Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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\ HE—I V • The Barnwell People-SentineK Barnwell. S. Thursday, December 16, 1937 i E ' i' 1 a I , r I JVw Reviem> of Current Event* ROPER HITS TAX SETUP Says Profits Levy Has Not Fulfilled Expectations . • • Building Boom Plan Is Offered Congress by President Japaa is pushinc her conquest of Chins net only in’the Tsaptse vsUey bat also, and especially. In the northern provinces. Here Is seen a Jap anese tank unit rambling along the road to Talynan. ^BtL/ra/bd lit J^ickaJul w fiTTM^APT7.ra »pwr txrrkDTn SUMMARIZES THE WORLD’S WEEK • Western Nswaps per Union. Tax Setup Needs Revision r\ANIEL C. ROPER, secretary of ^ commerce, says the entire tax structure of the United States should be revised. He was speaking at a * banquet of the Busi ness Advisory coun cil in Chicago, and his statements ap peared to meet with general approval “A general revi sion is necessary to simplify determina tion of tax liability, to distribute the bur den of taxation more equitably, and to Sec. Roper broaden the base of taxation to include a larger per centage of our earning population,’ Secretary Roper said. He asserted that the undistributed profits tax had not entirely fulfilled its proponents' expectations that it would “bring about a higher veloc ity of money through larger and more widespread distribution of cor porate earnings." Mr. Roper expressed confidence that a “constructive approach will be found to the solution of the utili ties dilemma and that significant results will be forthcoming." That this confidence has a sound basis was indicated by two an nouncements made the same day by prominent utility executives. Floyd L. Carlisle, chairman of the Consolidated Edison company, told the New York state public service commission that his company plans a $25,000,000 expansion program. The development came during hear ings concerning a proposed $30,000,- 000 bond issue. Back from submitting to the Pres ident a formula for better under standing between utilities and the administration, Wendell L. Willkie, president of Commonwealth and Southern corporation, proposed a general truce between business and the Roosevelt administration. Will- kie’s company has been involved in some of the bitterest controver sies with Washington. Building Boom Wanted ¥Y EV1SION of the existing housing ^ law in order to facilitate a building boom was asked by Presi dent Roosevelt in a special message to congress. He said such legisla tion would ease the flow of credit and open great reservoirs of idle capital to fight the business slump. The responsibility for the success of such a program he placed squarely on labor and industry. Specifically, the President recom mended changes in the housing act which would: 1. Reduce from 5ty per cent to 5 per cent the interest and service charges permitted by the Federal Housing administration on loans made by private institutions. 1. Authorize the housing admin istrator to fix the mortgage insur ance premium charge as low as of 1 per cent on the diminishing balance of the insured mortgage in stead of on the original face amount, and to % of 1 per cent on the diminishing balance of an in sured mortgage where the estimat ed value of the property does not exceed $6,000 and where the mort gage is insured prior to July 1, 1939. S. Increase -the insurable limit from 80 to 90 per cent in cases where the appraised value of the property does not exceed $6,000. 4. Facilitate the construction and financing of groups of houses for rent, or for rent with options to pur chase, through blanket mortgages. 5. Clarify and simplify provisions for the construction of large scale rental properties through facilitat ing their financing. fi. Grant national mortgage asso ciations "explicit authority to make loans on large-scale properties that are subject to special regulation by the federal bousing administrator." 7. Remove the July 1. 1939. limita tion on the $2,000,000,000 permitted to be outstanding in mortgages, with congress eventually limiting the in surance of mortgages prior to the beginning of construction of individ ual projects. 8. Permit insurance for repair and modernization loans as provided previous to April 1 of this year when this provision of the housing act expired. — Civil Service Plan Hit PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S pro- * posal that a single administrator be substituted for the three-man civ il service executive board was se verely criticized by the Brookings institution as tending to “invite en croachment of politics rather than to repel it" The institution report, drafted by Lewis Meriam, questioned the feas ibility of the plan and doubted whether it would achieve the Presi dent’s purpose of taking the civil service commission out of politics. Religious and political affiliations would present difficulties in selec tion of a single administrator, the report pointed out, adding that the proposed plan would represent too much centralization of power