Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Jan. 10, 1952, edition 1 / Page 1
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V Congress Asked To Clean Out Corruption' In Its Own Halls Congress hat been asked to clean out the corruption in its own halls as well as in the Ad ministration. Two Democratic Senators and • newspaper joined in the request for a Congressional housecleaning. Sen. Mike Monroney (D., Okla.) said that members of Congress shoaM be prohibited from inter fering in tax cases pending before tt.' Bureau of Internal Revenue. • **roney also said that legis late- who try to help get Recon struction Finance Corporation (RFC) loans for their friends should be willing to have those facts made public. Boykin Involved Congressional hearings have shown that Rep. Frank Boykin (D., Ala.) has been involved both in tax cases and RFC loan mat ters. The name of Sen. Styles Bridges (R., N. H.), who has bean in the Senate longer than any other Re publican, has come up in connec tion with tax scandals. Sen. Estes Kefauver (D., Tenn.) proposed that Congress set up a Commission on Ethics in Govern-j ment to help establish higher moral standards for all govern ment officials, including Congress men. Wants Publieiay Kefauver also suggested that the names of all persons, includ ing Congressmen, who receive fees for helping people get gov- j eminent loans or favors shouM be made public. Said the Madison, Wis., Capital . Times: “Even though the congressional investigating committee has done their best to cover it up, it la'b*- ; coming increasingly obvious that; the source of much of the corrup ton in Washington is in Congress| itself. <- t/ j - i Congressional Pressure ■> ‘‘Congressmen have been ».<•; ing their office to put pressure on government agencies having dealings with business firms and individuals. . . . “It has become crystal clear1 that corruption in Washington will never be rooted out unless ' *o»e means can be found for ex posing the corruption that ex ists in the halls of Congress.” IJp, DOMINICANS FREE SEAMEN Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Re public — Christmas pardons were granted five Cuban seamen im prisoned by the Dominican Re public. The seamen were sentenced after the Dominican naval facets had captured the merchant benf the Inter-American Regional Or ganisation of Workers (ORIT) an act of piracy without precedent i» modern inter-American history. The condemnation of the Dom inican Republic was issued by the executive board of ORIT meeting in Washington. ORIT acted on request of various trade union or organisations from all over Latin ' America. The board said in part: "The detention and the subse -quent sentencing of the crew, the members of which had signed on ’the ‘Quetzal’ as professional sail ors, has aroused the indignation of the democratic labor movement not only because it constitutes a flagrant violation of international, civil and commercial rights, but also because it threatens the maintenance of peace in the Car ribbean area.” “‘Quetzal.” The capture Wl MILLION LOSS It cost the Government $346 million in the put fiscal year to ■ keep farm prices up, the Com modity Credit Corporation an nounced. This was the highest loss of • any year fit the price support pro gram since it was established in Be UNION and buy LABEL to maintain American labor stand ards at heme. Four Airmen Freed; 0. S. Pays Ransom The cold war rot hot. Uncle Sam yaa forced to pay $120,000 in ransom to the CommUhist re gime in Hungary for the release of four American fliers who were forced down behind the Iron Cur fain and convicted at a phony trial on trumped-up charges of espionage. There were cries in Congress of “not one cent for tribute,” but Uncle Sam is not as tough as his traditions. The government decided to pay the “fines” assessed against the fliers to avoid having them sent off to Jails from which they might nev er emerge. Was the decision wise? There were varying reactions. True, America might be written off in some quarters as an easy mark. But far more important, the whole incident proved to the world that to America human life is more important than dollars—proved it in a way incalcuably more effec tive than tons of propaganda. The hot war got cold. The De cember 27 deadline came and went without a truce, but nego tiations for an armistice were still continuing as this edition went to press. As yet there had been no formal action on extending the deadline for another 15 or 30 days, as reports from informed quarters indicated might happen. UN delegates hinted there might be a possibility