THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY. HERTFORD, N. C, FRIDAY. JUNE 26, 1943
PAGE THKEE
LOOM AT WASHINGTON
By Hug S. Sims, Washington Correspondent
Rail Unions Seek Increase
Ask 30 Per Cent Raise.
Hearings Now Underway.
The demand of five railroad unions
for a wage increase of thirty per
cent for 400,000 railroad employees
is being considered by an emergency
board of the National Railway Panel,
now holding sessions in New York.
The unions ask that all existing
basic, daily wage rates be increased
thirty per cent., with the minimum
increase of $3 on the minimum day.
The men are represented by Ed
ward J. Flynn, former chairman of
the National Democratic Committee,
who says that they have no thought
of a strike, preferring to follow the
American way by relying upon agen
cies set up to adjust their differences
with the carriers.
The contention of the unions is
that there has been a lag in equitable
readjustments and railroad men
have not received increases "even up
to those provided by the so-called
"Little Steel formula." Moreover,
increasingly hard work and longer
hours, brought about by the move
ment of troops and war materials are
"almost beyond the limits of human
endurance."
The unions make much of the fact
that the railroads are enjoying "lusn
times and are making greater pro
fits than ever before in their his
tory." They point out that pay
ments of large dividends on railroad
securities will probably continue ana
that the piling up of great profits is
just as inflationary as increased
wages.
The railroads, through their spokes
man, Jacob Aronson, say that the
demand of the unions is "neitner
warranted nor permissible." Ao
mitting that 1942 was a prosperous
year and that 1943 will be equally
good, the carriers point out that they
are using recent profits to reduce
bonded and other indebtedness.
The railroads, through their spokes
man, now say that employees now
are paid "very substantially above
the average of other industrial
workers."
In addition, the railroads will
emerge from the war with greater
deferred maintenance expenses than
ever before in history and it will be
necessary to use large sums of money
to catch up on maintenance that is
being skipped now because the rail
roads cannot secure the necessary
materials.
Mr. Aronson points out that there
ere many variations of wage rates
paid to railroad men and gives aver
age hourly rates as follows: Engi
. neers, $1.46; flagmen, $1.32; conduc
tors, $1.26; firemen, $1.12, and
brakemen, $1.08.
The Board conducting the hearing,
which is expected to last several
weeks, includes: Justice Walter P.
Stacey, of the North Carolina Su
preme Court, presiding;, and Professor
I. L. Sharkman, of the University of
Michigan, and Frank Swacker, New
York attorney.
Invasion A Vast Undertaking
Transportation A Problem
The invasion of the Continent of
Europe is not a picnic expedition and
should not be confused with the rela
tively simple transportation of troops
and suDnlies to France during the
last war.
Conditions are far different from
those that existed when the first A.
E. F. landed in a friendly France,
where many of the supplies that they
required were on hand. In this war,
the invaders, when they land, will
have to carry everything they need
with them.
Some idea of the extent of this
task is given by Raymond Danniell,
who estimates that the invasion of
Europe will coincide with a Russian
offensive and perhaps an expedition
from England against the Channel
ports. He believes that at least
1,500,000 men will be required.
To move 1,500,000 soldiers will re
quire 500 to 600 trains for personnel,
200 freight trains for medical sup
plies, food and other impedimenta.
It will take 1,890,000 packing cases
for shipment of equipment and 121,-
600 ten-ton trucks to move them. If
three-ton trucks are used 416,500 will
be required. At the dockside it will
be necessary to have approximately I
700 10,000-ton ships.
The mere recital of these figures
indicates the tremendous problem
and explains why it will require some
time to assemble the men, accumu
late the supplies and provide the
necessary transportation.
Every detail of the flow of men,
munitions and supplies across the
water must be worked out many
weeks before the undertaking begins
and, regardless of any interference,
there must be no let-up in the move
ment of men and materials.
Warns Axis About Gas
The fact that President Roosevelt
again warns the Axis powers that the
use of gas will result in stern re
taliation by the United Nations indi
cates some definite information that
the Axis is expected to use ?as.
The Nazis and their stooges are not
above the use of gas, if they have
the idea that it will give them an
advantage. They have not hesitated
to adopt other forms of ruthless war
fare and the world hears no pleas
for humane warfare until the weapon
is turned against the Axis.
It is quite possible that the Axis,
unable to retaliate against the United
Naions for their heavy aerial assault
will, in desperation, try the use of
gas on a large scale. If they do,
they should be given the same lesson
that the R. A. F. and the U. S. Air
Force is dishing out in return for the
I bombing of helpless cities in the early
days of the war.
U. S. Builds War Industry.
Will We Give Plants Away?
The United States Government has
invested many millions of dollars in
me construction ot plants to pro
duce supplies necessary for the sue
cessful prosecution of the war.
The average American might keep
these plants in mind, and, if interest
ed, write his Congressman to discover
what will happen to the plants when
the war ends.
There will ,be a determined drive,
by selfish interests, to compel the
Government to "get out of business
immediately after hostilities end.
The main idea in the minds of the
gentlemen urging this policy will be
to acquire some Government property
at a cheap price.
It is not in the Interest of the
public generally that the Government
be forced to sacrifice its investments.
The slogan, "Take the Government
out of business" sounds all right,
but it will be poor compensation for
plants which cost millions of dollars.
The discussion is not academic, be
cause, after the last war, the Gov
ernment literally threw away hun
dreds of millions of dollars' worth of
valuable capital. The disposition of
cargo snips ana snipping lines is a
case in point.