in an individual For Corporation Control CENATORS O’Mahoney of Wyo- ^ ming and Borah of Idaho intro duced a new federal licensing bill for all corporations engaged in in terstate commerce. It is designed by its authors and other senate "liberals" as an answer to the ad ministration’s de mand for revision of the anti-trust laws to curb monopolies. The Borah-O'Ma- honey scheme is de signed not only to eliminate m o n o p- olistic practices but to abolish child la bor, prohibit discrimination against women employees, guarantee collec tive bargaining, serve at a basis for further legislation dictating the wages and hours of labor, and reg ulate the financial policies of cor porations. The measure would require the immediate licensing of all corpora tions doing business in interstate commerce and would direct the fed eral trade commission to submit rec ommendations for a federal incor poration law. Under existing stat utes corporations are created only by the states. —*— Farmers' Grain Corp. Quits A RESOLUTION calling for dis- solution of the far-flung farm marketing agency — the Farmers’ National Grain corporation—will be put up to stockholders at a special meeting next January 24, J. O. Me- Clintock, vice president, announced. According to the proposal mar keting operations now conducted by the national group would become the independent functions of the in dividual state groups, probably cen tered around the 11 regional offices of the association. The federal government has fur nished most of the money to finance the corporation activities over the last eight years and will be the prin cipal loser through the dissolution of the corporation. Senator O’Mahoney Helps Anti-Red Pact I TALY formally recognized the government of Manchukuo, pup pet state set up by Japan, and To kyo was delighted. It was expected that Manchukuo would now join in the Italian-German-Japanese pact against communism, and its geo graphical location would make such action at considerable importance. about: How to Be Fair. S anta Monica, calif.— Every time the heirs to an undivided estate start litigat ing, I think of a decision which had in it more wisdom, more common sense and more fairness than even King Solomon’s inspired justice. I can’t remember whether ’twas a ruler upon the throne or a Judge upon the tench who handed down this ruling. But two brothers fell out over a proper divi sion of their father’s possessions. Accord ingly, they carried the dispute to a higher court of the land. So his majesty, or his worship, or his honor, as the case irvin g.Cobb may have been, said: “Let the older brother apportion the property into what he regards as two equal shares—and then let the younger brother have first choice of the shares." But, of course, the lawyers couldn’t have favored the plan. It was too beautifully simple to suit any lawyer in any age. The Ameri can Bar association would just nat urally despise it • • • Cemetery Salesmen. I RECEIVED a letter from one of our plushiest cemeteries. We have some of the plushiest ceme teries on earth; it’s a positive pleas ure to be dead out here. I was urged to invest in a highly desirable lot for only a few thou sand smackers; or buy a perfectly lovely crypt—slightly more expen sive, but most luxurious. Through some private whim or pique, I failed to answer this tempt ing communication. Today I re ceived an appealing follow-up let ter. I gather that if I neglect this splendid opportunity, I’ll live to re gret it Or maybe I won’t Such thoughtful attention merits response. I’m replying as follows: “Dear gents: Space in a grave yard is the last thing I shall require. When that time* comes, somebody else will do the shopping. Trusting these few lines may find you the same, yours gratefully." But if a representative calls in person—as he will—I’m a gone gos ling. Those slick talkers always do get me. You just ought to see my collection of oil stocks. Now, there’s something that does need burying. • • • * Making Jnlepe. S OME disputatious soul seeks to reopen the ancient debate over the proper recipe for mint julep. I decline the invitation. Since the Dred Scot decision nothing has stirred up as much bitter contro versy south of the Ohio river. North of the Ohio river doesn’t count The Yankee conception of a Julep is calculated to make a host of sleeping Kentucky brigadiers rise up from their respective Bourbon casks and start giving the rebel hiss. Naturally, the only perfect julep is the Paducah julep. Just drop in next summer and sample the real product on its native heath—not at a saloon, where the bartender is likely to have heretical ideas, such as using preserved fruits and even putting the sugar syrup in first, which amounts to downright crime •but in the private home. • • • * Western Superiority. I N BORNEO, tigers slay such an incredible host of natives that the yearly mortality is proportionately almost one-tenth as great as the average number of persons who will be wiped out in traffic fatalities on American highways during any giv en 12 months. In India, owing to the refusal of those benighted Hindus to destroy any living creature, 20,000 inhabi tants annually are killed by venom ous serpents, whereas, in this coun try, in 1936, we spent only 15 billions for crime, or 18 times as much as we spent on national defense, yet managed to let many poisonous hu man snakes go free to build up mur der statistics. In Japan, geisha girls are govem- mentally licensed and protected, which is indeed an affront to the principles of an enlightened people who patronize so-called world’s fairs that are dependent on unabashed nudity for popular favor, and shows dependent on foul lines and nasty situations. IRVIN 8. COBB. Copyright.