Evening star. [volume], January 26, 1940, Page A-9, Image 9

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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7-Man Board
May Aid in
Solution
N. L. R. B. Setup
Faces Change
By Congress
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
To hear the head of a large labor
organization in America complain of
maladministration and unfairness
by a governmental tribunal—the
National Labor
Relations Board
—and at the
came time com
mend the law
which gave la
bor its greatest
power is so ex
traordinary that
Congress at this
cession is being
asked to recon
ctitute the entire
board.
This step
would be equiv
alent to the re
moval Of the David Lawrence,
present personnel of the board and
is made necessary, if a change in
personnel is desired by Congress, bv
the fact that individual members of
the board cannot be removed except
after due notice and hearing.
Even if the President should de
cide that he wants to remove the
present membership, he could not
do so without perhaps a legal battle.
The prospects, therefore, are that
the section of the law which pro
vides for the present board will be
repealed and another provision in
serted which very likely will require
a 7, if not an 11-man, board.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission is an excellent example of
the value of an 11-man board be
cause the work can be allocated to
divisions. The likelihood, however,
is that a seven-man board will be
sought just because the 11-man idea
permits of a return to what is being
criticized at present, namely, a
three-man tribunal in which one
man can virtually sway the decisions.
vmxu ouur> i usiuuu.
When William Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
testified before the special House
committee investigating both the
labor board and the Labor Act, he
was well aware that some of the
defenders of the board in the New
Deal have been accusing him of
scuttling the law itself. Hence he
forthrightly declared that he did
not favor the amendments proposed
by the National Association of Man
ufacturers or the United States
Chamber of Commerce, and that his
principal complaint is against the
administration of the act itself.
Many friends of genuine collec
tive bargaining will regret the turn
of affairs which the present labor
board controversy has taken. Again
and again the prejudice and bias of
subordinate personnel was drawn to
the attention of the labor board
members without avail. Likewise,
decisions were made which stretched
the law to an extreme degree. Mr.
• Green thinks there have been de
cisions which were actualv contrary j
to the spirit as well as the letter
of the law.
Throughout the last year friends
of the Wagner law have been point
ing out that many of the evils com
plained of could be corrected. But
the board members have stubbornly 1
refused to concede that the criti
cisms were valid or that they had j
erred. Their position has been to j
draw a smokescreen over the charges !
by a counter-attack, declaring that
all the fuss came from those un- i
friendly to the law itself. Just why i
the American Federation of Labor
was overlooked as one of the arch
critics of the law is unexplainable j
except on the general ground that '
the two majority members of the
board are unwilling to concede any- |
thing at all about their mistakes.
The history of the administrative
and judicial processes when exer- j
cised by the boards and commis
sions is that arbitrary decisions in
the long run provoke a bitter reac
tion and then the subject becomes
beclouded with emotional aspects
that prevent it from being examined
on its merits.
rit-Migc cuiiri ru.
Unquestionably many of the de
, eisions of the board have been
right, but the method of getting
testimony or the manner of con
ducting the case has been so mani
festly unfair as to weaken the pres
tige of the board itself. The board
made its biggest mistake a year ago
when efforts to amend the Wagner
law were being made by taking the
position that it would oppose any
important modification of the act.
Every proposal except a few minor
• ones became the subject of deep
seated opposition and thereafter the
one-sided decisions and refusal to
allow fair and impartial hearings
continued unabated despite the
criticism.
Finally it has come about that a
Circuit Court of Appeals in a unani
mous opinion concurred in by Judge
Florence Allen, liberal Democrat,
reversed an order of the board and
said that the latter had attempted
to substitute “surmise” and “guess”
for proof. Few accusations of a
governmental tribunal have been
more sweeping. Only men of a
Judicial temperament should be ap
pointed to quasi-judicial commis
sions, and the President will be
urged next time to be sure that he
has selected fair-minded persons
Instead of administrators who re
gard their appointments as per
mitting them to use governmental
power for the carrying on of class
warfare in our midst.
(Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Gold mined in the Philippines in
the first 10 months of last year was
* 15 per cent above that of the cor
responding period of 1938.
Three Criminal Cases
Against Nolan Dropped
United States Attorney David A.
