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■I I B .4 f THE C14NT0N CHRONTCLfc Thursday, March 10, 1000 Spenders Or Savers? Writing in U. S. News & World Report, David Lawrence points to “the most impor tant question before the Congress.” It is whether the expected federal budget surplus for the coming fiscal year (estimated by the President at $4.2 billion) s'hall be spent, or applied to the reduction of our national debt. As he puts.it, “Shall we become ‘spenders’ or ‘savers’?” There is small doubt what will happen if the spenders rather than the savers have their way. The surplus will be dissipated, there is even possibility that a deficit will take its place, the already weakened dollar will become weaker in world money markets, and there will be new rounds of inflation. In this connection, the President made a re mark of the utmost significance ^-^Personal ly, I do not feel that any amount can be prop erly called a surplus as long as the Nation is in debt. I prefer to think of such an item as reduction on our children’s inheritted mort gage. And. once we have established Such payments as normal practice, we can profit ably make improvements in our tax struc ture and thereby truly reduce the heavy bur dens of taxation.” Finally, Mr. Lawrence posed another big question in these words: “What presidential candidate will espouse the doctrine of pay ing off the public debt by annual contribu tions from surplus?" The country deserves— in this election year—an unequivocal answer. Righteous Wrath Is indicated The tide of filth that threatened to in undate American magazine stands some time ago and more recently has swept up to our doorsteps in a flood of obscenity and pornography that the Postmaster General has been doing his utmost to check is now invading the greeting card field. Reputable publishers, who, as members of the Greeting Cards Association, are pledged to observing “standards of good taste, good morals and good social usage,” are appealing to the public for aid in stamping out this poisonous perversion of wholesome and no ble human instincts. Just as I’ostmaster Summerfield has ap pealed to the public, and especially parents, to keep a sharp lookout for offensive mate rial that may be coming to them or their children in the mails, the reputable greeting card publishers add their plea for alertness to cards that are obscene, nasty or obviously sacrilegious. Certainly it would seem to be high time to rescue sentiment—which is probably the only virtue that humans can claim above the beasts—from going down the drain. It is time for moral indignation—while we are still capable of it! Ten Percent Triumph After years of battling against the men ace of the “sitting duck,” highway safety engineers and traffic experts haVe won a ma jor victory that should swiftly lead to the virtual elimination of this common peril that has spilled a river of blood on American high- ways. , v ' The Interstate Commerce Commission has ruled that commercial vehicles operated in interstate commerce must, by August 1, have turn signal installations that include a switch that will cause all four of these signals to flash simultaneouslyto provide an effective, attention-compelling traffic hazard warning when the truck is stalled or disabled on the traveled portion of a highway. While truckers ha^e oeen required for years to carry fiar - or other prescribed warning devices and.set them out on the high way in these circumstances, pile-ups have occurred before they could !>e placed, drivers have been killed in the effort to do so'and many safety engineers have considered«BUch makeshift equipment generally inadequate. But the car owner seldom carries more than a flashlight—if that. And numerically, the p;issenger car constitutes ten times as big. a hazard as the truck. So it’s time now for state and local authorities to take a tip from the ICC, require turn signals equipped for hazard-warning duty—and clear the un- seen sitting ducks from the highways com pletely. Competition-TVA Style The New’ York Times recently published a long letter from a reader, B. L. England, telling some facts about the Tennessee Val ley Authority, and what private enterprise is up against in competing with it. One fact:. This country’s investor-owned power companies pay a total of more than $1,600,000,000 in taxes a year to federal, state and local government, which works out to about 23 cents for every dollar of their revenue. TV A pays only 6.8 cents on the rev enue dollar in taxes. Another fact: As of the beginning of last year, $5,500,000,000 of public money (the taxpayers’ money) had been invested in TV A — and current projects, authorized or planned, will bring that public investment