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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1951)
V"" 53 EDITORIALS Furses Fresh Flashes YOUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Plenty of argument has been waged up and down Plattsmouth's streets as to the future of the local Chamber of Com merce. One healthy note outcropping from the numerous pro and con discussions is the fact that a few people have come to realize that such an organization does exist in the community. It is a regrettable fact that too few of our otherwise progressive business men and women take no active part in Cham ber activities, although most of them come up with a few dollars each year to assist on the monetary end. It seems to be the leg work, planning and personal effort required that stymies the average mem ber and sends him on an emergency fish ing, hunting, or business trip when a job has to be done. It gripes us no end to have some bundle of humanity who has never con tributed more than a few bucks (most of them grudgingly) to the support of com munity progress, loudly discredit a hand ful of men who have spent hours of their time and effort in trying to make of their city, among other things, a finer town in which to live, insinuating that the Cham ber of Commerce "Never done anything." We could again point out, as we have on numerous occasions, many projects local citizens are now enjoying that are a direct result of Plattsmouth's Chamber of Commerce.. Some of the improvements being made today are directly traceable to activities started within this 'organization years ago. And, regardless whether or not present membership is willing to supply the dollars and the brawn necessary to accomplish an outstanding job during the next few years, you will still find this small group of public spirited businessmen carrying the torch for Plattsmouth, and in spite of sniping, criticism and lack of en couragement, will come up with something on the balance side of the ledger. Whether they are given credit public ly for their efforts will be of little im portance they'll have the personal sat isfaction of knowing they have paid their "rent" for the livelihood and enjoyment of everyday living their community has provided them. THE "LITTLE MAN" PAYS Economic Intelligence, a publication of the Chamber of Commerce of the Uni ted States, points out that our present program of heavy government spending and soaring taxes is threatening the effi cient performance and future growth of the American economy, It is undermining the incentive to work and take risks. It has reduced the ability and willing ness of people to provide venture capital for new undertakings. It is eliminating opportunity for the individual and for business. It causes inflation, with consequent loss of confidence in the value of the dol lar. It has led to more and more growth and centralization of government powers. It has burdened even the low-income groups with a weight of taxation which, up to now, was known only in the days of the greatest despots. It is a commonplace to justify the ever increasing tax burden by pointing to the need for a powerful military establishment and for aiding our anticommunist allies. That is a phony alibi. Very heavy cuts in government spending perhaps as much as 810,000,000,000 a year could be made without harming a sound arms or aid-to-Europe program in any way. This is the money which is being wasted on projects which are either totally unnecessary, or which could be indefinitely postponed. Today it is the "little man" who must bear the main burdens of taxation. He, and he alone, must pay for the bulk of any new tax increases. It remains to be seen whether he will continue to let the gov ernment waste his money by the billions while his take-home pay shrinks and shrinks because of the tax collector. THOUGHT FOR TODAY C'i;aritv is a debt of honor. Immanucl Kant There are political parties in this country not because there are two sides to every question, but because there are two sides to every office inside and out side. Even the rats are suffering a housing shortage, we are told, all because the government insists on pouring more and more money down their holes. Every busy man should have a wife then he doesn't have to spend much time making up his mind about things. Work and save, young man, and some day you'll have enough to divide with those who don't. Life is just like Christmas you're more likely to get what you expect than what you want. It might be a good idea to redesign the Statue of Liberty. Have it holding the sack instead of a torch. A noted social worker states that swimming pools cut down on juvenile de linquency. She didn't state, however, how long you had to hold the delinquent under. Flipper Fanny, our dainty little con tour twister, when taken to the hospital recently had to have a room all to herself she is too cute for wards. ir It is time to Stop, Look and Lessen accidents. Down Memory Lane X neM. (assocmrion ti NATIONAl EDITORIAL rCL r ASSOCIATION The Plattsmouth Journal Official County and City Paper ESTABLISHED IN 1881 Awarded Ak-Sar-Ben Plaque For "Outstanding Community Service in x 1950" 'uTjUshpri semi-week! v. Mondavs and Thursdays, at 99-413 Main Street. Plans mouth. Cass County, Nebr. RONALD R. FURSE Publisher HARRY J. CANE Editor FRANK II. SMITH News Reportei LAFF OF THE WEEK : , - - I.' II''11 1 Sfcx r 5A YEARS AGO "Mom said she'd be down in c minute. Your hat sure makes a swell rcce-track, Mrs. Gormley." Harvey Machine Company was 1 suspended jail sentences. One of investigated by naval intelli- j those convicted was Thor John- gence during the war for mak- Intered at the Post Office at Plattsmouth. Nebraska, m second class mail matter In accordancs with the Act of Congress o March 3. 