of agree ment on the over-all exchange of prisoners, for which the Com munists had pressed, hut only after full explanation regarding the fate of 50,000 men claimed ts prisoners in Red propaganda but missing from the official ros ter of prisoners handed to the Allied conferees. No formal answer came from the Commun ists, but word got out that they might reply the 50,000 had died from wounds, disease and the rigors of climate. SENATOR HUMPHREY ASKS CAMPAIGN CASH BE PROBED H Sen Hubert Humphrey chal lenged his fellow members of Congress to “tell the people the sorry truth” about who pays the bills to elect them. “It would be a good idea if every member of Congress were required to go before an Investi gating committee and tell how his campaign was financed,” the >ta Democrat told report w~ Far too much is spent on cam paigning. the Senator said. He added lhat he suspected that some campaign contributors "ex pect so meting besides good gov ernment.” With regard to Government tax scandals, Sen. Humphrey held that the tax laws passed by Con gress “are the base from which this corrruption springs." “If we're going to houseelean, let’s clean good,” he said "Let’s not just clean on top of the rug. Let’s check on some of the big stealing.” By “big stealing,” Sen. Hum phrey said he meant “inadequate tax laws and tax loopholes through which $4 billion of po tential revenue escape legally” every year to the benefit of “less than 4 per cent" of the taxpayers and to the detriment of Hie other 95 per cent. I EGYPTIAN TURMOIL Kin* Farouk of Egypt moved toward a break with the anti British Nationalist Part*, now in : power. He appointed Hafcs Aflfi Pasha, a pro-western banker, aa | chief of his Royal Cabinet, aa ad visory post; and Abdel Fattah Amr Pasha as his personal ad viser on foreign affairs. Nation alist Party chiefs, angered at the appointment, said they weald have 'no on government policy. Triple protection * ". Franc*. inland, Lu Germany t BLS REPORTS HIGH COST OF LIVING HAS CLIMBED TO AN ALL-TIME RECORD The coat of living has hit an other new all-time high. The Bureau of Labor ‘Statistics (BLS) reported that on Novem ber 15 it cost the fsmilies of working people 10.8 per cent mors to live than just before the Ko rean war began in June, 1950. The BLS Consumers Price In dex read 188.6 in November. That means the cost of living has in creased 88.6 per cent since 1935 1939. From October 15 to November 15 living costs increased six-tenths of one per cent. Since the Korean war started, the cost of food went up 13.9 par cent. That means you have to spend about 91.10 today to get tbs sane amount of food you could buy for 91 in June, 1950. The east of living continues to to control prices. When Congress passed a phony price control law last summer, it guaranteed big profits for manu facturers, wholesalers and retail ers and high prices for the peo ple. - A million and a quarter rail road workers, whose pay goes up when the cost of living increases, will receive 4-cents-an-hour wage increases at a result of the latest rise in prices. PRICES HURT ClrhtMi business ra dis «Wil»th|. Merchant* arc wea ried about mi prospects. Why? Because prices at* too Ugh. Reported tbe New York TfuMo: * * * Stores lookiag abood to 1162 see More acute preb Ioum, particularly ones of eb> toining Tehmes ia tbe face of BURKE TO RUN Former Rep. Tom Burke (D., Ohio) plane to run for Congress again next year. Burke, a strong friend of labor, represented To lede during 1M9-61. He new ia a labor specialist with the National ProdtKtien Administration (NPA) I NEWS AND VIEWS By FLOYD L. CARLISLE, JR, Pres. F. L. Carlisle, Inc. (Pinch-kitting for Alexander S Lipaett) THE PEOPLE’S STAKE IN ELECTRIC POWER In what ways can the nation’s water power resources be most advantageously developed? How can we best protect the public interest and at the same time safeguard the free enterprise system, source of Americas i strength? The writer is a pub lic utilities specialist. His views, while not necessarily those of ILNS, deserve attention in view I of increasing union resistance to the scope and certain phases of the Federal power progam. —Editor. Though in no way connected with the trade union movement, I have long been a reader at la bor publications. Their columns have given me time and again I an insight into the problems of the working people that the aver age businessman often lacks. In particular, I have watched with keen interest the stand of leading AFL and CIO unions on the much discussed issue of gov ernment financed and developed electric power. It is an issue on which both