to $15 billion. Still another fact: Advertisements placed in the Times and other newspapers by groups seeking to attract industry to the TVA area say that industrial power can be bought for as little as 6.03 mills a kilowatt hour. In vestor-owned electric companies pay almost this much per kw'h for taxes alone. So, if they met TV’A rates, they would have noth ing for payrolls, plants, fuel, or asy other operating cost. How would you like your business to be measured by the phony TVA "yardstick”? ANOTHER SPACE RACE Babson Says “Watch Tokyo!” f vv ■m m ifll jmm Clinton Davidson Babson Park. Mass , March 10—IV recent ogn. ing of a new treaty between the U. S. and Japan may one day be reckoned as a major turning point in our history By this treaty we have raised our mortal ene my of less than fifteen years ago to a new position of prestige m the world community. This should further spur Japan’s spectacular post-war recovery, and also help protect U. S interests in the Far East. UNPARALLELED PROGRESS At the end of World War II. the economy of Japan lay in ruins. Tokyo itself was a pile of nibble and nearly 50% of the nation’s industry had been destroy ed. Thanks to the enlightened leadership of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and to the amazing capacity of the Japanese themselves, the economic I life of the country was quickly re stored Instead of being submerged I by her conqueror. Japan regained full sovereignty and then achieved economic progress matched by no other nation. Japan's gross national product has more than doubled during the past ten years. There has been a 400% increase in industrial produc B*r*r w. »!»,,, tkm. While per capita income at $270 per year is very small by U. S. standards, it is the highest in all Asia. Since prices are still low in Japan, this sum will purchase three times as much goods and services as in the U. S. If Japan can escape war in the next ten years. I predict she will double her present living standards GREAT STRATEGIC VALUE Although much smaller than Red China in popula tion, in territorial size, in natural resources, and in military’ might, Japan possesses the most concentrat ed and most readily usable industrial power potential m the Far East That, plus her location, makes her strategically important to us, or to the Communist bloc. Japan stretches some 2,000 miles across the prin cipal approaches to Blast Russia Opposite her islands lie the southeastern extremities of Russia, the cruelly partitioned land of Korea, and the middle east coast of China. If you look at your globe, you will see that the ‘Land of the Rising Sun" occupies a geogrpahi- cal position relative to Blast Asia similar to that which Britain occupies relative to Western Europe. EXPANDING SECURITIES MARKET Japan’s ancient culture has been derived mainly from China, but her modern culture is largely West ern and American. She is bound to the Ftee World by ties of strategy and economy and has good reason to steer clear of the Soviet camp. Thus Japanese post war growth is now’ following traditional capitalistic lines, for the most part. A significant aspect of that growth has been the development of a very active securities market. The rising need for venture capital is being met as the high yields and low prices of Japanese securities at tract funds from all over the world. In my opinion, however, the advantages Americans can gam by buy ing Japanese stocks and bonds are outweighed by currency exchange problems, taxes, and other re strictions. Nevertheless, this phase of Japan's devel opment will bear watching. DREAM OF WORLD LEADERSHIP The Japanese are ambitious, resourceful, and hard-working. They have not abandoned their old dream of world leadership, but they may have learn ed the folly of trying to conquer by arms. With nearly 100.000,000 people compressed into 142,644 square miles, they must export or die. As they struggle to exist, their skill in finance, craftsmanship, industrial management, and commerce poses a more immedi ate threat to our U. S. world trade position than do current Russian polities Certainly world trade will become increasingly competitive and it will do us no good to hide behind tariff walls Already Tokyo is the world’s largest city. Some day the world’s economic center of gravity —which moved from London to New York in the fore part of this century—may pass to this oriental capi tal. Other large cities, in order of rank, are: London. New York. Shanghai. Moscow. Mexico City, Peking. Buenos Aires, Chicago, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Leningrad, Calcutta, Tientsin, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris'. Note that five of the sixteen largest cities