Newspaper Page Text
■$683,000,000 Boost In Taxes Planned To Finance Defense Amount Would Pay Off $3,000,000,000 Cost In Five Years Uf the Associated Press. Tentative plans for financing the national defense program call for an annual boost of $683,000,000 in Income and excise taxes for the next five years. The financing would work out this way: The statutory national debt limit would be increased by $3,000,000,000, permitting that amount to be bor rowed exclusively for defense ex penditures. This borrowed money Would be paid back in five years. New taxes, yielding the estimated $683,000,000, would be ear-marked for defense and used to pay back the $3,000,000,0000 borrowed. Their life, accordingly, would be limited to five years. Taxes and Their Yields. The proposed new taxes and their estimated yields: Incomes (both individual and corporate): A fiat 10 per cent in crease in the amount now paid in taxes. Yield: $210,000,000. (Thus a person whose present tax is $40 would pay $44, the new rate to' be effective for incomes received in 1940.) Gasoline: lVa cents a gallon in stead of the present 1-cent Federal levy. Yield: $100,000,000. Beer: $6 a barrel instead of $5. Yield: $58,000,000. Liquor: $3 a gallon instead of $2.25. Yield: $85,000,000. - Cigarettes: $3.50 a thousand in stead of $3. Yield: $70,000,000. Effective July 1. Tires and tubes, toilet prepara tions, automobiles, radios, mechan ical refrigerators, firearms and am munition, matches, electrical energy, lubricating oil, copper, petroleum, coal, telephone and telegraph tolls, playing cards and tobacco other than cigarettes: A flat 10 per cent in crease in present taxes. Yield: $160,000,000. Although the proposed measure was not made public by congres sional tax leaders, well-informed sources said the various increases, aside from the income levy, would become operative at the start of the coming fiscal year, July 1. Defense (Continued From First Page.) period, but their nature immediately stirred wide differences of opinion. Speed Is Sought. Chairman Harrison of the Senate Finance Committee said there was no reason why Congress could not finish it in ample time for adjourn ment before the Republican National Convention June 24. Senator Harrison and other lead ers in both parties canvassed law makers in Senate and House, seek ing promises of co-operation in the interests of speed. They were hope ful of bringing out a tax bill that was streamlined and unencumbered by the usual perplexities. Indications materialized quickly, however, that the tax program did not meet, universal favor. Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana called it a ‘‘stop-gap." He eaid he favored a suggestion by 6enator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia that a 10 per cent cut be made in Government expenditures other than those for defense purposes. Called “Just a Gesture." Senator Adams, Democrat of Colorado described the proposals as “just a gesture.” Senator Connally, Democrat, of Texas proposed that only the debt limit be raised at this time, suggesting that House and Senate Tax Committees return to Washington in November to prepare a comprehensive revision of the tax structure. Republican congressional reaction generally was in support of the ad ministration program, although gome made it plain that they would vote for an increase in the debt lim itation only because it was coupled Wdth a tax increase. The bill approved yesterday by the House, 402 to 1, authorizing the $1,137,000,000 expansion of the Navy's air force and of its system of aviation bases, carries no funds (ac tual appropriations being left for later measures) but it sets the mini mum of Navy planes at 10,000 and the number of pilots at 16.000. The construction and expansion of a far flung system of naval air bases, authorized by the legislation, would cost approximately $144,132,000. Speed Up Construction. Earlier the chamher, with Repre sentative Marcantonio alone dis senting and 400 members voting “aye,” passed legislation to speed up construction of warships by permit ting the Navy to slash through what was called “red tape.” Under this bill, which now goes to the Senate, the competitive bidding system would be replaced by nego tiated contracts. Contracts up to $25,000 would be exempt from the present law's provision limiting profits to 10 per cent. Certain .labor regulations also would be relaxed. ,Talk of fortifying Guam, island In the far Pacific, revived during discussion of the air force bill, and Representative Maas, Republican, of Minnesota, senior minority member of the House Naval Committee, de clared that if he had his way “I’d fortify Guam tomorrow.” ‘ Test of “Fitness to Live." 'The House listened intently while Chairman Sumners of the House Jlidiciary Committee predicted the Ration was facing the test of its 'Witness to live.” .“We've gotten very soft in Amer ica,” the Texan said, solemnly. “You c*n’t preserve a people that has be came bottle-fed and rocked to sleep in the arms of government.” ! The measure to speed up warship construction would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to make ad \j$nce payments up to 30 per cent of naval contracts and to give Gov ernment orders for machine tools priority over foreign orders. • __________________ The United States is exporting rflore trucks than ever before. Members of President's National Defense Commission EDWARD R. STETTINIUS, Jr. INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS.—Will supervise problem of procurement of raw materials up to point where they are ready for machining into finished products. Mr*. Stettinius, 40, is chairman of the board of the United States Steel Corp. One of the Nation’s youngest top industrialists, he was a vice president of General Motors before joining United States Steel in 1934. WILLIAM H. MCREYNOLDS. SECRETARY.—WiU be co-ordi nator and office man for the com mission, probably filling role of chairman. * Mr. McReynolds, a native of Kan sas, is now administrative assistant to the President. He is a career man in the Federal service and formerly was assistant director of the budg et and administrative assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury. LEON HENDERSON. PRICES.—Will establish statistical clearing house for checking and sta bilizing price trends of raw mate rials. At present a member of the Se curities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Henderson has been an eco nomic adviser of the administration since coming here with N. R. A. He is a native of New Jersey and is 45. WILLIAM S. KNUDSEN. PRODUCTION.—Will take over supervision of actual quantity pro duction of all types of defense equipment. Mr. Knudsen was born in Den mark and has worked his way through American industry to be come president of General Motors. His first Job was in a New York shipyard; later he was production manager for Ford. RALPH BUDD. TRANSPORTATION.—Will main tain contact with all types of Na tion's transport system, guard against any potential jam. Mr. Budd has been a railroad man throughout his life and is now president of the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He has been ready since last September. Presi dent Roosevelt said, to step into any transport responsibility. CHESTER C. DAVIS. FARM PRODUCTS.—Will exer cise jurisdiction over problem of maintaining agricultural produc tion at proper levels. Mr. Davis, a member of the Fed eral Reserve Board, was once ad ministrator of the Agricultural Ad justment Administration. He is a native of Iowa, was educated in the farm belt, and was once a news paper editor in the West. SIDNEY HILLMAN. EMPLOYMENT.—Will be con cerned with problem of bringing men and jobs together; directing apprentice work where needed. President of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and a vice presi dent of the C. I. O., Mr. Hillman is a native of Lithuania. He is 53 and frequently has been an adviser to Mr. Roosevelt on labor matters. | MISS HARRIET ELLIOTT. CONSUMER PROTECTION.— Will maintain continuing check on trends of prices of consumer goods with view to preventing their infla tion. Miss Elliott has been teaching po litical science at the University of North Carolina for 21 years. She is now dean of women there. She was a member of the Women's Advisory Platform Committee at the 1936 Democratic convention. Civil Service (Continued From First Page.) Departments, several other agencies are expected to add to the number of their civilian employes in the District as a result of their increased responsibilities under the national defense program. Several Classes or workers. The national defense program will provide few jobs for clerical and unskilled workers, it was pointed out at the Civil Service Commission. The principal demand will be for skilled workers and mechanics. In the fourth district, which in cludes the Washington area, the commission has recently reported a shortage of coppersmith, loftsmen, shipwrights, shipfitters and iron workers. Prom two to four years’ experience are usually required for proficiency in these skilled trades Taking the country as a whole, there is no shortage of skilled me chanics, Isador Lubin, commissioner of labor statistics, said. To build airplanes and warships thousands of mechanics will be needed to carry out the administration's prepared ness plans. According to Mr. Lubin, there may be shortages of mechanics in cer tain localities. Such shortages are offset by a surplus of mechanics elsewhere. Plans for transferring workers from areas where a surplus exists to those whoch report a short age of skilled workers needed by industry in filling national defense orders are now being studied by the United States Employment Service. Unions Deny Shortages. The A. F. of L. and the C. I. O. long at swords’ points on manj other matters, are In agreemeni that there are plenty of skilled me chanics available to carry out the national defense expansion pro gram. At its recent meeting here the Executive Council of the A. F. ol L. flatly denied that any shortage of mechanics exists, and C. I. O officials have issued equally vigorous denials . According to A. F. of L. statis ticians, approximately 25 per cent of union workers in the metal trades are now unemployed. These trades include many of the skilled workers needed for production of national defense items. Apart from the Increase in the civilian personnel of the War and Navy Department, the national de fense program will result in im portant gains in industrial employ ment during the next few months Commissioner Lubin predicted. He said it is too early, however, to make a definite estimate of the amount oi additional employment which will be provided by the projected expan sion in the Army and the Navy. A good deal will depend on the speed with which the national de fense program is carried out, and how and where the orders are placed. As a by-product. Commis sioner Lubin pointed out, the defense program should increase employment in other industries than those direct ly engaged in manufacturing air planes and munitions for the Gov ernment. It will, therefore, tend tc reduce the volume of unemploy ment. Commission Speeds Up. To recruit the additional civilian personnel needed by defense agencies, the Civil Service Commission has put its entire organization, in and out of Washington, on a 24-houi basis. It plans an aggressive recruit ing drive to secure skilled workers in areas where shortages are reported Early in June, through the secre taries of its 5,000 field offices, the commission will arrange to make available, in first and second class post offices throughout the country, the latest information on civil serv ice job opportunities under the emergency program. Field managers have been ordered to report by airmail the resuts ol their recruiting drives. The com mission itself is meeting once or more each day to discuss the recruit ing problem. As part of its efforts to obtain quickly the mechanics and skilled workers needed by the Army and Navy, the commission also plans to take the air early in June in a series of radio programs. 6,000,000 Listed for Jobs. Proportionately, according to Fed eral officials, there are more un skilled than skilled workers now unemployed. About 6,000,000 persons are listed as job seekers by the United States Employment Service This list includes those on Federal relief, C. C. C. aryl N. Y. A. enrollees and other groups *nd individuals. Skilled workers on Federal relief rolls will have equal opportunity with others to obtain the new jobs, according to officials of the com mission. Library Open Tomorrow The Library of Congress will be open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. tomor row, according to the holiday sched ule announced today. S#P*”^OORWHITE PRIMER SAVtSONCCOAT! Moorwhite Primer seals the 0f U £ perea of your house and keepa W% ■ a 'the finish ooat from penetrat* Bl I MM. lag and causing unaightly fad* p|i H MfWlDWUllt ing,chalking or spotting. Used Kg f| AbDiurQ 0 as a foundation fqr Moore's H RIMtP House Paint,white or color,it mu 1. ** Exterior giv#I a two-coat job equal or Ipi4 ■Stitltii tr superior in beauty and dura* |||| bility to three coats of paint |^ applied the old way. I a*** 0 Silver Spring Paint A Hardware Co. PF IfjB Betheeda Paint A Hardware Co. fP* W Local Paint A Hardware Co. (Hyatteville) 0 \W. R. Winslow Co. ■ A Japanese Launch Daily Air Raids on Chungking By the Associated Press. HANKOW, May 29.—The Jap anese naval air force is planning dally bombardments of Chungking, provisional capital of the central Chinese government, until its "spirit of resistance in broken.” a naval spokesman declared today. The statement was offered In ex planation of dally raids on Chung king which began last Sunday, when 99 planes attacked the city in waves for four hours. uispuicii irom unungamg today said Japanese air raids in that area were continuing. Three groups of bombers, num bering more than 50 in all, made four attacks on the district west of the city, dropping incendiary bombs which started fires.) It was estimated by Chinese that 300 persons were killed in the capi tal yesterday. While acknowledging that Chung king is not an objective of present land operations, the spokesman de clared the city contained “military objectives” and was dotted with anti-aircraft guns. He said Chungking “had to be attacked," regardless of its status. Japanese authorities, he said, “guarantee” the safety of third power property there, "provided mil itary objectives are not situated in the vicinity.” Woman Dies of Burns Lucy Wallace, 53, colored, of North Brentwood, Md., died yes terday at Freedman’s Hospital of burns received Sunday when a lamp exploded In her home, setting fire to her clothing. vWMALj^l Listen to... 630K. NEWS BROADCASTS TODAY 12 (noon)—H. R. Baukhage 12:55 p.m.—European News 3:00 p.m.—*War Commen-. tary i, 3:55 p.m.—AP New* 5:00 p.m.—Evening Star Flashes 5:45 p.m.—Lowell Thomas 6:45 p.m.—European News 9:15 p.m.—European News 11:00 pirn.—European News 12:00p.m.—European News 1:00 a.m.—News Sj * TOMORROW , 7:00 a.m.—News Here and j Abroad j 7:25 a.m.—European News ' 1 8:30 a.m.—Earl Godwin ' 10:00 a.m.—News 11:00 a.m.—European News I I WMAL Eon Your Dial iington's Leading i Station brings you eadline news os it happens. Explorers Leaving Today For Sinks of Gandy A group of 12 to 15 cave explorers of the District Speleological Society planned to leave late today for the vicinity of Marlington, W. Va., to attempt passage of the famous Sinks of Gandy—a stream that borrows through a mountain for a mile and a quarter. The party Is headed by William J. Stephenson, president of the so ciety, and includes A1 Lewis and other enthusiastic cave fans, vet erans of several other expeditions in recent months. They will be Joined In West Vir ginia by a small party of explorers from Steubenville, Ohio. Whether they will be able to follow the river through the mountains probably will depend on how high the water is, the local men said. They expected to take a portable boat and other special equipment. Each policeman in London will hereafter cost the city $1,280 a year. LOS ANGELES (j) Shortest, fastest, coast* to-coast. Information, Retervationt: Call Your Travil Agent or (9) Personal broadcast radio receivers. NATIONAL 1451 ZL 707 Fifteenth St. NW Q) Over the most scenic air route west. Alt Flight* On Standard Tima All FUtkta tie PCA Oceelu Skyllaart to Plttekerek. pMBlttFaR^rc^^| IN THEIR SPARE TIME Windows look so much better with flower boxes, ond . ... do your youngsters have ploy equipment and a sand box? Drive ways, too, need new surfacing. Anyone who is handy with tools con fix up their place in their spare time. Kelly has a complete stock of lumber, sand ond other items you'll need. Phone for a free esti mate of the cost of materials. J. FRANK ELiy. Lumber-Millwork * SI 21 Georgia Ave. N.W. NO. 1141 4 i • Shelrlnr, -Be tin. ft. • Plywood, -414* m. ft. • Coder Ports. roand, • ft., TOe *a. • Small arden of lambor 11 r o a aroint attoa tloa. • We eat and rta lambor to waat cd alios PUS. • Sadden aorvioe on any Mil or ders sad fro* delivery to year home. 4 Oaen 7:80 A M. nsp.lL Better Facilities For Fighting Fire Urged in Defense Hampshire Heights Citizens See Possible Menace to Capital Stressing the need for adequate preparation in anticipation of any national emergency the Hampshire Heights Citizens’ Association last night adopted a resolution indorsing President Roosevelt’s defense pro gram and closer surveillance on sub versive activities. Immediate Improvement of fire fighting facilities in large urban dis tricts, particularly the Nation’s Cap ital, also was demanded. Special emphasis was laid on the necessity for up-to-date fire apparatus, in creased personnel and an adequate fire-alarm system as a defense meas ure "as important as provision of anti-aircraft guns’’ for the protec tion of Washington in an emer gency. Harry J. Miller, president of the group, who offered the motion, said the department should be pro vided with steel helmets, gas masks and protective clothing in order ef fectively to combat widespread fires. The move also asks exemption from military service members of the de partment, since their experience in a war emergency is “vital.” Miller Is Re-Elected. In the annual election of officers Mr. Miller was re-elected president, J. Leon Bord chosen first vice presi dent and Mrs. E. C. Atkinson sec ond vice president. Others elected were Mrs. Dorothy Kriemelmeyer, secretary; Walter J. Snelllngs, treas urer; Lawton Mellichampe and P. J. Ableman. delegates to the Federa tion; Walter Griest, delegate to Pet worth, and Robert E. Mohr, to the Chillum Heights Association. Mr. Miller announced appoint ment of chairmen of standing com mittees of the association including Mr. Ableman, publicity; Manning B Peake, mails; Maurice Collegeman, sewers; I. H. Minowitz, suffrage; E. G. Goetz, police and fire; Charles T. King, taxation; Walter C. Poteet, education; Dr. S. J. Sugar, health; Malcolm Lamborne, parks; Mrs. Dora C. Eeizear, public utilities; Don Lamborne, membership; Francis Taylor, legislation; Mr. Bord, en tertainment. To Hold Boys’ Night. The association voted to stage a boys’ night June 11 in the Barnard School auditorium for the benefit of youths of the community. A movie will be shown, refreshments served, and Maj. Ernest Brown will speak. Mrs. Leizear is in charge of the program. Action was taken favoring con struction of a new fire station at Hawaii avenue and Rock Creek Church road N.W., to ask zoning ad justment of a parking lot at First street and New Hampshire avenue N.W. and to protest commercial de velopment of property along Hawaii avenue in the Fort Totten area. Last night's was the final business session of the season. Nazi Ship Leaves Brazil To Run Allied Blockade By tnc Associated Presa. BELEM, Brazil, May 29.—The 6,466-ton German freighter Koenigs berg headed down the River Para for the Atlantic, 80 miles from Be lem, yesterday in her second at tempt to run the Allied blockade. She carried a cargo of rubber val ued at $800,000. The freighter had been here since the outbreak of the European war, except for one false start for Ger many on February 8. She returned eight days later, apparently fearing Allied warships patrolling South American waters. Eight German vessels remain in Brazilian ports. Husband Sees Wife Die in Plane Crash By th« AisoclBted Presi. NORFOLK, Va., May 29—Mrs. Joyce Stuart, 20-year-old mother, and wife of a Navy enlisted man, was killed and John Melniek, 25, aviation machinist’s mate, third class, attached to the U. S. S. Wich ita, critically injured when Melnick’s small, two-seated plane crashed on the Navy auvlliary field at Little Creek, last night. James T. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart’s husband, was a witness to the crash. Dr. H. F. Dormlre, Princess Anne County coroner, said it was his opinion Mrs. Stuart became panicky and grabbed the controls. He said the control stick was broken. 'Just Begun to Fight/ Lord Lothian Tells New York Club • Democracies Blamed for 'Lack of Dedication to Something Greater' By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 29,-Lord Lo thian, British Ambassador to the United States, said last night that despite present reverses the British have “just begun to fight.” “The news from. Europe tonight is bad, very bad, but I venture to think that our spirits are unim paired,” he told the Canadian Club of New York. “The fight has gone far worse than we figured but the fight has only just begun.” Lord Lothian said it was the "lack of dedication to something greater than themselves” which consti tuted one of the chief reasons why democratic nations today found themselves “unprepared and dis united.” He read a dispatch from the Brit ish high command stating that the British Expeditionary Force was still unbeaten and would fight on beside its French ally, and a message from Lady Astor, American-born member of Parliament, that the spirit of Britain's warriors was “the same as in 1914.” The club presented its gold medal award for furthering British-Amer | ican relations to Sir Gerald Camp bell. high commissioner for the United Kingdom in Canada and British Consul General in New York from 1931 to 1938. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation abroad, Sir Gerald de clared that “the greatest curse is de featism, because it helps other isms to go on abiding.” Mrs. W. E. Reynolds Dies in Kentucky Mrs. Zella B. Reynolds, wife of W. E. Reynolds, commissioner of public buildings for the Fedeaal Works Agency, died suddenly Sun day at the home of her sister, Mrs. T. J. Hawkins, in Lexington, Ky„ friends here were informed yester day. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were visit ing her sister on their way home from Storm Lake, Iowa, where they had recently attended the funeral of Mr. Reynolds’ mother. Their home here is the Westchester Apart ments. Mrs. Reynolds, a native of Dan ville, 111., had been a resident of Washington since her husband en tered Government service in 1933 The funeral will take place tomor row morning in Danville. Also surviving is another sister. Mrs. Hervev Parker of Danville. i—COLOR FILMS— KODAK and MOVIE CAMERA BARGAINS Aolumbia Photo Supply W1424N.Y.Ave. No. 0619 Air Corps Doubled, 1 Army Strengthened On Pacific Coast New Burdens Also Placed On F. B. I. in Guarding Against 'Fifth Column' By the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO. May 29 Uncle Sam has doubled the Army Air Corps personnel on the West Coast and boosted that of the 9th Corps Area 40 per cent since the outbreak of the European war, a check disclosed today. Added enlisted strength of the Navy at sea, the addition of about 100 Coast Guardsmen, a change in the customs setup for neutrality control and new burdens on the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with espionage and "fifth column" activity also were re vealed. A survey of military and home defense work indicated most of the changes in this area were in line with national policies and author izations and not due specifically to conditions on the West Coast. Enlisted Strength Increased Twice. The personnel of the Army Air Corps fields—Hamilton-Moffett and March—was at its largest point in history, and between 25 and 50 per cent more planes were in serviea than nine months ago. It was esti mated about half the 5.500 planes authorized for the corps were in use, the others ordered. The authorized enlisted strength of the 9th Corps Area was increased twice since September. It now is 33,573, compared with 23,566. Actual strength currently was estimated at 31,000. The 9th Corps Area includes Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and Alaska. • Little change has been effected in the personnel of the 12th Naval District (Utah, Nevada, Colorado and Northern California), but the Pacific sea strength was increased through the recommissioning of old destroyers for neutrality patrol and 25 retired officers were recalled to [ duty in this area. Customs Personnel Stands. Increase in Coast Guardsmen was principally due to new regulations requiring more signalmen on cut ters. A new Coast Guard base with five planes is to be ready at San Francisco Airport in August. The San Diego base also will have five planes, instead of the present two. No personnel has been added to the Customs Department in this area, but requirements of neutrality legislation have necessitated trans fer of many men to the marine di vision. The falling off of shipping has made it possible to effect the change without adding men. The Federal Bureau of Investiga tion personnel is unchanged, but ad mittedly is facing an ever-increasing number of Investigations into al leged "fifth column” activity and espionage, and is working around the clock. Bean growers of Manchuria re cently staged a sellers’ strike. 1WE RECOMMEND THE 1940 I WESTINGHOUSE I REFRIGERATORS I I MODEL LS 6-40 6 CUBIC FEET $1 ] 4-75 With Wostlnghouio Tomporaturo Control I MODELS 6-40 6 CUBIC FEET >13975 TwToinp Control anl Moat Koopor LOW EASY TERMS ARRANGED LOWEST COST REFRIGERATION MADE E tY M>tO IOW RATES