that his speech was one of the series of ghost-written handouts from George Washington Inn, He didn't write it himself, nor did he get any assistance from his able secretary, Don R. Kendall, who majored in philosophy at Harvard. “I will say this,” Mr. Bray sheepishly explained, “if I hadn't belleved what that speech said I wouldn't have made it.”

SIDE GLANCES by Galbraith

“¢ J ‘

By Charles iviey

programs, And the Républican economy bloc headed bysSen, Homer (R. Mich.), which has been hacking awaycat government department appropriations in. recent days, is certain to propose some paring of these overseas projects, . : ee & : 2

THE BASIC complaint of Congressmen on overseas aid is whether this country's overseas

partners have the will to make a success of a

strong anti-Communist force in Western Europe—a fear that the U. 8. is being forced to carry too much of the load. - Those returning from seeing Gen. Eisenhower have varying views, of course. But Rep. Walter Judd (R. Minn.) returned convinced that Europe does not have the will to go forward in building a bulwark against communism. He says a problem does exist in trying to find means to get the countries involved to co-

But Chum—Our Pants!

PRESS AGENTS .

operate better, and discloses that there is being

discussed a “common pool” idea which would

operate in Western European military affairs somewhat as has the so-called -European payments union in the 4 economies ajd program, .

THE CONGRESSMEN were given this example of how better co-operation must be established: Country “A” is an efficient producer of small arms and ammunition. It can make far more than its own military forces can use and would like to sell to countries “B” and “C” which ‘need such equipment. But “B” and “C” won't buy. Instead, they turn to the U. 8., which has set about reactivating a lot of arms plants for the rearmament program. And. the U, 8. gives—not sells—the same small arms ammunition. The Congressmen agree the U. 8. must con-

By Talburt . HERE YOU ARE~ALL CLEANED

. By Frederick C. Othman

Forget the Senators, Boys?

orger June 22—8en. Harry F. Byrd (D. 'Va.) wasn't so much worried about the two gents the Economic Co-operation Ad-

ministration sent to Burma to study elephants. What pained him was the fact that one of the thousands of federal press agents sat down at his hot ’ typewriter and wrote a piece about this ponderous research. It was mimeographed and sent to editors, ‘reporters, and fellows like me, The Senator said this dispatch quoted our experts as discovering that elephants don’t like to work in the hot sun. He then offered an amendment cutting the number of A governmental tub an thumpers by 25 per cent and the other gentlemen lined up enthusiastically to approve it. The vote was 62 to 10. This indicates that Senators don’t like publicity agents. Contents of my own wastebasket should be cut down by 25 per cent and for that I ought to be grateful. But some of my best friends are drum beaters for the government. For them—the ones who still have jobs—I have some advice; The highest pressure press agent Iever knew was in Hollywood. He made a point of advertising the movie cuties in numerous ingenious ways, such as having them ride down Los Angeles’ main street on white horses, like Lady Godiva, with costumes to match. This attracted considerable interest, but my man always got himself into the story, too, Take the time the equestriennes appeared in nothing but their own blond hair: Their publicist managed to get himself arrested on charges .of exposing too many goose pimples, The news was more about him than the ladies who employed him.

HOOSIER FORUM—

He never missed. That's where the federal

. ‘publicists have failed miserably. They have

been so busy writing pieces about how smart are their boss bureaucrats that they never got around to mentioning themselves. Fact is, Sen, Byrd and the other economizers don't even know how many publicity agents the government has on the pay rolls. i Sen. Kenneth 8. Wherry (R. Neb.) said the estimates ran from 4000 men to 20,000. They write handouts for the papers (which seldom use 'em), produce movies, write radio. scripts and even now are tackling TV to tell the people what wonders their own bureaus are performing. The Hoover Commission estimates they cost the taxpayers $100 million a year. Senator after Senator sad he didn’t mind an agency having a man on tap to answer questions, or even to put out information on accomplishments.