are in Asa, while only-three are in North America. This Week inWashmgtoa Into The Fire The nation’s top farm economists agree that if production controls were removed and price supports lowered to the free market level over the next five years farmers would be out of the frying pan and into the fire. That is the conclusion reached by the U. S. Department of Agricul ture and Land Grant College econo mists in separate surveys made in response to a request by Sen. Allen Ellender. chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Results of the studies are pub lished in a 30-page report entitled Senate Document No. 77, free copies of which are available through the U. S. Printing Office. Washington, D. C Both reports emphasize that the studies are the independent con clusions reached by the economists, and not necessarily the view of pol icy officials, in response to this question: ^ What would the effect be on farm production prices and income if government production controls were eliminated and price supports lowered to the free market level over the next five years? PRODUCTION UP, PRICES DOWN Both surveys are in agreement that removal of production controls and lowering of price supports, as advocated by Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson, would result in an increase in production along with lower prices and reduced income for farmers. Department of Agriculture econo mists think total farm production wx>uld increase at an average of 2% a year, somewhere near the aver age of the past ten years. They think that by 1965 farm prices would de cline another 14% but that cash in- would drop only 9% because reased come of increalsed marketing They estimate that by 1965 beef cattle would average $15 (down 25% ), hogs $11.50 (down 20%), milk $3 60 (down 20%), corn 80c per bushel (down 25%), wheat 90c per bushel (down 50%), cotton 25c (down 30%), eggs 29c (down 20%), broilers 15c (down 10%), and soy beans $1.60 (down 25%). ! The report does not explain how the 14% average decline is arrived at in view of the much larger de cline predicted for commodities which make up 80% of all farm marketings. COLLEGE CONCLUSIONS The college economists expressed the bdief that USDA’s projections of probable 1965 prices and income were “somewhat higher” than justi fied by the expected increase in vol ume of farm marketings. They estimated net farm income would drop from about $11.5 bil lion last year to about $7 billion in 1965. a decline of about 40%, including both cash marketing re ceipts and government payments. Other estimates included a 60% to 75% drop by 1965 in net cash receipts by wheat growers, 35Vi lower for cotton producers, 37% lower on corn-hog products, 131/, lower for dairymen, but not much change for beef cattle ranchers. “The reduction in realized net income (401/.,) would be borne largely by the 2.1 million farms which .market 90% of all farm products,” the economists figure. The college study group included George Brandow of Pennsylvania, Willard Cochrane of Minnesota, Harlow Halverson of Wisconsin, Maurice Kelso of Arizona, James Plaxico of Oklahoma, and John Schnittker of Kansas. FARMS... AND FOLKS By I. M. Eleazer Clemson College Information Specialist Indian, fox, doctor, and just about everything. Down the road from us lived two cousins. One had 6 and the other 3 girls, no boys. We liked them, and played with them when rough expe ditions into the stone hills or down on our creek weVe not in order. One warm spring day, when we had just pulled off our shoes, we were playing with them down there in the woods between their houses. We laid rocks around snd outlined us a church. Wild violets and dog wood blossoms were picked. These in old broken-necked bottles and fruit jars found in a gully there adorned the edifice. Good-sized rocks were placed in rows there for the pews. And broken pieces of col ored glass adorned the log there at the front that was our chancel. A large three-foot log .of firewood standing on end was the pulpit. And on it we laid an old J. Lynn catalog for a Bible. Acer arranging all of that, we were ready for the service. I being the only boy there, they made me the preacher. I very reluctantly ac cepted, since I couldn’t bear seeing our laborious venture foil at that juncture. So I went up front, with solemn New Vet Pension Low Questions - Answers CLINTON. S. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 19, I960 a lir Clinton Chrunirlp Establidied 1900 July 4, 1889 — WILLIAM WILSON HARRIS — June 13, 1955 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY Subscription Rate (Payable in Advance) Out-of-County <- One Year $3.00, Six Months $2.00 One Year $4.00 Second Class Postage Paid at Clinton,-S. C. The Chronicle seeks the cooperation of its subscribers and readers — the publisher will at all times appreciate wise suggestions and kindly advice. The Chronicle will publish letters of general interest when they are not of a defamatory nature. Anonymous communications will not be noticed. This paper is not responsible for the views or opinions of its correspondents. Member: South Carolina Press Association. National Editorial Association National AdvertiMng AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION New Yert, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia Because of the widespread inter est among veterans a^d their de pendents on the new pension law going into effect later this year, The Chronicle today prints the last of a series of five columns of pertinent information on the new law. The fol lowing questions, with appropriate answers, were chosen by the Veter ans Administration from the thou sands being asked: Q What is the income limit for or phans, and how much do they re ceive under the present law? A. At present orphans of veterans are eligible for pensions if their out side income is not more than $1400 a year. Pension payments are $27.30 a mon.h for one orphan, $40.95 a month for two, $54.60 for three, and an extra $7.56 for each additional child. Q. What are the income limits and pension payments for orphans under the new system? A Under the new system orphans will be eligible for pension if their outside income is not _mr>re than $1800 a year, not counting their own earnings. Payments will amount to $35 a month for one orphan plus $15 more for each additional child, di- I vided equally. | Q. If a veteran or a widow receiv- | ing a pension begins to receive ad ditional income or acquires addition al property, must this be reported to the VA? A. Yes, it must be reported to the VA promptly. Any increase in an nual income must be reported to the VA under the present law. Un der the new law any material in crease in the size of the pensioner’s estate must also be reported. Q. What about a change in the number of dependents? A. A change in the number of dependents must also be reported promptly to the VA. Q< Is there anything besides the amount of income, the size of es tate, and the number of dependents that will affect the amount of pen sion paid to a veteran under the new system? A. Yes. Under the new system the ■pension of a veteran hospitalized or maintained by the VA will be re duced to $30 a month after two full calendar months of care. If the vet eran has a wife or child, the amount of his pension in excess of $30 may be paid to his dependents. Q. Will the veteran who receives an additional $70 for regular aid and attendance also be reduced to a pen sion of $30 a month if he is hospital ized or domiciled by the VA? A. Yes, unless he is receiving care or treatment for leprosy. Q If I am receiving a pension at present but I think it will be to my advantage to transfer to the new system next July, what should I do? A. Nothing right now. After the VA has sent you all the information necessary for you to determine which system will be best for you, the VA will send you a form to fill out indicating your decision to transfer from the old system to the new. You will receive this form about March 1, well in advance of the deadline, next July 1. You may delay exercising your option to change systems, and you may make the change any time in the future But on:e you change to the new syslem, you cannot t’eturn to the old system again. Q. If I am not now on the pension rolls becadse I am not elgiible un der the present pension law, but 1 will become eligible under the new system, what should I do? A. You may get the necessary as sistance and application from any VA office and apply for a pension. A VA contact representative will be glad to help you. GRAIN SORGHUM Grain sorghum is a coming crop in some counties of South Carolina It has about the same feed value as corn, stands drought better, and usually makes as much or more. I saw interesting variety demonstra tions of it that County Agents Bull and Craven of Abbeville and Saluda counties, respectively, had with it last year. Some of the new hybrids made far more than the older stand ard sorts. And they also lead at Clemson in the work Eskew is doing with them. In fact, the hybrids are showing up so much better that Clemson is not recommending the old open pot lenated sorts any more. The hybrid sorghums recommended for this year are RS 610, DeKalb 56-A, and Texas 660. “Southern Planter” has this to say about this crop: “Grain sorghums do not keep as well as corn, there fore, feed them first. In fattening steers, ground sorghum is 90 to 96 per cent as good