Pine and Assistant United States
Attorney John J. Wilson today an
nounced nolle prossing of three
criminal cases against William J.
Nolan, president of the bankrupt
Nolan Motor Co.
Mr. Nolan was acquitted in two of
five original criminal cases and in
one of the remaining three, they \
said, Mr. Nolan was tried but the :
jury disagreed. Two of the indict
ments charged Mr. Nolan with false
pretenses and conspiracy to commit1
false pretenses, Mr. Wilson recalled,
while another indictment accused
him of false pretenses and conspir
acy to commit false pretenses in
conjunction with another transac
tion. In addition, there were two
indictments, charging Mr. Nolan
with forgery, Mr. Wilson said. Just
shelved were the forgery indict
ments and that accusing him of
false pretenses and consipracy to
commit false pretenses—the ease in
which the "hung jury" figured, he
said.
At the same time Mr. Pine an
nounced that five indictments
against James F. Gallagher, former
secretary of the Nolan company, a
co-defendant with Mr. Nolan, have
likewise been nolle prossed. Mr.
Gallagher testified as the Govern
ment’s star witness against Mr.
Nolan in the case in which he was
freed by a District Court jury Wed
nesday. Representing Mr. Nolan
are Attorneys Wiliam E. Leahy and
James F. Reilly.
Lecture on Mexican Trip
PURCELLVILLE, Va„ Jan. 26
(Special).—Several children from
the Lincoln and Round Hill schools
will appear in costume and sing
Mexican songs as part of the pro
gram here Sunday, when Mr. and
Mrs. Washington I. Cleveland of
Washington will lecture on their re
cent motor trip to Mexico. The
program is under the auspices of the
Purcellville Library.
Gift for Mrs. Roosevelt
A tablecloth set, hand embroid
ered in the Philippine Islands, was
to be presented at 3:30 pm. today
to Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at the
White House by the Philippine Resi
dent Commissioner, Joaquin Elizalde,
and his wife.
1
The Capital Parade
Allies' Discrimination in War Purchases
Stirs Ire of U. S. Businessmen
By JOSEPH ALSOP and ROBERT KINTNER.
Some American officials and businessmen are complaining bitterly
of the allies', and particularly of Great Britain's discrimination against
this country in wartime purchasing. Developments most commonly men
tioned are the British barter agreement with the Argentine, tending to
cut us out of the Argentine trade, and the British refusal of import
licenses for American cigarette tobacco.
These developments begin to seem reasonable and excusable, how
ever, when one takes into account the hugeness of the allies’ potential
armament purchases in this country. The truth is that purchases of
armaments, which are only obtainable here, may be so enormous as to
exhaust most of the allies’ available dollar exchange. As the Neutrality
Act forecloses Great Britain and Prance from borrowing in this country,
they are forced to seek other types
of supplies in countries where they
can get credit, pay in pounds or
francs, or use a barter system.
Two conflicting streams of
rumor have confused opinion. One
school of rumor-mongers pooh
poohs suggestions of large allied
armament buying here. The other
school speaks of vast purchases
already contracted for. Neither
tells the truth, for the issue is not
yet decided. Pending the decision the present allied policy of carefully
husbanding dollar exchange is obvious and natural.
Acute iseea tor Hianes
An early decision is probably to be looked for, arising out of the
question of airplane buying. The most acute British and French need is
for a great air fleet to balance the air fleet of Germany. British and
French airplane production is Inadequate. Some time ago, therefore,
allied experts under the supervision of the Anglo-French Purchasing
Board began a careful exploration of the possible output of American
airplane factories.
The exploration was carried on in co-operation with the President’s
Special Co-ordinating Committee headed by Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthau and including representatives of the War and Navy depart
ments and the Procurement Division of the Treasury. Models were
examined and tested. Prices were discussed. At length an immense
buying program was tentatively laid out.
According to authoritative report, the program calls for expenditure
of from $500,000,000 to around $1,000,000,000 within the next year and a
half. Models of three leading airplane manufacturers have been chosen,
but much of the actual production will have to be done under subcontract
by other companies. The program goal is delivery of 12,000 planes by
October, 1941. The amount of expenditure will depend on the American
airplane industry’s ability to reach this goal. In order to reach it, the
industry will have to build important new plants, overcome bottlenecks
in airplane engine production, and otherwise stretch itself.