Short Story “BUT WHAT I object to is things like this,”

said Sen. Frank Carlson (R. Kan.) waving a

news release from the Marine Corps. He read it aloud. It seemed to be a feature story about one newly arrived Marine in Korea saying to another, ‘Hello, corporal.” His friend replied, “Dammit, man, don't call me corporal. The Chinks are looking for non-commissioned officers.” End story. “That’s just stupid,” the Senator said. Most of the other gentlemen agreed. Many.of them had similar horrid examples of federal pressagentry. Only defender of the drum beaters was Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D. N. M.), who mentioned an Agriculture Department treatise on fleas, which previously had caused guffaws in the Senate. That flea pamphlet saved the lives of countless soldiers in North Africa, he said. He urged that his cohorts treat the press agents gently. Only nine lawgivers agreed with him. Moral, publicity agents, is simple. When you're making friends and influencing people, you ought to include the U. S. Senate.

effort. But they say that in instahces such as this, where it plainly is possible for Western

Europe to help itself without turning tor the

U. 8. a way should be found to do so. On the other hand, the returning House members were enthusiastic about many manifestations of a Europe growing stronger. They reported seeing maneuvers by three Italian tank battalions, all made up of fairly new conscripts, near the Yugoslav border. They said U. 8. military men praised the exercises, made pos~ sible by movement of U. 8. equipment to Italy, as a concrete example of expansion of real military strength in recent months. e OS SOME OF those returning doubt that. anything like $6% billion could be used for military expansion in Western Europe next year even if Congress laid it right on the barrel-head for the administration. They insist the executive branch always asks for more than it can spend, Presumably, Secretary of State Dean Acheson will be the first witness when House hearings begin soon on the foreign aid program, and his assignment will be a tough one. Senate hearings will begin as soon as the present MacArthur -Far East inquiry is ended.

CONTROLS . . By Kermit McFarland

Inflation Curbs Take Beating

WASHINGTON, June 22—-The Senate and House Banking Committees have started the ball rolling to relax credit controls. And two of those who provided some of the impetus for this cutback in inflation.curbs are lame ducks from the Senate, now turned gobpy. ists, They are Scott W. Lucas of Illinois, former Democratic floor leader in the Senate, and Francis J. Myers of | Pennsylvania, former assistant floor leader. Both were defeated in 1950. Last year, when Senators ° Lucas and Myers were in the Senate, they were the leaders who helped pass the Defense Production Act of 1950, the law which imposed inflation ary controls far tougher than President Truman had asked.

” # .

RECENTLY, as registered lobbyists, Mr, Lucas and Mr, Myers were among the principal witnesses before the two banking committees as they considered whether to extend or amend the anti-inflation am. Mr, Lucas represented the American Finance Conference, which he said speaks for 366 automobile finance companies. He opposed the present regulation which requires a down payment of at least one-third on instalment-bought autos and prohibits spreading the payments over more than 15 months. This regulation was issued last October by the Federal Reserve Board, under authority of the Lucas-Myers-backed Defense Production Act of 1950.

Scott W. Lucas «+a pleader

= ” » BUT in his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, ex-Senator Lucas said: . “Had I had the slightest reason to believe that the Federal Reserve Board would use the delegated power in an arbitrary and eapricious manner . . . I would have favored a limitation upon that power by placing a floor below which the Federal Reserve Board gould not Teduce consumer credit.” The Banking Committee has just done that. It raised the spread for making installment

‘payments on autos from I15 to 18 months.

Mr. Lucas sald it was “wholly unwarranted to make installment selling’ of automobiles the whipping boy of inflation in the absence of actions covering all sections of our economy.” Mr. Myers appeared before the congressional committees as counsel for the National Foundation for Consumer Credit and the Retail Credit Institute of America. He said the foundation speaks for durable . goods manufacturers ahd retailers, banks in the consumer-credit business and finance companies. The Retail Credit Institute. represents retailers selling on Sredit terms, o EX-SENATOR MYERS went even farther than ex-Senator Lucas. He urged consumer credit controls be abole ished. “We respectfully ask the committee,” he said, “to consider the untimely inefficacy of consumer controls ahd to end them.” ‘The House Banking Committee didn’t go that far, but it voted to cut the down payments on television and radio sets, for instance, from 25 per fent to 15 per cent, and to lengthen the spread for installment payments from 15 to 18 months. It cut the down payments on household’ furniture and furnishings from 15 to 10 per cent, and lengthened the installment spread from 15 to 21 months. And it voted to permit & one-fourth instead of a one-third down payment on automobiles. 4 ” o; » FORMER Senators Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma, Claude Pepper of Florida and Millard Tydings of Maryland all have set up law offices here. None, however, so far has registered with Congress as a lobbyist. Recently Controller-General Lindsay C. Warren, testifying before a Congressional commit tee, lamented the wartime repeal of an 1872 law which prohibited ex-government employees from dealing with a government agency in which they had served within two years after leaving their public jobs.

