Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE NEWBERRY SUN. NEWBERRY. S. C. Washington Di&estj Abolish Post Exchanges? Oh! Perish the Thought By BAUKHAGE Sews Analyst and Commentator, WASHINTON.—Members of a sub-committee of the armed services committee of congress have recently com pleted a highly interesting tour of investigation. It was or dered because of a spirited controversy now going on in Washington. I can't help mentioning the subject because its background is made up of some ancient vivid memories—memories of the day when, as a lonely recruit in an ill-fitting uniform and sagging wrap-leggings, I wan dered into an army post-exchange for the first time, more than three decades ago. Bankhage As I looked around the dreary set ting my loneliness was not alleviat ed. I was at that moment yearning ler the corner drugstore back home. 1 can hardly reconcile that men tal pichre with the one of Corporal Roberts, shown on this page, as he reaches for his milkshake prof fered by a plump and friendly dam sel! The smile she is passing out with the drink would have meant far more to me that day than the smile on the face of the general. Now don’t think I’m preju diced against gen erals, as a class. (Some of my best friends are generals). But I must say that what I missed most in the gloomy PX of my rookie experience was woft the gleam of a general's stars. Since that sad day, I have vis- ' lied many army post exchanges and some ships’ service stores (the navy equivalent), and I was a little startled when I heard Just recently that they were be ing threatened with abolition. Of course there are two sides to every story. I’ll try to forget per sonal prejudice in favor of any thing that gives the armed services a break, and present both sides. One side is represented by private businessmen. They charge that the exchanges which sell the soldier and his family a lot of things at reduced prices is "big business” subsidized by the government, com peting with "little business” run by private enterprise. The exchanges take in abont $138 million gross annually. Ac cording to a recent analysis, quoted by the “Army Times” (a non-official but approved news paper for servicemen) the aver age soldier spends $24 a month in the PX. Three-fourths of this $24 goes, ac cording to the analysis, for “tobac co, food at fountain, cafeteria and snack bar, for uniforms and insig nia, and for candy end bottled drinks.” The remaining one-fourth goes for all other purchases, includ ing the “special orders” which many merchants object to, "al though special orders constitute less than 3 per cent of the exchange business.” This 25 per cent of the total sales of the exchanges (or 40 million dol lars) is only a tiny fraction of the billions spent by the American peo ple every year in private stores on jewelry, watches, radios, cosmetics, toilet goods, and semi-durable house furnishings which come under the head of the “all other purchases” bought in the exchange. The Army Times points out that the PX competition is chiefly with the stores in the immediate vicinity •f army posts. But would those business people rather have no post (here at all? The soldier spends plenty off post. Enough, anyway, to have the congressman very anx ious and very active in trying to obtain or hold army and navy in stallations^within his constituency. Looking' at the other side of the picture, it is true that some serv icemen and ex-servicemen have tak- I think the returning congress men will verify this. • The army and navy don’t say so, but it is no pleasure to them i to have to take on the burden of a business simply to offer advantages to servicemen and women and their farnilies which make life easier and cheaper. Ask any post exchange officer how much of a headache an inventory is. He would far rather be inspecting foot-lockers or stand ing reveille. The biggest gripe the retailers have against the post exchanges arfd ships’ service stores is the fact that such stores don’t have to pay (or charge for) excise taxes. In fact the retailers have demanded that/the department of justice look into thb legality of the situation. How the department decides has nothing to do with the army and navy—that is, it will be a matter for the civilian branch in this respect: If the justice department says it’s OK by them, the merchants prob ably will carry their lament to the congress. Then the congress which makes the tax laws and is elected by the people who pay those taxes and also the people whose sons and daughters are in the armed'forces, will decide the matter. And there is also this to be re membered: true, the exchange does have the excise tax-exempt priv ilege, but otherwise it must meet many if not most of the expenses any retailer has to meet. The ex- New off-duty hangont for Fort Ord, Calif., soldiers was opened recently when soda fountain No. 10 was put into operation officially by Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe (left), the commanding general. Lois Kuykindali serves first milk shake to Cpl. James B. Roberts. change manager has help to pay and insure, has maintenance, super vision and accounting costs along with a host