The Butler County press. [volume], December 25, 1931, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

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VOL. XXXI. No. 37
The recently arrived cargo was
shipped from Archangel, which is
within the Russian region in which the
treasury department, in February,
1931, found that convict labor was be
ing used in the production of pulp
wood and lumber. That cargo and
also several previous ones were ad
mitted on the ground that the pre
ponderance of evidence indicated that
the shipments were entirely the prod
uct of free labor. The Lumber Asso
ciation asserts that this preponder
ance consisted of the filing of a series
of affidavits which have been accepted
without verification. "It is apparent
from these facts," it says, "that either
the law as it now stands cannot be
effectively enforced, or it is not being
properly administered."
In other words, apparently all the
Russians have to do to satisfy the
treasury department regulations is
to make affidavits that lumber in
question is not produced by convicts,
the Lumber Association says.
Law Nullified in Practice
It is contended that if the present
situation is a result of inability to en
force the law it would seem that the
secretary of the treasury should so
advise congress. This contention re
lates to the fact that treasury offi
cials a ssured congress last winter,
when it was considering revision of
New Protests Follow
Entry of Soviet Timber
tariff Law Forbids Importation of Convict Lumber and
Penalizes State-Aided Products, But They Continue
to be Admitted, National Lumber Manufacturers
Association Tells Secretary of Treasury.
New York City (ILNS)—The recent
arrival and entry of another cargo of
Russian lumber he*re has resulted in
another protest from the National
Lumber Manufacturers Association to
the secretary of the treasury, that
Section 307 of the tariff act of 1930
is not being adequately enforced.
This section prohibits importations
of merchandise produced wholly or in
part by convict labor.
May Your Christmas Be Merry
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AND YOUR NEW YEAR
FULL OF CHEER
If we knew more to wish for our patrons we would
do it, for we think you deserve it.
Dunlap Clothing Co.
18 S. THIRD STREET
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Section 307, that no further legisla
tion was required, as administrative
regulations would effectvely enforce
the intent of the law. It is held that
the law is, however, nullified in prac
tice if, by reason of the peculiar cir
cumstances, it is impossible to prove
actual convict producton of a par
ticular cargo.
The protest states that there is
nothing in Section 307 to sustain the
view that it does not carry with it all
the power necessary for its enforce
cent. This must be held, it says, to
ihclude regulations necessary to meet
the situation in which avenues of in
vestigation ordinarily open to the de
partment are closed.
The protest says in conclusion that
while thus far Russian lumber com
petition has not been severe, the out
look now is that unless proper pro
tection is forthcoming there will be
substantial imports of Russian lum
ber, which will add to the burden of
the present distress of the American
lumber industry by subjecting it to
competition with "costless" Russian
lumber.
Bill to Keep Out Goods
From Russia Introduced
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Sena
tor Tasker L. Oddie, of Nevada, has
introduced a bill in the senate to
prohibit importation of soviet goods
into the United States. In a state
ment on the measure, Senator Oddie
declared that the soviet foreign trade
monopoly is becoming an increasing
menace to American industry and
trade and by contributing to the low
commodity price levels is delaying
the world's recovery from the pres
ent depression.
For You
WeWish
The Greatest
Happiest
Most Joyful
Christmas
You Have Ever
Known
The E. H. Frechtling Co.
Exclusive" Distributors of the Famous
FOOD PRODUCTS
Funeral Service
We render an intelligent, sympathetic service, never slight*
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within reach of all.
The price is the patron's to determine, nevertheless we be
lieve in true economy, and particularly guard them from
overbuying.
Our beautiful Funeral Home is always at your disposal.
Burial Garments designed for each individual case and mad*
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Edgar K. Wagner
Funeral Director
1 JL
"1' *v/^••r'fc*."'
I
W. N\ U.)
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—With
introduction in both houses of con
gress on December 14 of labor's
modification bill, the battle to end
Volsteadism has begun in earnest as
one of the major issues of the present
session. Labor confidently predicts
that modification will become a fact
during this session and, more than
that, that it will become a fact this
winter.
Labor's bill was introduced in the
house by James M. Beck, of Pennsyl
vania, and in the senate by J. Hamil
ton Lejwis, of Illinois, both of whom
have been leaders in the cause of
modification. Both are confident of
success.
The bill purposes to take beer en
tirely out of the classification of in
toxicating liquor and to class it as a
beveragel "non-intoxicating in fact"
and to legalize its manufacture, sale
and distribution as such, with an al
coholic content of up to 2.75 per cent
by weight.
Labor Sponsors Bill
Labor's national committee for
modification of the Volstead act,
specifically directed by the American
Federation of Labor to have charge
of the modification battle, is sponsor
for the bill and is waging a national
campaign in its support. Matthew
Woll, vice president of the American
Federation of Labor, is chairman of
this committee I. M. Ornburn, presi
dent of the Cigar Makers' Inter
national Union, is secretary-treasurer.
The bill would become effective 30
days after passage and, according to
the committee's estimate, would then
begin producing revenue for the
United States treasury at the rate ot
$500,000,000 per year, with enormous
revenues to communities in addition.
It is pointed out by labor's na
tional committee for modification of
the Volstead act that immediately
upon passage thousands of bushels of
grain would begin moving toward
breweries, with stimulation of trans
portation and many other forms of
industry and labor. The officers of la
bor's committee declared that organ
i/,d labor will stand firmly against
permitting any importation of grain
for malt purposes, holding that the
entire industry should be 100 per cent
domestic.
Aims of Labor's Organization
In connection with the bill and its
avowal of the right of states to exer
cise legislative function in determin
ing the status of a brewed beverage,
President Woll and Secretary-Treas
urer Ornburn pointed to the objects
of labor's organization as set forth
in its constitution, as follows:
"It shall use all honorable means to
secure the passage of a law by the
congress to modify and amend the
Volstead act to strive through edu
cational methods to inculcate in the
minds of the people a spirit of
American temperance to promote ad
herence to and observance of state
rights in all legislation pertaining to
temperance and the personal rights
and liberties of our people, as well as
aid in conserving to the people their
constitutional rights and liberties.'
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It is expected that hearings on the
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Organized Labor's Bill to Modify
Volstead Act Before Congress
ponsors Expect Measure to Win Early Victory
Bill Takes Beer Out of Intoxicating" Liquor Class and
Legalizes Its Manufacture, Sale and Distribution.
modification bill will be held at an
early date. Labor, it was announced,
is preparing to make an impressive
showing in these hearings, after
which it expects a prompt report and
prompt action in both houses.
Bill Constructive Meiasure
"We are introducing a sane, con
structive, truly American measure,"
said Mr. Woll and Mr. Ornburn. "Our
close contact with the masses of our
people indicates to us that this meas
ure interprets their active demand. It
is our belief that this measure, when
enacted into law, will not only pro
duce enormous revenue, stimulate
employment and trade generally, but
will strike a death blow to racketeer
ing and gangsterism. It will end the
farce that has disgraced the nation.
Its moderation will commend it to the
overwhelming majority of our people.
It was an extreme measure that
brought our country to its present and
plight. We are seeking to avoid a
plunge to the other extreme, but we
are taking a step that is well cal
culated to effect vast changes in our
social and economic life and to ac
complish more toward a return to
social sanity and economic prosperity
than any other piece of legislation
now in prospect. If we can end the
reign of fanaticism we shall have per
mitted the return of a normal psy
chology which, added to the tremen
dous economic benefits, will change
our national life completely and for
the better at once.
Victory This Winter Seen
"The day this bill is enacted wilt,
we are firmly convinced, witness a
national celebration comparable to the
celebration of Armistice Day, when
the great war was ended. We call
upon all true friends of freedom and
particularly upon all wage earners, to
lend every possible measure of honor
able support to this bill. We declare
that it can be enacted into law this
winter."
BIG INTERESTS
Seen Backing "Slave" To
bacco Importation
New York City (ILNS)—Here,
where big money flows through the
vaults and caverns of ihe world's
financial capital, the suspicion grows
that it wasn't alone the alleged short
age of domestic tobacco that kept the
doors open for the importation of the
forced-labor Sumatra product in de
fiance of the United States which bars
importation of forced-labor products
after January 1.
The suspicion grows that it was the
financial might of the big machine
cigar factories, plus the might of the
makers of cigar-making machinery,
plus the might of the importers, that
kept the doors open for the product
of slave labor that is compelled, un
der force, to work for wages ranging
from 20 to 24 cents a day, as com
pared to $3.24 to $5.75 for similar
work in the United States. Another
factor may have! been the large vol
ume of Dutch capital invested in trust
factories in the United States.
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HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25,1931
COUNTY PRESS.
The treasury ruling, after a long
battle, was that domestic production
is not sufficient to meet requirements.