—WNU Service. National Topics Interpreted by William Bruckart National Pr»«f Bulldlnr Washington, D. C Marriage Customs la Japan The Japanese live more as mem bers of families than individuala. That is to say. every Japanese is under the moral obligation to per petuate the family line inherited from his ancestors. The only son must take a wife; he cannot “be come a husband", in other words, he takes his wife to his home and she shares with him the name of his an cestors. The only daughter, on the other hand, must take a husband to the home of her fathers and share with him her family name. Washington.—Congress has been doing a deal of talking about help ing business to get Mach Talk, on its feet, but it No Action has not yet ac complished much. The house ways and means com mittee, it is true, is making some headway and a number of senators. Including the powerful Senator Har rison of Mississippi are asserting the necessity for a reversal of fed eral policy. Bui again, there is much more talk than action, and in the meantime the country’s busi ness is sliding lower and lower. The difficulty in the present situ ation and the thing that probably has been more responsible for the business slump than anything else is that business heretofore has been unable to tell what the federal gov ernment is going to do. It has be come evident already that with a somewhat changed atmosphere in congress, there are many business men who are more hopeful than a month ago. Business men, big and little, are quick to note that there are senators and representa tives who think the time has ar rived for business to receive some consideration. And it ought to be added that unless business does get some consideration, this current depression is going to be as bad as the last one. The federal govern ment must give attention to the ag ricultural problem and it must fit that job into some consideration of the other half of American life, namely, the commerce and indus try outside of agricultural life. It will be recalled that during the first two years of President Roose- velt’s administration there was a flock of laws passed that were of great value to the country. Many of them were of a temporary char acter and were enacted on that basis. That would have been fine if the administration had stopped there. But it did not The roam ing herd of so-called thinkers who were scattered far and wide in fed eral Jobs had to have their innings. At least they thought they had to have a turn at bat All of their pet theories had to be tried out. The result: many laws that were purely experimental, dangerous, damaging and a burden to business. With many millions of others, I expected at that time to see these queer looking laws shaken down, corrected, or repealed where it was found necessary. That has not hap pened. Again, the result: the coun- try’a business from the smallest general store at a cross roads or a garage or a gasoline station to the greatest corporation, like General Motors or Pennsylvania railroad, has had to suffer under the heavy heel of the national government The reason that congress is show ing signs of a movement that will revise the tax structure is because these smaller businesses out through the coufitry have now got their fill of government red tape, complex reports, visits of investi gators, new tax forms and levies, or what have you. Those people are making themselves beard here in Washington. So if congress takes some action looking to a fair deal for business, Just as it is quite determined to do something for agriculture, I enter tain no doubt about the response it will get from the business inter ests. As far as business has made itself felt it is apparently asking only to be treated equitably with labor. Every one knows that the last three or four sessions of con gress have been frightened to death every time a labor leader showed up on capitol hill The reward given congress was the C. I. O. sitdown strikes, violence and a general mess. The condition has left a good ly number of senators and repre sentatives a bad taste in their mouths. There is plenty of dirty linen in the business closet It has a hard wash day ahead to Mcmng restore it to the in Bonne— respect of the bulk of the people. Bus iness has been smug. It has thought too little, in many instances, of its obligations to the public at large. But surely there is