industry ami labor must see eye to eye lest the Americas people find themselves enmeshed is complications which it will take years and tremendous expenditure to correct—if they can be corrected at all. These observations are prompt ed by the difficulties, legal and otherwise^ in the way of an ex pended power program in New York State. Specifically, the pro posal of the I major otilities of that area—namely, Niagara-Mo hawk Power Corp* New York State Electric and Gas, Consoli dated Edison, Rochester Gas and1 Electric, and Central Hudson Gas and Electric — urging additional power development from the Ni agara River and pledging their resources end know-how to the project withent expense to the federal or state government*, has met with heavy going. It should be noted that thia de velopment U completely uncon nected with the controversial St. Lawrence Seaway and Power proj ect. It does not involve naviga tion, reclamation, flood control, or any other aroaa rightfully be longing to government. It la strictly a project to provide more power to the American people nothing else. Moreover these five utilities constitute tremendous assets to the national economy and to the well-being of labor. They em ploy approximately 44.IM people at an annual cent, in ItSS, of $182 million. Tlmy paid in the same year $1M million in federal, state and local taxes. Over 25fl, 000 individuals, as wed as Hfe Insurance companies, savings banks and ether institutions, are Me mi-m San oamnanlaa iHuciiuiMifrB in mm coiYipaiuen. In short, they enrich every ele ment 01 the community—business. i, etc. m m 9 What ia the trouble, workers will ask Why don’t they go ahead with their plans? Unfur tunately the matter is not so aim* i before Congress proposes that thq Niagara project be financed, built and operated by the federal gov ernment. Another bill seeks de velopment by New York State, the necessary funds to be pro vided by tax-free state bonds. Contrary to these proposals, which would produce little if any tax revenues, the companies favor construction of the project by private enterprise. Power would be distributed at regulated rates on a eost-of-service basis. New ax revenues of at least $23 mil ion a year would flow to the fed eral and load governments. Lack of space does not permit me to go into the details. Suffice it to iky that this group of util ities is admirably equipped to carry the enterprise, once ap (Ceatiaeed On Pago f) pie: In the first place, a bill now • • • 1952 Jobs: Win War; Build Strong U. S. By BORIS 8HI8HKIN APL Economist (Excerpt* from article in TIm American Federatioeist) In 1962 the American people will be making decision*. These will be far-reaching decisions, af fecting the whole course of their future and the future of the world. Many of these decisions will he made on Capitol Hill in Washing ton when the votes are cast in the Senate and the House cham bers by the elected members of the 82nd Congress. Some wfll he made by the Executive branch of the government, and some by the courts. But the most crucial ques tion* Americans will be deciding themselves—at the polls next No vember. The first and the all-important part of the decision that the American people will have to make in 1962 is to carry on the defense program. They must make up their minds to accept the cost, the hardships and sacri fices that go with the defense ef fort. Not until the military sumpremacy of the free world over the Communist bloc is estab lished can this effort be relaxed. Not until then will peace be as sured. The second end equally vital part of their decision will be to make sure the coats, sacrifices and hardships of defense mobili sation are euitably distributed. People with small incomes and the average worker should not be expected to bear the brunt of economic dislocations inevitable under a mobilisation program. The worker will keep his belt tight If the CMNrtrp’b Mafia re quire that be doe*. Bat there should be no room for luxury buying when a worker’s family cannot get a decent place to live and scarcities prevent it from buying essentials of living. The third and closely related part of the decision is to keep in flation in check. Financial and credit policies of the government will have to be devised to check unnecessary business expansion, to curb a speculative rise in com modity prices and real estate and to bold in check, the prices of food. Policies to promote savings and defer nonessential '-ending are no less important. Commie Aim la To Destroy It should be remembered that one of tho most deadly aims of communism is to destroy our ec onomic