1S79. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $3.50 per year in Cass and adjoining counties, $4.00 per year elsewhere, in advance, by mail outside the city of Platts mouth. By carrier in Plattsmouth. 20 cents for two weeks. Miss Evelyn Meade of near Murray, one of the winners in the statewide better citizenship contest, will represent Cass county at the dedication of the $65,000 bridge at Ashland . . . Miss Clara Wick man was honoree at a shower given by Mrs. Henry Horn and daughter, Miss Helen, and Mrs. Mary Henrich and daugh ters, Misses Lena and Frances . . . Teresa Libershal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Libershal, has been elected a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron at the University of Nebraska . . . William "Billy" Baird was honored today by the Chamber of Commerce . . . The marriage of Miss Mary Slatinsky of Plattsmouth and Clarence Peterson ha3 been announced. A YEARS AGO ' lv Mesdames Joseph Wiles, J. Howard Davis. A. H. Duxbury, L. S. Devoe, Will iam Heinrich, Ed Thimgan, E. H. Wes cott, D. M. Babbitt, Robert B. Keller, Glen McClure and Rose Ella Young, are working on Red Cross sewing projects . . . County Attorney and Mrs. Walter Smith have to 507 Walnut street on Avenue E . . . William E. Rosencrans of South Bend reported for duty at the U. S. Naval Train ing Station at Great Lakes, 111. . . . Mrs. P. A. Hild and son, John L. Hild, were in Omaha today where they visited with Mrs. John and new son that was born Novem ber 18 . . . John Slatinsky teamed with Larson, Bratt, Rice and Hilt in leading the varsity to a 21-8 scrimmage over the Re serves . . . Louis A. Puis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Puis of Murray is stationed on the U.S.S. Humboldt. i&mnr- (Copyright. 1949. Bv the Bell Syndicate. Inc.) . DREW PEARSON SAYS: COMPAN IES GETTING WAR CONTRACTS HAVE SPOTTY RECORDS; HAR VEY'S RECORD IS FAR BETTER THAN OTHERS; ANACONDA WIRE & CABLE TWICE CONVICT ED FOR WAR FRAUDS. Washington. The job of finding a spotless company to produce aluminum for lagging defense production is much like that of Diogenes looking for an hon est man. Below are printed the war records of the three chief companies considered by the National Production Authority for aid in setting up a new aluminum plant. Sig nificantly no agency of the government bothered to look up these records, but left it to the press. Today the FBI is required to spend weeks, sometimes months, check ing on the loyalty of a prospective govern ment employee; while there is absolutely no system for checking on the records of companies getting lush war contracts. Furthermore, Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball has flatly refused to give the record on the Harvey Machine Company to his cabinet colleague, the Secretary of the Interior, or to a house investigating committee. (Kimball and the Harveys are Californians, with Lawrence Harvey high in Democratic political councils.) In addition the Defense Mobilization Administration is barred by Congress from building plants of its own if it cannot find a company qualified to. build one. This ban, urged by GOP Senators Mundt of South Dakota and Taft of Ohio has ser iously impeded defense mobilization: Meanwhile, the navy records, which this columnist has seen, show that the ing off-sized gauges which pre sumably would help to pass off sized shells past naval inspec tors without the inspectors rea lizing the shells did not fit speci fications. A naval report, dated Jan. 27, 1944. signed by Capt. L. D. Webb, and recommending-against the use of Harvey on another navy contract, quotes Naval Intell igence, in part, as follows: Naval Report " 'A check of gauges at the Long Beach plant of subject, disclosed that one of the gauges being used for navy inspection was defective. Investigation dis closed that approximately 150 defective gauges manufactured by subiect were delivered to the Long Beach plant for use in company and navy inspection. The defect in these gauges was such as would enable subject to attain the acceptance of faulty projectiles by the navy. Investigation discloses that Herbert Harvev, plant manager,! purposely devised a gear-ratio to be used on the navy-owned thread-grinding machine used to manufacture the gauges. The defect in the gauges caused by use of the substan dard gear-ratio was not discern; ible without thorough examin ation. Admiral Joseph R. De frees ... requested that steps be taken to cause the institution of criminal proceedings, if a criminal statute has been vio lated.' "Dated 22 Mav 1943, the cog nizant war frauds division prosecutor of the Department of Justice, in writing to sav that 'inherent weaknesses of the case (i.e. inability to prove to a sen. Anaconda Wire and Cable representative for the entire state of Indiana. The fact that a similar pat tern of fraud and concealment was followed in other Anaconda Wire and Cable factories, ac cchding to Justice Department officials, showed that the fraud must have been directed from up above. Anaconda Wire and Cable was also convicted at Pawtucket, R.I.. and four in dividuals given one to two years. Another fraud charge at Hast-ings-on-Hudson, N. Y.. was dropped after Anaconda paid the eovernment a total of $1, 626.000 as a settlement for all its fraud damage. Remarked Senator Bone of Washington: "The men who did this dreadful thing would be lined up before a firing-squad if they were m Germany or Russia." But in the United States, the Truman Administration pro poses giving Anaconda a new contract. Olin Industries record Ano ther company under considera tion for government aluminum aid is Olin Industries bv no means little business which op erates Winchester Arms: New Haven Bond Electric Comp; Western Powder at Peoria. Ill' Liberty Powder at Mount Brad- l dock. Pa.; Ecusta Paper Co.. in North Carolina: Central Rail way Signal, Peru. Ind.: Pacific Railway Signal at Los Gatos. Calif.; Equitable Powder. Texas Powder, Columbia Powder, U.S. Powder. Egyptian Powder, and East Alton Public Service. During the war ten members of one subsidiary, U. S. Cart ridge, were indicted in St. Louis, for a conspiracy to pass defec seriously injured by subject's actions) would make it extreme ly difficult to secure a convic tion. added: 'This does not mean, how statements, and violating the sabotage act. Tried in April 1944, they were found not guilty. A second indictment draesed on for seven years and in 1950 was ever, tnat we nave closed our ; dropped by the government nies on tnis matter, and i nave ; The government is now appeal 60-BOUND asked one of our attorneys to prepare a memorandum cf law applicable to the facts set forth in the investigative reports.' " Captain Webb, when queried by this column, stated that al though he had then recommen ded against further use of the Harvey Machine Company, he now felt that they had the in itiative necessary for the pro duction of aluminum. He also ing a civil suit for $214,000 against U. S. Cartridge to re cover damages which it lost in the lower court. Another column on companies with bad war records now pro fiting from big war contracts will follow soon. Realty Transfers Jesie Richardson Davis to admitted that he had received Sybil Davis Mcrland & Jas.. WD 11-5-51. L. 12. 13 & 14, B. 8, So. Park Platts.. $1.00. Clyde M. Ahl & Hazel to Elwin L. Isaac & Marjorie, WD 8-7-51, L. 291 & 292, Louis., $1.00. Russel Payne & Mamie to John W. Sheard, Jr., & Dorothy Irene, WD 11-6-51, L. 10. 11 & 12, B. 10, Dukes Add. Platts., $4000.00. Tessa A. McDonald to Wm. O. & Linda V. Harrell, WD 8-30-51. L. 32 Greenwood. $1.00. Jas. W. Holmes & Annette to Jas. W. & Annette Holmes, 6- 19-43, WD, L. 2, B. 134, Platts mouth, L. 18, B. 15, Lattas 1st Add. Murray, $1.00. Annette J. Holmes to Annette J. Holmes & Ralph S., WD 11-7- 51. L. 9, B. 41 and above, $1.00. Emma S. Haist & Ezra F., to Frank B. Sidles, WD 10-31-51, SENElfc 20-10-10, $1.00. Frank B. Sidles to Emma S. Haist & Ezra, WD 10-31-51, same, $1.00. Ralph A. Wever & May E., to Naomi Weyer, QCD 11-2-51, Ls. 1. 2. 3. 4, 5, 6, 7. 8. B. 19, Y & H Add. Platts.. $600.00. Emma Gregg et al. to Emma Gregg & Milton, QCD, 6-21-47, E 90 A NWi 25-12-12, $1.00. a phone call direct from Secre tary of the Navv Kimball re garding the Harveys. Investigation bv this column ist leads to similar conclusions namely, that the Harveys have the drive and initiative necessary for production, and that their record, while far from spotless, is far. far better than others under considera tion. Two Wronrs Eaual One Right After the Harvev record was 1 published, NPA proceeded to award the aluminum contract! in Montana to both Harvey and Anaconda Copper, apparently on the theory that two wrongs make a right. For Anaconda Wire and Copper had a far worse war record than Harvey. Furthermore, Olin Industries, also under consideration for the aluminum contract, likewise had a worse record than Harvey. Anaconda record Anaconda Wire and Cable, one of the lar gest Anaconda subsidiaries, was twice convicted for war frauds and sabotage in selling faults wire to the Army. Navy and Air Force. Alex Campbell, U. S. attorney who prosecuted Anaconda at Ft. Wayne, . Ind.. states that Anaconda's inspectors had pre tended to te3t wire and passed it on to army and navy inspec tors with an O.K. tag on it though actually it was not in spected. Part of the wire was used for artillery communications in the field: part was degaussing wire to protect warships from sub marine attack. Fortunately, the wire was caught before it got into combat. At Ft. Wayne, the company and five of its staff did not con test the criminal charres and received $31,000 in fines plus CORNELL GETS 31000 BEETLES ITHACA. N. Y. A collection of 31,000 beetles, including many scarce specimens, . has been placed on display at Cornell University. The collection be longed to the late Kenyon K. Chamberlain, assistant New York state entomologist. FIVE YEARS FOR S3 FORT WORTH, Tex. A rob bery here proved considerably more expensive for the culprit than the victim. A five-year prison term was given Harley A. Fridley for a $3 robbery. Legislative SIDELIGHTS.. by B ERNIE CAMP Information Director Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation . . (Legislative Sidelines Is made available to your local newspaper as a service of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. Opin ions expressed are not neces sarily t of this newspaper). Roads and Taxes Nebraska is not alone among the states of the United States in having a very definite road problem. The problem of high ways and roads is a product of the times. Roads and taxes are closely allied and road finance is a definite part of the over-all tax picture. Road finance cannot be di vorced from the tax scene and considered alone as a road prob lem because the taxes and fees that finance roads come from the same pocket which finances the vast and sprawling network of government services. With a national income ap proaching the 300 billion dollar annual rate and with the tax share of the national income (state, federal and local taxes) totalling 85 billion dollars (or approximately 28 per cent of the national income), any forces which tend to add to the tax load increase the threat to dem ocratic forms of government. Put on a family basis, tne present state, federal and local tax load is at the point where it pinches and hurts a great many families. Where income now can scarcely match the spiral ling cost of living, families have already tightened up on spend ing. More and more of the family budget is going to meet the necessary costs of food and clothing and paying for medi cal care. Any increase in the tax load at the federal, state or local levels means that to pay the tax bill families who are al ready squeezed and have no prospect of salary or wage in creases must "buckle down" the family budget still tighter, going without some portion of the es sentials. Already the tax load of the nation has meant a re duced standard of living for many families: and it will mean a reduced, standard of living for many more who cannot pass on their increased costs oi opera tion. The power to tax is the power to destroy, the power to destroy the system of government America has held to the wrorld as an example. The tax load can destroy the democratic system because fam ilies to pay their share of the tax will be forced to go without the basic necessities. As fam ilies deprive themselves of the necessities, the demand for gov ernment services (government hospitalization and medical programs and other forms of "free service" will increase. As these demands increase, the costs of government go up. As costs of government go up, the tax load goes up. Eventually, government could be supplying all the services people want and need; and all of the national income could go into taxes. The question that Americans i THE PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL Monday, November 19, 1951 Section B PAGE THREB IDklLEClAKEnBElEE Serenity, Courage, Wisdom ONE DAY as Louis D. Donaldson, Bloomingdale, Ohio, was driving to his- home over icy roads, he made the most disas trous move of his career. The car skidded and he suddenly jammed on his brakes! . . J Thp xt thin? he knew, the next morning, he was in the hos- pitaL When the doctor came in a few hours later he asked if he could have his clothes and go nome. oaia xne doctor, "Yes, you can in about six weeks. You have a fractured skull and you must stay right where you are, flat on your back and be quiet." Flat on his back for six weeks! He certainly would not. He couldn't do it; his business would be gone; he would be ruined. He explained the situation to the doctor, who was adamant He pleaded, threatened, raved. All to no avail. He complained to his wife. She decided against him. "Lou," she said, patiently, "you must do what the doctor says." . "To heck with the doctor. I am going home." Carnegie But when he made an effort to move, he didn't feel like carrying out his resolve. He looked in the mirror, saw blackened eyes, almost closed; his nose was swollen to the size of a football; his head was covered with gauze and mercurochrome. What a mess! And it all had happened in one unguarded moment! That evening his wife brought him something to read. He didn't feel like reading long, but one thing he read stuck; just a few lines transformed his thinking and aided his recovery: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference." Wonderful lines! Lines that not only calmed his mind for the time being, but lines that have helped him in all the time that has passed since that memorable day. RaSKA fearer TTrrrag&j Ai 'LH. J- o NEB h JAMES C OLSON, Superintendent TATS BIII01IC11 IOC1ITT With the great and prolonged struggle of World War II still fresh in our minds, and with the horrible prospects of an atomic war clouding our thoughts of the future, we are, perhaps, inclined to forget the heonc acomplishments oi tnose who participated in World War I, whose end is commemorated