a point beyond which federal punishment ought not go since there is a responsibility also in the other direction. Unless business gets a reasonable chance to stand on its own feet how is it going to re-employ workers and reduce the relief rolls? Every individual wants to earn some money. He wants a return for his labor. He dreams some day of a retirement a lay off when be can watch the world go by. I can see no reason why the federal government should not encourage, rather than discourage, such a thing. It is the conviction of a very great many, an increasing number of people that the federal government is messing too much into business. But aside from that phase. There are a number of things happening that are difficult to understand. At a time when business is sliding off like a snowball going down hill the President steps out and orders an investigation by the federal trade commission into "high prices.” The inquiry, of course, is directed at monopoly. I have no doubt at all that there will be a blast from some government official pretty soon in which “big business" again will be told it is crushing the “little fellow” and that the public is suffering from the high prices maintained by a “trust" There may be even a fireside chat because a President’s voice penetrates everywhere. At a time, too, when the prices of bonds and shares of corporation stock are finking like they have double pneumonia, out bursts Chair man Douglas of the securities and exchange commission with a small cargo of dynamite about crooked dealings underneath the stock ex changes of the country. Fortunate ly for the hundreds of thousands of small investors, the stock exchange quotations did not fall much further as a result of Mr. Douglas’ learned remarks. The prices already had fallen below the knees. But the Douglas statement certainly gave no confidence to those who were be ginning to believe that congress would try to undo some of the wrongs previously done. Just about the same time and dur ing frequent appeals from the sen ators and representatives that the tax laws had to be overhauled, the President sent a report to congress. It was a report by the New York Power authority, charging the pow er interests with some weird mis doings. I happen to know some of the folks on the staff of the power authority and I feel that they know just about as much about the power problem as I do—which is to say they are pretty dumb about the sit uation. Of course, those alleged economists have brilliant ideas about reforming America, and I am dumb about that too. Further: While this power au thority report was being em blazoned upon the front pages of newspapers. President Roosevelt was holding long conferences with Wendell Wilkie and Fred Carlisle, who personalize the "power trust,” if there be a power trust. Mr. Roosevelt was talking with those men iqfBn effort to get the large power interests to go ahead with construction and expansion pro grams to provide work for unem ployed. • • • The political strategy of blaming everything on “big business" worked well for a Different time, just as the Picture 01(1 demagoguery • bout “Wall Street” used to inflame thousands when a politician orated and slapped his legs with widely swinging arms. But the picture is different now. The attack on business has become a mill stone on business and it has crushed little as well as big—and since there are so many more smaller ones than there are trusts and monopolies, members of con gress are hearing about it from men whom they went to school with at home. But what is to be done? Let con gress repeal about five hundred laws that force business to pay more for the privilege of doing business than it gets out of its whole volume; re duce or revise the direct taxes and bring the thousand and one items of tax out in the open so the people can see and know what they are paying; cut out forty or fifty of the silly experiments that were worked up by the coterie of individuals who are constantly feeding Mr. Roose velt half-baked and cockeyed schemes for spending money and thereby reduce the federal expenses —these and many more of honest purpose can be done. If they are done, business again can employ workers and as it employs work ers, they come off the relief rolls, and as they get wages, they buy. This means profits and profits mean tax receipts by the treasuries of state and nation. To show how some of these taxei come about, I am told that Herman Oliphant general counsel to the secretary of the treasury, promoted the ridiculous tax on undistributed profits of corporations to declare dividends of all of their earning* and he was for it It did just that But when the corporations had dis tributed everything to their share holders and their volume of busines* fell off, they had no money left U tide them over until business picked up again. Hence, some of them are on th^ verge of bankruptcy. 