Program Tentative
But this program, so far, Is strictly tentative. In exploring the possi
bilities of airplane buying in America, the British and French authorities
did not face the issue of how much of their dollar exchange they could
afford to use. There are many factors to consider, for example, most of
the American airplane companies have demanded 100 per cent amortiza
tion of new plant in the year of its construction, so that the allies would
have to pay $100,000,000 for only $25,000,000 worth of planes.
Presumably, this basic decision on the rate of use of dollar exchange
is now being reached across the Atlantic. There is said to be considerable
difference between the British and French in their eagerness to get Ameri
can pianes. mere may wen De a pro
longed argument, and in the end,
conservatism may prevail, in which
case the plane-buying program will
be much reduced.
Meanwhile, sensible persons
ought to make every effort to un
derstand the allies’ problem.
A certain faction in the Army,
annoyed by the President’s choice of
Morgenthau to head the Co-ordinat
ing Committee, shows signs of the
usual dog-in-the-manger attitude toward foreign war purchases in this
country.
Nothing could seem more foolish, when it is remembered that the
allied air-buving program will vastly increase the production capacity of
American factories at no expense to the American Treasury'.
Above all, a sharp distinction should be made between mistaken meth
ods. such as the stupid British handling of American shipping, and policies
necessarily dictated by the facts of the situation, such as the allies' hus
banding of dollar exchange. If the methods are corrected, no one can
complain that the facts are unchangeable.
(Released by the North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
cTHE opinions of the writers on this page are their own, not
fiecmarUj/ The Star’s. Such opinions are presented in The
Starts effort to give all sides of questions of interest to its
readers, although such opinions may be contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Star’s.
Washington Observations
With Trade Treaty Club of U. S. Held Aloft,
Japan Bristles as It Did in 1924 'Crisis'
ny r tlEiUEHIC WILLIAM WILE.
One must hark back to the tense
times of the immigration law crisis
16 years ago for a parallel to the in
ternational conditions which will en
sue at midnight
tonight, when
the trade treaty
with Japan for
m a 11 y expires.
There was gun
powder in the
Pacific air in
May, 1924, when
Congress, re
gardless of Am
bassador Hani
hara’s famous
“grave conse
quences" warn
ing, proceeded to
enact the pro
vision excluding F"derie William Wile.
Japanese and other Orientals from
these shores. By that action the
Senate, contrary to the urgent ad
vice of President Coolidge and Sec
retary Hughes, abrogated the "gen
tlemen’s agreement," whereby a lim
ited number of Japanese were per
mitted to enter the United States.
Placing the sons and daughters of
the Rising Sun on a level, as Tokio
complained, with “Chinese coolies"
and below the “scum” of European,
Latin American and other countries,
seared a deep wound across Nip
pon's racial pride.
Earthquake Prevented War.
It was commonly reported that
Japan was so excited and aggrieved
by the exclusion law that she might
have gone to war in protest, except
that the earthquake of the previous
year had so dislocated the island em
pire's economic, military and naval
structure that conflict with the pow
erful trans-Pacific neighbor at such
a time was impracticable. Now,
again, Tokio officials and the Japa
nese press which they inspire and
control are talking about “the most
serious potential consequences”
which may flow from American at
tempts “to use the trade treaty as
a club to wreck the new order in
Asia," But if conditions caused by
the 1923 earthquake deterred her war
lords from attacking the United
States over immigration, it hardly
seems likely that with Japan's ener
gies absorbed in the colossal and
fruitless struggle with China, she
would or could now venture con
clusions with Uncle Sam over the
commercial treaty or even over an
embargo on export of American war
materials. That astute and up-to
date authority on the Far Eastern
situation, Admiral Harry E. Yamell,
lately our naval commander in chief
in Asiatic waters, is of opinion that
the islanders have no stomach for
a scrap with Uncle Sam over trade.
* * * *
Japan Crisis and F. D. R.’s Fortunes.
Should the treaty fracas with Ja
pan develop from bad to worse,
it would unquestionably promote
Roosevelt's third-term chances. The
President has directed Secretary
Hull and Ambassador Grew, without
assuming any provocative or agres
sive attitude, to stand with Gibral
tar-like firmness for the position the
United States has assumed. For the
moment it is a “wait and see” atti
tude. The next move is Tokio's. The
Japanese are to be kept on the
anxious seat from day to day, never
being quite certain what our own
next step will be. It thus becomes
one of the classic diplomatic poker
games of the era; Roosevelt plays
’em close to the waist on such oc
casions. Cordell Hull is also not
unfamiliar with the fine points of
poker. Friends and foes alike ac
knowledge that If we should find
ourselVes in grave difficulties with
Japan this year, there might be a
pretty universal call for Roosevelt
to remain at the helm.
* * * *
“Hell,” Said Mr. Celler.
Discussing the F. B. I.’s feat In
rounding up and arresting the ring
leaders of the "Christian Front,”
Representative Emanuel Celler,
Democrat, of New York, remarked
in the House on January 23: “J.
Edgar Hoover has been criticized for
• wasting time on such misguided
youths. Wasting time—Hell!” As
Mr. Celler received unanimous per
mission to extend his remarks, it’s
expected he will do so along the col
orful lines Indicated by his reference
to the lower regions.
* * * dr
Run-Around in Mexico.
If anybody is in doubt that Presi
dent Lazaro Cardenas of Mexico
and his government are giving the
United States, Great Britain and
the Netherlands the run-around in
connection with the expropriation
of their vast oil properties beyond
the Rio Grande, some recommended
reading is the 56-page brochure en
titled, “The Mexican Oil Seizure,”
just written by Donald R. Richberg,
counsel for the companies which
are the victims of the confiscation.
Although it'll be two years in March
since these interests, valued at sev
eral nundred million dollars, were
grabbed, the Mexican government
has done nothing except to renew
protestations of good intentions to
make adequate, prompt and effec
tive compensation. The United
States rests on the Sumner Welles
manifesto of August 14, 1939, which
declared that a continuance of the
dispute “will constitute a material
barrier to the maintenance of that
close and friendly understanding
which both governments regard in
the best interests of the two
DeoDles.”
* * * *
World War History.
During the past year, the world's
greatest printery, the United States
Government Printing Office, has
turned out, besides its customary
tremendous mass of routine jobs for
Congress and the executive depart
ments. a 548-page book entitled,
“American Armies and Battlefields
in Europe.” It was prepared under
direction of the American Battle
Monuments Committee, of which
Gen. Pershing is head. The volume
would do credit to any publishing
house in the world. It is a com
bined guide not only to American
battlefields "over there,” but a con
cise history and reference work cov
ering the activities of all American
forces overseas from 1917 to 1919.
Profusely illustrated with nearly 600
official photographs from American,
German and Allied sources, the
book also contains 120 small maps
and sketches, of which 27 are in
color, 9 colored insert maps and
charts and 3 large colored detail
maps depicting the operations of
American divisions in the Aisne
Mame, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Ar
gonne offensives.
Newspaper Layout Course
Andrew Messick, newspaper layout
man and designer, will give a course
in newspaper layout as part of the
subject of “Advertising Art and De
sign" at the Art Students Academy,
900 Albee Building.
B'nai Israel Services
Services tonight at 8:15 o'clock at
the B'nai Israel Synagogue will be
dedicated to the Washington Zion
ist district. Rabbi Isadore Breslau
will be the speaker and Irving Wil
ner will conduct an open lorum.
f rt—y
Lewis' Blasts
Leave Only
Wheeler
C. I. 0. Aid Would
Put Senator in
Tough Spot
By CHARLES G. ROSS.
It Is interesting to speculate, as
a great part of Washington is doing,
on the political implications of the
remarks that John L. Lewis has
been throwing
off. Just where
do they leave
Mr. Lewis with
respect to the
Democratic
nomination for
President?
He has de
nounced Vice
President Gar
ner as "a labor
baiting, poker
playing, whisky
drinking, evil old
man.”
He has cracked
Charles G. Bose. down on Paul V.
McNutt as a “political adventurer.”
He has damned the Democratic
"leadership” for “faithlessness” to
labor after having "supped at labor's
table,” and predicted that if Roose
velt is nominated for a third term
he will be “ignominiously defeated.”
By implication, in attacking the
tariff policies of the Democrats he
has whalloped Secretary of State
Hull.
He has not yet, so far as the
writer is aware, hit directly at Post
master General Farley, though Far
ley undoubtedly comes under his
blanket indictment of the Demo
cratic leadership.
It is not to be supposed that he
has any use for Jesse Jones. Senator
Bennett Clark. Gov. Lloyd Stark,
Representative Sam Rayburn or
Speaker William B. Bankhead.
The only Democratic candidate,
near-candidate or potential candi
date left for the C. I. O. chieftain
to support is Senator Burton K.
Wheeler.
May Be In Tough Spot.
It is not to speak in derogation of
Senator Wheeler to say that the ex
pected Lewis support of him puts
the Senator in a tough spot.
For Mr. Lewis in his statement
Wednesday to the United Mine
Workers' Convention makes it very
plain that when he bestows his favor
on a candidate, he looks to that
candidate, if successful, to deliver
a full parcel of goods.
Just what are the goods that Mr.
Lewis wants, for the delivery of
which, before he will enter into a
contract, he demands "guarantees
of good faith"? And what are these
“guarantees"?
It has been generally thought that
under Roosevelt organized labor has
fared well. Senator Wheeler himself
says this. He says the Democratic
party in the seven years of the
Roosevelt regime has done more for
organized labor than any other ad
ministration in the history of the
country.
Barked Up by Record.
The record shows that this is
true. Labor's right of collective
bargaining has been implemented in
j the Wagner Labor Relations Act and
1 all efforts to weaken the act have
been successfully resisted. A wage
and-hour law has been passed. The
: Social Security Act, primarily in the
interest of labor, has been placed
on the statute books. The duty of
the National Government to relieve
human suffering due to unemploy
ment has been recognized.
Even to the extent of a long
silence on the part of the Presi
dent when confronted with the sit
down strikes Hater condemned by
the Supreme Court i, the whole at
titude of the administration toward
organized labor has been actively
sympathetic.
But Mr. Lewis has »ot been satis
fied. Apparently, in return for the
half a million dollars that the mine
workers contributed to the Roose
velt campaign in 1936. in pursuance
of what he calls a “coalition” be
tween the Democratic party and or
ganized labor, nothing short of the
i party’s complete subservience to or
ganized labor would have satisfied
I him.
What Is He Asking For?
It is therefore pertinent to inquire
what it is. precisely, that Mr. Lewis
is now' asking for; what are the
pledges he would exact from the
candidate or the party of his choos
ing?
What does John L. Lewis want
more than he has got?
Another question is what will Mr.
Lewis do if Senator Wheeler turns
out to be not to his liking? For it
doesn't follow, from the bouquets
that Mr. Lewis has been throwing
at the Senator, that the latter is
going to run on Mr. Lewis' platform.
Senator Wheeler, very decidedly,
has a mind of his own. He proved
this when he opposed the court
packing scheme. Mr. Lewis, as it
happened, w*as for it. On many
other occasions, Senator Wheeler
has shown his independence. He
wants the support of organized la
bor—as what candidate does not?—
but no one who knows him can be
lieve he would pay the price for it
that Mr. Lewis appears to be de
mnnHimr
It is all very baffling.
Puzzle More Baffling.
Suppose Mr. Lewis, in any case,
goes along with Senator Wheeler
and Senator Wheeler is not nomi
nated. After all, his chances are
only fair at the best. What will Mr.
Lewis do then? Will he support the
Republican nominee (say Taft or
Vandenberg or Dewey) against the
Democratic nominee tsay Roosevelt
or Hull or Farley)?
The puzzle becomes more baffling
the more you study it. It is baffling,
but not, I think, of as high political
importance as the pontifical char
acter of Mr. Lewis’ statement to the
mine workers might suggest. For
the ability of Mr. Lewis at this junc
ture to "deliver” the labor vote in
a decisive quantity is open-to very
great doubt.
Antaeus ceased to be invincible
when out of touch with the earth.
So John L. Lewis loses power when
separated from his partner—Roose
velt—of the 1936 coalition.
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We, the People
Many Questions Raised in Dispute
Over La Mont High-Pressure Boiler
(This Is the fourth and concluding article of a series of four
on the La Mont boiler and the Navy.)
By JAT FRANKLIN.
Here Is the case against the Navy bureaucrats.
In 1918 an American naval officer who was something of an inventive
genius, Lt. Comdr. Walter Doughlas La Mont, developed a lightweight high
pressure boiler, potentially the outstanding contribution to the field of
combustion engineering in a generation. “Potentially,” because even the
inventor himself did not foresee the enormously broad use to which his
U1VV7I1MUI1 WUUiU UC pUt.
He offered It then to the United States Navy. That was In 1918, with
America already at war, and naval bureaucracy said “No!” Two years
later, with the war over and Navy technicians able to give full attention to
" 1 development of the new Invention, all
Mr. Franklin has told The experimental work on It was stopped.
Star that careful research has In 1924, unable still to make
preceded the preparation of this headway with the self-perpetuating
series of articles. The Star naval bureaucracy, which refused to
finds the articles interesting, “waste” further time or money on
and the facts outlined by Mr. his work, La Mont resigned from
Franklin speak for themselves. the service. Backed by private
Whether the articles merely capital he began Installation of the
reflect a difference of profes- new boiler units in half a dozen
sional opinion among experts factors and public utilities. All
on a highly technical subject; were eminently successful and the
however, or whether they bear La Mont Corp. appeared to be the
out Mr. Franklin’s diagnosis of “coming” boiler manufacturers.
"naval bureaucracy" is, of Gradually, however, a change
course, a matter of opinion. began to come over the La Mont
The Star has invited officials Corp. Over the protests of the in
of the Navy to reply, officially or ventor patent rights were licensed
unofficially, through a Star re- to a German affiliate for exploita
porter, should they care to pre- tion of the boiler in Europe. Over
sent the Navy's side of the the protests of the inventor exploi
case■ tation of the boiler gradually ceased
— in this country and La Mont him
self was eventually eased out of the American company.
Tries Again in 7933
la Mont was out, production or his boiler dwindled in the united
States—but not abroad. The new steam-generating unit was given a
thorough test by the German Navy. They round it lighter and more
efficient than both the old low-pressure types and their pet Diesels; so far
superior, in fact, that beginning in 1933 they equipped almost every new
warship with the La Mont invention. And primarily because of this
American boiler the German Navy became, in the words of an American
admiral in 1937, "Ship for ship so superior to ours we cannot fight them.”
In 1933 La Mont again approached the American Navy, urging that
the advantages of his boiler at least be explored. This time, thanks to the
far-seeing mind of Admiral S. M. Robinson, then chief of the Bureau of
Engineering. La Mont was given an opportunity to continue his research
at the Naval Boiler Laboratory in Philadelphia.
By 1937 his experiments there were completed. By that time he had so
far improved upon his earlier work that he had tremendously increased all
the primary advantages of the high-pressure boiler; Weight, size and
efficiency. By that time, also, there were 100 of the earlier type La Mont
boilers in German warships, 1,000 more being used commercially on the
continent.
Finally, by 1937, the Germans were doing extensive research with the
La Mont boiler along the line of La Mont's original experiments of 1918—
airplane use. It is today the belief of combustion and steam experts that
the "new weapon” promised by Adolf Hitler for next spring is a steam
driven, silent, four-propellor plane, made possible by development of the
'La Mont high-pressure unit!
Another Boiler Tried
Though the official report issued by the Navy would not say so, the
La Mont boiler was subjected to and passed every test that technicians at
the Naval Boiler Laboratory gave it. But still naval bureaucracy said “No!”
Unable, however, to continue to ignore the trend toward higher and
j still higher pressure in the navies of the world, naval bureaucracy author
ized the expenditure of $1,000,000 Mater increased by $750,000) for experi
ments with a high-temperature, high-pressure boiler.
But rather than install the improved La Mont unit offered them,
naval bureaucracy selected another boiler. A boiler of foreign desigin.
A type of boiler which the German Navy had tried as early as 1933 and
had discarded in favor of the La Mont unit!
Today, experiments with this boiler, of a type rejected by the
“superior" German Navy as outmoded by and inferior to the American
invented La Mont, are being secretly conducted at the Brooklyn Navy
! Yard.
This, of course, is the very type of naval bureaucratic inactivity and
dunderheadedness which President Roosevelt, Secretary Edison and pro
gressive officers like Admiral Robinson are striving to overcome. Already
changes have been made, improvements noted, but the battle is far from
; won.
Nor is it a battle that is likely to be won without the support of public
i opinion. What is immediately needed is a reopening of congressional hear
; ings on the naval expansion program, a thorough public airing of the
; entire situation. For the American public is entitled to an explanation.
That there is “another side" to this story cannot be doubted by anv fair
minded citizen, but both sides must be presented and weighed in the
| balance of all the facts.
Questions Are Raised
It is essential, for example, that such questions as these be answered:
1. Why was the manufacture of La Mont high-pressure boilers per
mitted to die out in this country while, at the same time, they were being
exploited in Germany?.
2. What precisely are the financial and patent connections between
naval boiler manufacturers in this country and in Europe?
3. Why was the State Department secret service sufficiently interested
in activities of persons connected directly or indirectly with the La Mont
Corp. to prompt R. C. Bannerman, chief of the service’ to “warn" La Mont
of these activities?
4. Did naval intelligence investigate La Monts charges that his work
was being interfered with by foreign agents? If so. what did the investi
gation disclose?
5. Did the United States Navy order a German La Mont naval boiler
from German General Electric and was this export order stopped by the
Nazi government?
6. Would installation of a high-pressure, high-temperature boiler of
German La Mont type save one-third in power weight and one-fourth
in fuel weight of a cruiser?
7. Would the new La Mont boiler increase these savings to two-thirds
in weight of power unit and one-third in weight of fuel?
8. Has the boiler now being installed in a destrover at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard ever passed naval tests here? What was the result of experi
ments with it at Annapolis?
9. What about the steam-powered airplane?
These are only a few of the questions that should be answered. For
the American people who pay taxes for a navy have a right to all the
answers.
| • ESTABLISHED 1865 • |
| JUST CALL THIS
I “Easy-to-Remember”
I I
I I
(ML 1348
GEO. M. BARKER!
• COMPANY • \
, LUMBER and MILLWORK
1 649-651 N. Y. Avt. N.W. |
1523 7th St. N.W.
f NA. 1348 for Prompt Dcliverin |
*
Devoe’s, Moore’s, Winslow’s are QUALITY
Paints—cheapest because they are best.
922 N. Y. Ave. No. 8610
MATCH YOUR I
ODD COATS
TROUSERS
Put thosr- odd coats to work
by matching them with Eise
man's special trousers. Hun
dreds of pairs in all wanted
materials, colors and sizes.
Priced at $3.95 up.
EISEMAN’S
F ST. AT SEVENTH j
j again j
1 reduced! I
f V
^ Our Complete Stock of Fall & Winter Q
| Fashion Park & Richard Prince p
j suits |
y Plenty of regular models as well as drapes. Includes fine
Worsteds, Sharkskins, Tweeds and Imported Shetlands.
Jrl Each garment is replete with customary Mode Distinction. Ijf
H y
WERE REGULARLY $35_®25'75 Q
X REGULARLY $40_$23*75 A
y WERE REGULARLY $45 & *50.$35‘75 ^
jj WERE REGULARLY $55 to $65 $44*75 j#
y
V Advance Selling!
£ NEW SPRING
l TOPCOATS
X featuring Coverts, Camel’s ji
V Hairs and I m p or t e d Hand
^ Loomed Harris Tweeds.
li $28-75 * $34-75
y *3»-75
MOW !-E very jjf
Richard Prince 5
$40 to $50 |
OVERCOAT |
*29-75 |
Convenient 90-Day
DIVIDED PAYMENT *
PLAN fi
\ thetflode 1
*1"^IMPORTANT Courtesy Parking 1^ I
F STEEET^*^ELEVENTH nth e e s„. n.w. f
F STREET AT 7th
January Clearance Sale
MEN’S CLOTHING!
Extraordinary Values!
$20 and $22.50
SUITS
TOPCOATS
Charge It! 4 Months to Pay
$25 and $30
SUITS
TOPCOATS
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f