as corn. It can re place some of the corn in dairy cow rations. Unless ground, milk cows will opt digest more than half the sorghum grain. It should be ground for pigs, though breeding sows and finishing hogs seem to use the whole grain well—about 90 per cent as well as com. Sheep can use the un threshed sorghum heads with equal ease as threshed grain- No grind- ingots*necessary. Hens and turkeys do well on sorghum. Remember: sorghum gran) is low in carotene and should be supplemented with yellow corn, alfalfa, or other vita min A rich materials.” • « * ELECTRICITY ON THE FARMS In 1934 less than 3 per cent of the farms in South Carolina had electricity. Now over 93 per cent of them have! This great growth cone ides with the coming of REA. As a county agent back then, 1 know the part these servants of agriculture played in helping farmers get electricity even out to the far places. I under stand there are over 400 different uses for electricity on the farm. I knew there were a lot, but wouldn’t have guessed that many. Heavier usage calls for heavier wiring. Have you had yours checked since adding new services? The private company or REA that serves you can help you chock that. * * * AROMATIC TOBACCO Where handled right, aromatic to bacco looks good in some of the demonstrations county agents put on in the up-country last year. For instance, County Agent Bull of Ab beville, reports: “Demonstrations on two farms consisting of 4.5 acres showed the following: 3567 pounds sold, total value $3,874.40, total cost of production $2,057.97, and net prof it $1,816.53. Net profit per acre was $403.66.” It must be remembered, this is a crop suited to small farm units with a lot of family labor. But, han dled right, it pays its way and leaves a good profit And it should be grown only under the supervis ion of one of Clemson’s two special assistant county agents who work closely with those trying it. ♦ * * BOYS ARE THAT WAY Through childhood we lived most ly in that beautiful world of make- believe. We played school, church, M} liigNori —. M Now think, Hartwlg.lathi* the time to ask for a raise? look. We had the Lord’* Prayer to gether. A familiar symn was an nounced. and the girls really made it ring down there in the shady dell beneath a canopy of pine*. I ap proached the place for the sermon with great misgivings. But the fate ful moment arrived, as it will. I got up, thumbed through the J. Lynn catalog, found my place, and read a few sentences from the eec- tiom on cheap jewelry. Then I lit in to preaching and ranting, a* I bad seen the Colored folks do. My audi ence was very responsive, greeting me with a nodding of heads arid loud amens. As I reached my cli max, Lois got up and started shout ing, and she was joined by others, chanting "Praise the Lewd,” “Yes, Father,” and the like. The grown folks had heard the commotion down there in the woods, and Cousin Belle and e few of 'em eased down there to see what wus going on. They stood behind seme low cedars for a bit and bsteoed be fore I saw them. Seeing them, I Ht out for the thickets below there, and I was hard to catch far a while. ,000? NEED* SAVE $3,000. cuul EARN the rest here ! It will pay you to lai savings accumulate with reg ular saving and the addition oi the good earnings we pay, and then earnings on the earnings, too. Your savings here are insured to $10,000. You’ll like the nice people who are here to serve you. . They make saving both pleasant and easy ior you. CURRENT DIVIDEND RATE COMPOUNDED SEMI-ANNUALLY CITIZENS FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION A Clinton Institution Serving Clinton People Since 1909 New « OFFICE SUPPLIES ' At CHRONICLE PUB. CO. Phone 74 J. R. Crawford SURVEYING CLINTON. BO BETTER-BRAKES... BUICK 60 BRAKES HATE HEAT! Bald's tin-cooled Aluminum Drums got rid of loot quicker so jroa'ra safe! Mr own worvt enemy—terrific heat. Excessive heat is bad becauee it may cetme brakes to lose pert of their effectiveness. So the faster you can Miaoipate it, the better off you are. Bukk gets rid of heat faster by using fin-cooled brake drums. On the front wheels, where most of the braking is done, the drums are aluminum. They cost more to make but they shrug off beet much faster than drums made of ordinary metal. Bukk far the only American cat makes them standard, at no extra coat, be you will be safer with them. Beet tune to buy a Bukk ’00 is now hi you will get top dollar on your old car and a wide selection of colon and body styhi which to choose. You can own a quality for leaa than you might think, and year Dealer oaa arrange terms to salt year hi TAKE A TURN IN A TURBINE DRIVE BUICK ’60 eases ease see a eanj iue Bukk Co., Ihc I. Harper St. - Laurena, 8. C.