But back of that is the fact that the
cigar-making machines, the backbone
of the non-union cigar business, must
have Sumatra wrapper in order to
operate and turn out their low-priced
product.
It was proven conclusively to the
tariff commission that there is ample
tobacco of domestic growth on hand
and in sight to supply the Americar.
market for the next two and one-half
years, but this testimony went by th
board in the most important test cast
yet had under the new anti-forced
labor provision of the tariff law.
Sumatra plantations are operating
now with coolie labor under compul
sion at the old starvation "wage," but
the Dutch colonial administration ha?
provided for the future by a plan
which will gradually eliminate forced
labor. Thus, though the tariff law is
defeated in its purpose of protecting
American workers, it will bring ulti
mate freedom to workers elsewhere,
precisely as did the seamen's act.
Improperly Drawn Bids
Deprive Jobless of Work
Washington. Many workers in
Washington and elsewhere are idle
because the officials of the District of
Columbia used legally wrong details
in the phraseology of the call for
bids to erect two incinerators at a
cost of $7G0,809.
Congress appropriated the money
in the 1930 deficiency bill. Bids for
the construction were accepted, but
Controlled General McCarl made a
ruling which prevented the awarding
of the original contract. Consequent
ly the appropriation was allowed to
lapse. It is expected that the pres
ent congress will make a new appro
priation, and that work on the in
cinerators will begin next spring.
ELITE
Bakery
Fruit Cake
Fancy Cake
Pecan Rolls
Springerle
Pfeffernusse
Assorted Mints
Chocolates
Salted Nuts
Ice Cream
Sherbets
Mousse
Whipped Cream
In any quantity
212
High Street
...:,^fi.
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—Presi
dent William Green has served notice
that the American Federation of La
bor will oppose cutting wages of fed
eral employes with all its power. Two
bills to cut federal ajmployes' pay
have already been introduced and
others are in prospect.
"It is the intention of the officers
of the American Federation of Labor
to oppose in every honorable way any
attempts on the part of congress to
lower the living standards of govern
ment employes through the imposi
tion of reduction in wages," Presi
dent Green to Representative Joseph
W. Byrns, chairman of the house
committee on appropriations. The
letter to Representative Byrns said:
"Because of my deep solicitude for
the economic and social welfare of the
thousands of governmental employes
and because of the feelings of appre
hension which prevail in the minds of
the officers and members of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, I am
writing you regarding suggestions
which have been made in various
quarters that a substantial reduction
in wages should and must be im
posed upon government employes. 1
know of no action which the govern
ment could take which would arouse
so much disappointment and dissatis
faction. The laboring people employ
ed in private industry in all sections
of the land will join with the govern
ment employes directly affected in a
vigorous protest against a lowering
of the standard of living through the
imposition of a reduction in wages
upon government employes.
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A. F. of L. to Support Federal
Workers in Pay Cut Fight
President Green Announces Labor's Determination tb
Vigorously Oppose Reduction in Government Em
ployes' Wages.
I A Very Merry Christmas
S? TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS 3f
S?
&
Max Hornstein
y 210 S. 3rd St. SHOE REPAIR STORE
A HOLIDAY
MESSAGE
rzviscJtt*-
"I wish to present to you, and
through you to the leaders of con
gress, a most vigorous protest against
any attempt to reduce the modest
wages and salaries paid government
employes. The officers and membears
of the American Federation of Labor
could not, under any circumstances,
give approval to such a legislative
policy nor could they reconcile them
selves to such action on the part of
congress."
In reply Congressman Byrns wrote
to Mr. Green as follows:
"Immediately upon returning to
Washington I gave an interview to the
press in which I stated that I was
not in favor of considering the ques
tion of reduction of government sal
aries until every other means of bal
ancing the budget be resorted and
found wanting that I felt the bur
den should be upon the higher bracket
incomes which had received substan
tial reductions. I further said that if
it finally appeared that salary reduc
tions were absolutely necessary that
those with the high salaries be first
to receive the reduction."
A barrel of crude petroleum can be
bought today for the same price one
pays for a gallon of refined gasoline,
to be antique.
As a rule the gossip starts evil
stories on others as a smoke screen
to distract attention from their own
dirty, crooked, deceitful lives.
Read the Press.
All of Us Join in Wishing for
You a Happy Christmas and
a New Year rich in Blessings
R-E-B-S
Third and Court
HIGH IN QUALITY—LOW IN PRICE
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