of other expenses faced by any merchant—costs and bur dens which seldom occur to the av erage consumer. The exchanges also have to make a “profit”—not a profit to them, but a 6 per cent figure which the law demands they must clear over all expenses and turn into welfare funds. Their , "mark-ups” are, of course, less than those of the merchant. The Army Times puts the argu ment this way: “Out of these markups, the ex changes run themselves and pay the 6 per cent to welfare. That is, the GI buying in an exchange pays enough over costs to return to him self over 70 per cent of the expense of a multitude of off duty activities —music, service clubs, day rooms, hobby shops, soldier shows, library service, athletic facilities and equip ment, and the like. "The theaters ante under 10 per cent of the welfare requirement; the taxpayers put up just about 15 per cent of the vitally necessary welfare and recreation bill.” If the exchanges didn’t turn in that 6 per cent profit, the taxpayer would have to provide the welfare items mentioned above. Or the GI of today would have even less diver sion to brighten the barren sur roundings of camp or post than did this lonely rookie when he walked into the decidedly limited institu tion which the regular army post provided where your correspondent began his none-too-brilliant but nev ertheless unforgettable army ca. Sgt. Walter W. Wynhoff and Capt. C. A. Cubbler look over a counter that Wynhoff built for the 34th general hospital at Seoul, Korea, during his off-duty time. en advantage of the exchanges. They have made purchases for re sale and bought for friends who had no service connections. Also retired personnel have made purchases when they no longer legally should exercise the privilege. Restrictions have been tight ened up, however, and every ef fort is being made to defeat the serviceman who is trying to cut off his own nose to spite his face when be violates regulations. Much of man’s cussedness stems from poor food habits which un dermine mental poise and sociabil ity, says a paper read at the Ameri can Chemical society. Maybe it’s time for the bride to take those jokes about her cooking seriously. A letter ts the American Machin ist says that when an executive dates an employee he should never discuss it with other employees. Maybe the less discussing she does the better, too. Hens which drink from stagnant pools lay off-flavor eggs, says the Canadian Farm News. And even their best friends won’t tell them! NOBEL PRIZE ... Dr.. Paul Mueller of Switzerland was awarded the 1948 Nobel prize in physiology for his discovery in 1939 of the insecticide known as DDT which saved the lives of many refugees. HAIR-RAISER ... Mrs. John ny Olsen of Chicago, Hi., made a vow in 1932 that she would not cut her hair as long as a Demo crat sat in the White House. Now, scissors or no scissors, she’ll have to wait another four years. ARMY BRASS ... Lfeut. Gen. J. Lawton Collins has been ap pointed to the newly created of fice of army vice chief-of-staff. HA will take some of the admin istrative load off the shoulders of Chief-of-staff Gen. Omar Bradley. ^ -\ INHERITANCE ... Pasquale (Pat) larossi of Camden, N. J v grins lavishly about the “$200,- 000” soaped on the mirror of his barber shop. He helped a down-and-out stranger 44 years ago, and when the man died last month he left the bulk of his estate to Pat. ONCE AROUND . . . Mrs. Mor- row-Tait of Cambridge, Eng land, strides from the cockpit of her little single-engine plane at Haneda air field, Tokyo. She and her navigator, Michael Town send, are flying around the world. NOT FUNNY TO HOGAN ... On the rostrum, Austin Hogan, president of New York local 100 of the Transport Workers Union, tells 600 rebel lious bus strikers to return to work, while, because of an odd camera angle, the cherubic face of Michael Quill, TWU international president. Is reflected on the side of the speaker’s stand. Quill, who is obviously enjoying Hogan’s discomfiture, was accused of "selling out” in the recent New York bus drivers strike. LOOKS LIKE A SAND BURR . ’. . Joan White, a senior in Hallahan girls’ high school in Philadelphia, got her hair-do all stood up when she submitted to a scientific experiment at the Franklin institute. And all she did was place her hand gently on a model of a Van deGraff gener ator. This widget, however, builds up high charges of static electricity. Miss White got a charge of 150,000 volts, every one of them strictly harmless—iu a hair-raising sort of way. MAN-TO-MAN TALK . . . "Got a liberty pass, sailor?" And little Richard Davidson, 4, of New York, who can get tough, too, answers "Who wants to know?” He looks skyward toward Shore Patrolman Arthur Davis and glares right back. It was an amusing interlude as thousands of Navy Day visitors trod the historic decks of the battle> ship Missouri, on which the Japanese surrender was signed. a BIG WIGS AT PARLIAMENT . . . Garbed in the traditional robes and wigs of their office and encrusted with many medals, British judges leave the parliament building in London after the colorful opening ses sion during which the king wore his crown and parliamentary robes for