People Should Cut Their Weeds and Shrubbery

“Weed Trouble’ MR. EDITOR: Seems people need to be reminded the need of cutting high weeds and shrubbery. With 80 much rain, the weeds grow fast. Maybe your

“paper can reach’ a great number of citizens and 80 help with this problem. Just a suggestion. ~-A Taxpayer, City

FOSTER'S FOLLIES

BALTIMORE, Md.-—A food and liquor dealer, convicted of hitting his wife, took a 30-, day jail sentence in preference to paying a fine. “I'll take the thirty days,” he said “In fact, I like it fine “Now she can make the dough instead “For bread and cake and wine.” “With her I'll never make a hit, . “S80 hearken to my plea: - “Just let hey run the store a bit— “Instead of running me.”

: PITTSBURGH, Pa.—S8tate pqlice, raiding a lottery, received an assist from a mongrel dog, which bit one of the fleeing operators and caused his capture. : On lots of folks he puts the bite, And many take a chance, Then comes another fateful night or different circumstance.

His neighbor's Jou gets in the play. (A watchful little pup). But why should he be in dismay At least h her's up.

‘Pretty Simple’ MR. EDITOR: Noticed in your Sunday edition a little story in Our Fair City about who should be held responsible for truck weight violations . . . the owner of the truck or the person or company leasing the truck. That shouldn’t be hard for anyone to figure out. The person or company using the truck should be held responsible. The firm or person leasing the truck should

be responsible for its use the same as they are °

in case of an accident while Violating a traffic law. It's as simple as that. If the law doesn’t provide for the lessee being held responsible then the owners of the truck should have that written into their contract. In that way the lessee pays regardless of what the law provides for. Is that too tough for a truck owner to figure out? --Motorist, City.

ON THE SURFACE

THE EYES of men are often fooled . . . by things that they may see . . . for what looks innocent and mild . . . may never really be . . . for it Is true the coldest face . . . may have the ‘warmest heart . . . whereas the kindly looking

folk . . . may inwardly be tart .. . and so it is with many things . . . outwardly they're O. K. « «+ but if we could X-ray their parts . .. we'd find a deep decay ... and though men know all this is true .. . they'll go on as before . . . being a De

is 7789 Ber Buvagha

‘The Trappers’ MR. EDITOR: Harry T. caught something. A group took it away from him, tried to skin it, made a mess out of it, then gave it back to Harry and said it was caught in your trap, yeu skin it. But Harry saw the hide was worthless, so he decided to just cut off the ears and send them in for the bounty. Which goes to prove that. investigations don't die. They just back away. ~-A New Castle Reader,

What Others Say

ANY LAWYER who defends a criminal knows the source of his payment. They're not doing a service to society. It is up to the states to seek disbarment of lawyers who constantly follow that type of practice.~—Sen. Lester C.. Hunt (D. Wyo.). >. @

THE BASIC threat to our well-being is to be found in ‘totalitarian aggression; the basic cause of inflation is the steps which we must take to meet the aggression.—Leon Keyperling, presidential economic’ adviser. * ¢ ¢ SOVIET science canhot succeed in the long run, because the system denies the scientist m of inquiry.—Dr. James B. Conant, present Harvard U. * > ®

THERE is too much credit today. Ally more inflation

. Sreat Zoey into a field which increases

piESsures, -Matrines 8. Eoeles, member Fed-

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