While we have no desire to see the
Government enlarge its business ac
tivities, we cannot see any wisaom
in a policy which comnels the Gov
ernment, after spending Dillions of
dollars to construct various plants,
to give them away for little or'noth-
ing, just in order to be out of business.
While it would be better perhaps,
for private capital to provide the
facilities necessary for productive pur
poses, whenever the Government has
to put up the capital, it should in
sist upon owning the plants. The
same observation again applies to
Government contributions in the
form of subsidies to keep certain es
sential industries in operation.
Officials Study Food Outlook.
Some Scarcities In 1944
While it is too early to assume
that there will be a shortage of food
in 1943, the crop reports, as of June
1, indicate the worst prospect for the
past three years.
Crop conditions have been damaged
by flood and drought which will
have their effects on production.
The estimated yield of wheat is
26 per cent below the 981,000,000
bushels harvested in 1942, but the
large carry-over will be ample to
meet all requirements.
The general opinion is that there
will be a billion-pound increase in
meat production this year, but the
mythical average consumer wants
160 pounds, which represents a con
siderable increase over the 122
pounds that the average consumer
ate during the 1935-39 period.
With consumers having more mon
ey to spend for food, the family diet
is improved, which is another way
of saying that the demand increases.
Consequently, we hear that the
average consumer wants 55 pounds of
food fats, including butter, for the
current year, when he will be able to
get about 46. This is not so bad
when it is compared with the 48.9
pounds the average consumer utilized
during the 1935-39 period.
While the production of crops for
1943 is uncertain, especially in view
of the absence of an acreage report,
conditions during the remainder of
the growing season may adversely af
fect growing prospects. In this case,
there will be considerable inconven
iences in regard to favored diets for
all Americans who depend upon com
mercial sources for their food supply.
The situation justifies additional
stress upon the importance of can
ning as much food as possible Farm
ers and those in urban communities
who are able to plant gardens can
protect themselves from any food
shortage by the simple expedient of
growing and canning something to
eat. Before next June comes around,
there may be many Americans en
thused over the meaning of a home
garden.
...BETTER HAY and more
of if it you DUST with
STEUFFElZ'O
Perfection Brand Dusting
SULPHUR
Yet, you can increase the yield of your peanuts
25 per cent without increasing your acreage or
going to much expense. Here's how ifs donet
simply make three applications of Stauffer sul
phur dust to control leafhoppers and leafspotf
aside from harvesting more peanuts, your In
creased yield in hay alone will more than pay
for the sulphur dust. Your interests come first
with your County Agent discuss dusting with
Stauffer Sulphurs with him.
The government's request for increased pea
nut production makes it the duty of every
grower not only to increase his present acreage
but also to increase his yield per acre by dust
ing with sulphur. Your County Agent is fully
. acquainted with the peanut dusting, schedule
for your area. If you haven't placed your order
for dusting sulphur do so at once.
STAUFFER CHEMICAL CO.
420 Lexington avenue, new yosjc, m, n. y.
SEI YOUR NEAREST JTAUrFEI DEALER,
OR WRITE FOR IITERATURE
From Tflke Lf
Really funny how some little
every -day things can affect the
course of history. For instance,
did you know that one of the
main reasons for the Pilgrims
landing on Plymouth Rock was
because the Mayflower was run
ning out of beer?
Yessir, you can read it in an
original manuscript of 1622, an
account of the settling of Ply
mouth where it says: ". . . we
could not now take time for fur
ther search or consideration;
our victuals being muck spent;
( I ; especially our beer ; t ..
Just goes to show how good
beer has been a part of American
life right from the beginning;
Yes, and it's had a big part in
making us a tolerant, moderate
people, happy to live and let
live. Because beer is a drink of
moderation and good fellowship.
Conserve Your Car
143 Hrewlat) laaaatry Ftl Nrta Carollaa
K!r Stain. Stat BHreoter. ImruN IMS, KdetT,l. C
J till i r . . v m ww i
ids " i n Ti j . wi w ... i
An important step in caring for your car is to care for your
tires ... let Joe and Bill's inspect your tires often.
When in need of tires . . . and if you have the proper certi
ficate . . . come to Joe and Bill's for your new tires. We have
a large stock of tires ... all sizes.
GOODYEAR and U. S. ROYAL
TIRES and TUBES
JOE AND BILL'S SERVICE STATION
"Where Service f A Pleasure"
BILL WHITE, Prop. PHONE 8601
-iii'4HS4S
yi Jj Adolf would for- SJ
' V JfazT lr bid Sinclair-ize for iffi
Adolf would for
bid Sinclair-ize for
Summer Service if he could, because he'd like to see
your car wear out. So to save wear in Summer weather,
and make your car outlast Hitler, be sure to have it
Sinclair-ized now, no matter what your gasoline ration.
A Sinclair-ize job saves wear on your engine, trans
mission and differential gears and chassis by protecting
them with summer-grade lubricants. It takes care of
other vital parts, too, as pictured at right. So have your
car Sinclair-ized for Summer now.
TiniS 3 8 ATT CRY
FRONT I r5S'
I WHtflS I MLTOH I
RADIATOR J IT I
v I Oil AMD 1
s Mnit 'Pi u t II air niTtn
8QQ mm (DQQQW somm
J:H. T-OWE.
Agent
SINCLAIR REFINING CO.
Hertford, N. G