each year at Armistice Day. In addition to providing great quantities of food for the Unit ed States and her allies, Nebras kans participated In- almost ev ery phase of military service during World War I. Nebraska sent a total of 57,526 young men to war and over 1,600 never came back. The 355th Infantry Regiment of the 89th Division was composed largely of young Nebraskans and fought gallant ly in the battles of the Argonne Forest and Muese River, losing about one-third of its members. Nebraska also provided sig nificant leadership for the war effort. General John J. Persh- jury the Navy Department was tive ammunition, making false must seriously consider these days 13 mau cuiii;ci mug iuc point at which the tax load be comes so burdensome, that it is no longer possible to observe democratic philosophies of gov ernment. There is definitely a point of no return, beyond which the sacrifice to be made will be democracy itself. Eneland is one example of a nation which has already reach ed and passed the point of no return. England is no longer a free economy, but is a controlled socialistic economy. It has ceased to be a government of laws and has become a govern ment cf edicts and regulations. What has all this to do witn road finance? Simply this. Roads are a pub lic service, financed from public funds, paid for from taxes and fees that come out of taxpayers' pockets. It is easily enough said that a little increase in gasoline tax- or license fees means only a few more dollars a year to be paid by taxpayers. However, roads are not the only govern ment service demanding more revenue: Other government pro grams are at the same time making their demand for an in creased share of the income of the individual family; and the sum total of these demands can be the "straw that breaks the back" of democracy. The time has come that the taxpayer and voter insist that governments, state, federal and local, consider ways and means of cutting out the non-essentials that are so costly; or find ways and means of cutting down on the costs of essential services. If people want more money for roads and highways and want to keep the democratic system of government . which made America what it is today, they must insist not on increas ing the tax load, but on in creased efficiency In road build ing and on elimination of the free services so that money can be channelled to highway build ing where a definite need for it can be shown. Americans today have two choices. The question is not how much more can be siphoned off the inflation dwindled in come of the American family, but how to find ways and means of controlling inflation and how to. decrease the burden of taxa tion on ths average family so 1 that the demand " fw " g?r?m mcnt services will be relieved. The choice is a free American with a government of law; or an American with a government of men, edicts and regulations. The road problem must oe considered in the light of how it affects and is affected by the over-all demand for government service and the ability of Amer icans to pay for it and still re tain democratic government. In thinking of road and high way needs and problems, we must consider the over-all situ ation of national income and taxes, for to ignore the total picture can lead to national disaster. ing, commander-in-chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, had lived in Lincoln from 1891 95, during which time he had been commandant of cadets at the University of Nebraska Charles G. Dawes, general pur chasing agent for the A. E. F., had begun his distinguished ca reer as a young lawyer in Lin coln. An interesting phase of Ne braska's contribution to the war effort was Base Hospital 49, sta tioned at Allereye, France. This hospital, organized at Omaha by the University of Ne braska College of Medicine, was staffed quite largely by faculty and alumni. Dr. A. C. Stokes was chief of the surgical staff. Base Hospital 49 began work on September 12, 1918, and per formed an average of 20 surgi cal operations a day until Arm istice was signed. Its staff per formed a total of 614 operations, and treated 180 per sons for gas burns. All of the latter recov ered. Indeed, the hospital is reported to have made the best 'record for saving life of all the American hospitals m Europe. As the unit was returning to America, the Omaha Bee re marked editorially, April 21, iyi: . . . mucn oi ims success was due to the willingness with which men of medicine and sur gery responded to the call, giv ing over their private interests, most of them making consider able sacrifice of personal pros pects or income, but all of them devoting themselves with true American zeal to the work set before them in the emergency of war." When You Think of SHOES Think of Hosier's X-RAY FITTING A Classified Ad in The Journal costs as little as 35c. Remember 1 WHEN YOU buy j Automobile Insurance ; ; remember just as in : everything else you I';!; get only the quality of protection and service S that you pay for. S Insufficient insur S ance isn't any better jSthan an umbrella with missing section! I Stephen M. j DAVIS Second Floor Plattsmouth State Bank Bldg. Phone 6111 AND THUS IS OUR NEW SEWAGE DISPOSAU PLANT."