system. The temptation to iet go of all irksome controls will be very great. Especially heavy will be the pressure to let go in the first half of 1952. For the full brunt of infl ’enary pressure from increased defense and military expenditures will not be felt until the second half, when the funds previously authorised and appropriated for defense will attain full flow in the form of actual payments. Try To Prwerw Ktrength The fourth consideration to which Americans will have to ^ive high priority also has to do with preserving the strength of their American commonwealth. It is the imperative necessity to make every possible provision, consistent with the defense of* fort, to prevent the rate of growth and standards of welfare we have attained from deteriorating Acute housing shortages must be wiped out. Social security standards must be raised to remedy the moat glaring shortcomings of our system and to overcome the de terioration in standards resulting from inflation. A national health program to eliminate the great est economic hazard confronting the great majority of Americana must be made a reality. First Lino Of Defense These and other kinds of action to strengthen our economy are just as indispensable as military preparedness. They are the first line of defense against upheaval on the day when defense prepara tions are completed and the threat of war is averted. This fifth area of decision has to do with something vital to all of us — America’s moral leader ship. America’s decisive task is it* | moral task. It is up to us fat I America to unite the free world < in a crusade for human better ment And it is up to labor to lead the way. PRICES, TAXES, HOUSING AND T-H PACE CONGRESS Senate, House Return January It Paoo Big Isouea Pries controls, taxes, housing and {he Taft-Hartley Act win bo big Hbms Congress will bays to face in IMS. Congress will be back in session on January 8. At noon on that day the second session of the 82nd Congress will begin. It is expected that Congress will remain in session until just before the Republican and Demo cratic conventions are held in Chicago. President’s Messsge I- The highlight of the flrst week of the 1952 Congress will bo President Truman’s State of the Union message on January 9. Unman undoubtedly will call on Congress once again to write into law his Pair Deal program. On January 14 the President will send to Congress the Ad ministration’s budget for the year beginning next July 1. A few days after that Mr. Truman la expected to preaont to Con gress his annual economic mee «r With the President'* mew(w out of the way Congress wm get down to work. And it has plenty of work to do. Thors is the price control prob Inn. The present law ends on June Si. So Congress will hare to decide whet to do sheet the lew after that date. Tax Loopholes Taxes will be another big issue. President Truman is expected to ask Congress to elose the loop holes in the tax law so the Gov ernment can balance its budget. Housing legislation will be con sidered, too. Congress should pass some decent defense housing laws. And the rent control law _ needs to be strengthened. The question of repeal of the Tsft-Hsrtley Act aka will cams ! up. Souse action la exported an a Mil backed by the APL Build, lag aad Ceaetractioa Trades Da* partmeut to esiend the Taft-Hart ley Art. The am—kast would exempt the building end construction In dustry from the representation elect' * requirements of the Taft Hartley Act ' • Military and foreign affairs problems also will keep Congress busy this year. Questions of ap propriations for defsnse will have to be considered. Congress will have to decide how much pur allies may need from us as tip world-wide light agsinst com munism continues. RENTS KEEP ON INCRBAS- * INC; JUMP 14 PER OUT DURING 1M1 Month by month for *1 moat two ymura the rent which workers have to pay he* been increasing. The Consumers’ Price Index kept by the Bureau of Labor Sta tistics (BLS) to measure the cost of living shows that: Prom February, 1960, to Oc tober 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, the rent index went up 8.5 points—* I from 129.7 to 138.2 In the first 9 months af 1981 alone the cost of rent increased U per cent. ’ Since 1936-89 the cost af rent has increased 38J per cent. Rent has been increasing be* cause tag the rent control law. Instead of considering the lems of both tenants and lords in writing rent Congress has listened, most part, only to the lobby.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 10, 1952, edition 1
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