the first time in ten years. Bepresentatives from distant parts of the empire also are shown leaving the famed hails. The Bernadette Plan TNSIDE story of the origin of the •■■Bemadotte plan now has leaked out. The Bemadotte plan was devel oped at a highly secret meeting on the island of Rhodes just before Bemadotte was killed. Present were only four people—Sir John Trout- beck, British ambassador to Egypt; Robert McClintock, U. S. state de partment official; Count Bemadotte and Dr. Ralph Bunche, Bemadotte’s deputy. The British ambassador bluntly announced he had instructions from Foreign Minister Bevin not to sup port any plan unless it provided for handing over the potentially wealthy Negev area to the Arabs. Previously, the United Nations had awarded the Negev to Israel, and largely because of this. State Department Representative Mc Clintock refused to accept the Bevin proposal. McClintock de scribed it as similar to the Grady- Morrisson plan for the partition of the Holy Land which the United States had flatly rejected. Coldly, Sir John Troutbeck replied that there would be no agreement on Palestine unless, the Arabs got the Negev. Result of this basic dis agreement was that Bemadotte and Bunche had to mediate not between the Jews and the Arabs, but rather between the Americans and the British. Finally, McClintock agreed to cable Washington the text of the British proposals. Significantly the Bemadotte plan never was discussed by the mediators with either the Israeli government or the Arabs. It came directly from Bevin as the British price for the acceptance of any plan for settlement in the Holy Land. When McClintock got word back from Washington that the state de partment favored Bevin’s proposal regarding the Negev, he was amazed. However, that’s how the so- called Bemadotte plan was bom. • • • Economic Forecast Crystal-balling is a favorite in door sport in Washington, not only with newspaper columnists, but with government economists. How ever, while a columnist must pub licly climb out on a limb when he predicts the future, economists fre quently can keep their forecasts secret. Right now, super-prediction dh the nation's economic outlook for the next six years is reposing in a top- secret file at the agriculture depart ment. Prepared by the bureau of agricultural economics, the forecast deals chiefly with the years 1950 through 1954. Based on the assump tion there will be no war, here’s the gist of the economic forecast. DEPRESSION—There will be no major depression in the next six years and no runaway inflation. NATIONAL INCOME—Barring an unforseen sharp decline in employ ment during the 1950-’54 period, money available for consumer spending may average as high as in 1948, with purchasing power 10 per cent greater, due to lower prices. Net farm income may drop 15 per cent, however, due to lower prices and continued high produc tion costs. PRICES — A drop in consumer prices will average 10 per cent frdm 1948 on, during the five-year period, but the retail price level still will be more than 50 per cent above pre war years. If unemployment (now about 1,900,000) reaches 9,000,000 at any stage, retail prices may drop 20 per cent below the 1948 level. EMPLOYMENT — Unemployment could reach 9,000,000 but is not likely to go over 6,000,000. However, full employment (60,000,000) is a "distinct possibility’'’ during some and perhaps all years from 1950- ’54. If productivity per worker con tinues at its present rate, total na tional production by 1952 will be 8 per cent greater than 1948. ✓ • • • Red Tape Over Air Veterans going into the air-freight business are still snarled in red tape, can’t get government certifica tion from the civil aeronautics board. In formal hearing*, the board has been lined up almost solidly behind the big airlines which are opposing the veterans. One CAB member, Harold A. Jones, was so eloquent in express ing the big airlines’ point of view that the grateful American airlines counsel, Dan Gribbon, injudicious ly let slip this remark in front of every° ne: “Mr. Jones, I don’t think yon could have put your com pany’s policy into better words." Jones coughed nervously, colored with embarrassment. NOTE — The air force has an- icunced the urgent need for building up an air-cargo fleet. Yet usually astute Seth Richardson, counsel for Northwest airlines, testified: "This whole proceeding is inopportune. There may be need for an air freight industry five or 10 years from now, but not now." ELEPHANTS ARE AVAILABLE In the hour of inflation comes the news that elephants — are cheap. Pachyderm prices have been slashed. You can get an elephant at a bargain and you won’t have to wait your turn on the list. What’s more, you won’t have to turn in the old one. Ceremonial Indian elephants are down as low as $60. (Good condi tion, low mileage and without the need of an overhaul job!) It is due to the maharajah situa tion which is all bad. For centuries an Indian maharajah sat on the top tier of those men who made a spe cialty of sitting pretty. No curtail ment could touch him. He had his own principality and carried a spare; he boasted a palace for every occasion and an elephant for every mood. Of all his trappings the pachyderm was close to a num ber one spot. A maharajah was known by the elephants he kept. It took hay, but the expression “that ain’t hay” never applied to a rajah’s money. A rajah sever seems to start with one elephant and work up. He was born with a» big supply. And those elephants had to be good. There wCre rigid tests and the minute an elephant showed wear and tear he was through. No deteri orations were stood for. You never heard of a reconditioned Jumbo. •___ But the new order in India has changed all that. The mahara jah business is in worse than a slump. It is busted wide open. Cheap as a secondhand ele phant is, you can get a brand new maharajah for less, and with time payments. • The best of them are scrimping to make both ends meet and the problem is not made any simpler by the fact there is an elephant at each end. In the past it has been traditional that a maharajah has been able to charge off the upkeep of his elephants to the state, billing his country for all the hay, hide polish and incidentals. But with India’s freedom and the growing revolution this has been discon tinued without notice. The Gaekwar of Baroda used to get 10 million dollars a year from the state, pay able in advance, but now he, too, may have to go to work, and not in an elephant howdah. •_ * Maharajahs have been forced to dispose of their palaces and drop their retinues of servants dancing girls. Some of them are without visible means of support. Here and there you can find one who would give anything for a nice little quonset hut with just room enough to hang his elephant memories. • Throughout the world of rajahs there rings the command, "Take them there elephants out and un load ’em for what they will bring!” There are few left who are not complaining, “Things are not what they used to be. I am using the old Jumbo this year.” • • • A man paid $2,600 for a paint ing by Ike Eisenhower the other day. He liked the way the Gen eral attacked a subject, struck such firm decisive strokes and achieved his goal with firmness. • • • John L. Lewis now gets $50,000 a year which is almost enough for him to live on without biting any body. • * • Vanishing Americanisms “Is there anything I can do? Pm not busy at the moment?” “This job is all right, but there’s not enough action in it.” “Let’s try to mcke a cocktail that will really be fit for the guests to drink,” “This house is too small for us.” “I got this new limousine on the spur of the moment.” “Never mind looking at the menu prices; order what you wont.” * “I’ve saved up t25; that will cover all my presents this Christ mas.” • • • Bob Sheriffs reports the following movie sign: A FRIEND WILL CALL TONIGHT, ALSO THE ASSASSIN. • * * Through a new electronics device the entire script of "Gone With the Wind” was transcribed the other day in a little over two minutes. This means that with a little more work the text of a complete speech by Molotov or Vishinsky may bs transcribed in a matter of nine or ten hours. • * • “Neither the new draftees nor their instructors will use pro fanity.”—Army announcement. Wanna bet? CLASSIFIED D E P A R T M ENT BUSINESS St INVEST. OPPOK. DRY - GOODS — 8TOBE FOR S/VLK Good Northwest Georgia Town. • Good Payrolls and Trading Area. W. M. CUMMINGS - Roekmart, Georgia EARN EXTRA MONET OR BE OWN BOSS' Many earning lav;e incomes; Smrplifted e-s — V,A T1 r->11 ortnn/T HlliluinK FOR SALE . ™ Class A open-air theatre in ctty of 25,000 population. 250-car capacity, spac« for 82 tt» ir * T? a n cr-irt— WANTED—DOCTOR to locate in Tunnel Hill, Ga., for practice. A nice Httle town of about 600 people with good srurround- ing territory, located on U. S. Highway 41, about 8 miles from Dalton and the same distance from Ringgold. A home for a doctor could be bought reasonably. M. H. GRIFFIN Tunnel Hill - - GenrgU. 21-ROOM HOTEL and restaurant: fully equipped; south of Daytona Beach, Fla. 300 feet on U. S. 1. $39,(M0. One-half cash. OAK HILL HOTEL - Oak HIM. Fla. FARMS AND RANCHES CANADIAN FARMS—Writ# m fer FUME IN FORMATION on farm aettlement opportunltlea. Fertile aolU. Rettonably priced. B. C. Beeworth Canadian Pacific Railway, Union Elation. Bt Paul. Mina. FOR SALE—1500 acre farm in Middle Georgia. Six miles southwest of Hawkins- ville, one-half in cultivation, one-half in pasture and Umber-fenced. WILBUR SLADE - HawkinsvMfe, Ga. HAY, GRAIN, FEED fB FOR SALE Unlimited amount of this year’s baled pea nut hay. We deliver in five ton and ten ton lots. SLADE SEED * FEED GO.. OZ Phone 95, Hawkinsville, Georgia. HELP WANTED—MEN SALESMEN—REPRESENT LaSalle, Ex tension University in. this territory- Must be 30 to 45 years old with sales personal ity and car. Write HUNTON TAYLOR, 218 Massey, Birmingham, Alabama. MISCELLANEOUS / PAINT — SURPLUS. Snow-white titanium and inside WHITE. > lead and oil, outside Money-back guarantee, won’t peel, rub off or wash off. $2.25 gal. in 5-gal. cans. Sample« can—50c. SNOW-WHITE PAINT CO.. MM Hodson St., New York, N. Y. t PIECE SENSATION! 10-year Guaranteed Solid Gold Pointed PEN, Standard Pencil. BaU PEN. $5.00 postpaid. Boxed. 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