1 do not know where Mr. Oliphant got the idea, or how he sold it to Mr Roosevelt I do not know of any business connection that Mr. Oliphant ever had with any impor tant corporation. It is important, however, to note that Mr. Oliphant has made no move whatsoever to defend this brain child that turned out to be such an unwanted baby. (And while writing about Mr. Oli phant it may be noted that until Secretary Morgenthau came onto the scene, there was never any need for a general counsel to the secre tary of the treasury.) • Western Newspaper Union. AROUND th. HOUSE fiHS Itf ms of Interest to the Housewife For Meringues.—Eggs that are several days old make better meringues than fresh ones. see Watering House Plants.—Rinse water from milk bottles will make house plants healthy and vigorous. see Selecting Meats.—Good beef or pork or calves’ liver is very bright in color and has little odor. Re member these points when select ing it. • s • Preparing Starch.—Stir a piece of lard about as big as a five-cent niece into your starch while it is boiling. Your clothes will take on a nice gloss, and the iron will not :tick. • • • Caring for Knit Garments.—In vearing and caring for knit gar- nents, beware of rough surfaces, vhich cause thread breaks. Give he garment rest periods; steam <nd reblock occasionally. • • * Stuffed Celery.—Blend two ta- >lespoons of peanut butter with wo tablespoons of butter and one- Smiles Granite “Then she isn’t exactly one of the sympathetic sort?" “Sympathetic! Why, it’s my opinion that woman wasn’t born; she was quarried!"* Last year: She was the old-fash ioned girl who darned her hus band’s socks. This year: She’s the new-fangled girl who socks her darned husband. Here and There Egyptian Guide—And the stones I’m about to show you are cov ered with hieroglyphics. American Tourist—Oh, isn’t that too bad. At home we’re bothered by grasshoppers. Most men are easy marks for the girl who aims to please. What’s the Matter, Pop Father (looking at son’s report) —Do you know that George Wash ington was at the head of his class when he was your age? Son—Yes, but he was President of the United States when he was vour age, pop. Rising Tide A new magazine has made its appearance on the newsstands of the country. It is pictorial in char acter under the name of the “Ris ing Tide,” originally issued in Eng land and now being prepared for distribution in eleven countries un der nine different languages. The magazine is reported to be a non profit publication carrying no ad vertising but such matter that is of nterest to the people of the world vho are seeking answers to their >wn problems. It is said that these problems are covered without re gard to race, class or creed. quarter pound of grated cheese. Work until smooth, then add one- quarter teaspoon of Worcester shire sauce and paprika, then stuff crisp celery hearts. This mixture is also delicious as a sandwich spread or to use for stuffing dates or prunes. * * * For Cooling Cakes.—An ordi nary wire dish-drying rack makes a good cake cooling rack when turned upside down. * • • Preserving Stockings.—Because perspiration acids are among the worst enemies of good hose, cloth ing experts advise washing stock ings after each wearing—in luke warm water with mild soap. • • • A Needed Utensil.—A knife sharpener is as essential a piece of household equipment as the cof fee pot. Not even an expert carver is able to do much with a dull knife. "Quotations" A Pleasures are satisfying in inverse ratio to their cost.—Bruce Barton. Every great cause is embraced first by an aggressive minority.—Albert Einstein. A nation can be judged by its humor.—Sinclair Lewis. Wars are never won; they are only and always lost.—B. M. Baruch. The loveliest rainbow is in our vision rather than in the sky.—ITili Durant Try ami be a champion in what ever line of endeavor you choose in life.—Jack Dempsey. Do well and doubt no man—do better and doubt all men.—A. J. Jennmfs. “Ah showed yo’ mammy with JEWEL, too, honey" #For generations, fine cooks throughout the South have preferred Jewel Shortening. A Special Blend of choice vegetable fats and other bland cooking fats, Jewel actually creams faster, makes more tender baked foods, than the costliest types of shortening. You get better results every time. Look for the red carton. FAVORITE OF THE SOUTH m 07 FLORIDA N« BMittcr what part at Florida yoa’rr plaaalau ta via It ... a# matter haw marh or how little yoa’re plaaalas to apead . . . “C'OI.IUEK- la tha oae aarne to remember!—Collier ehala at hotels. Year ’Round Hotels TAMPA TERRACE and FLORIDAN Tampa LAKELAND TERRACE Lakeland DIXIE COURT W. Palm Beach Seasonal Hotels Opct Dec Id—Apr. IQtk ROYAL WORTH W. Palm Beach MANATEE RIVER Bradenton SARASOTA TERRACE Saraaota CHARLOTTE HARBOR Punta Gorda GASPARILLA INN Boca Grande EVERGLADES INN Evergladea U8EPPA INN Usrppa Inland SI PM ISLAND For sportsmen, for motorists, tor lelsore-aeakers, for season residenU or two-week vacatlonista . . . Collier hotels provide a warm and friendly Florida welcome! Apply to TRAVEL AGENT or addreoa ladlvtdaal hotol maoapera ot COLLIER FLORIDA COAST HOTELS HOTEL TAMPA TERILACM fd* FIFTH A VENUS TAMPA « FXA * NEW YORK. N. T. m: