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Show CAPITAL V GLEANINGSjlk BY l4tenryDworshakf?iM J J YOUR CONGRESSMAN yMMIII The approval by the senate Sep-ti..nbL-r 11 of the hill already passed pass-ed by the house to increase the loan authority of the export-import bank by $5uii,(J00,o00, projects the farm problem as a live issue. This sum will be allocated to provide pro-vide orderly marketing of commodities com-modities of nations of the Western hemisphere, and loans will be made to governments, banks and individuals. indi-viduals. Opponents of this measure meas-ure are fearful that funds will be used to purchase products in competition com-petition with those of our own country, of which there are large surpluses. During the first six months of 1940, total agicultural imports amounted to $G41,25S,000 while exports ex-ports of similar products were $:!52,GG4,000, showing an excess of imports totaling $2S8,594,000. A report from the U. S. department of commerce shows imports of many commodities produced abundantly abun-dantly in this country, including the following of interest to Idaho, using the first six months of each of the last three years: There were 7,255,629 bushels of oats imported in 1940, compared with 1,006.696 bushels in 1939, and 4,995 in 1938, Potato shipments into the country in 1940 half-year totaled 63,073,000 pounds, with 44.4S2.000 pounds in 1939, and 29,-437,000 29,-437,000 in 1938. In 1940, casein imports amounted to 11,817,000 pounds with 299,000 in 1939, and 15S,0U in 193S. Unmanufactured Un-manufactured wool reached ISO,-291.000 ISO,-291.000 pounds in 1940, compared with 116,806,000 in 1939, and 25, 418,000 in 193S, an increase of about 70O per cent. In 1940 73,-303,000 73,-303,000 pounds of cattle hides were imported, against IS, 033, 000 pounds in 1938, or foujr times as much. With farm prices at low levels, competition from foreign 'countries is serious, and the proposed assistance assist-ance for South American nations will not improve the situation for our own producers. The United States government has turned over to Great Britain and France, since the beginning of the war, 2,200 military airplanes, COO French "seventy-fives,", 70,000 .30caliber machine guns, 500,000 enield rifles and U'.O.OOO.OOO rounds of rifle ammunftion, it was disclosed disclos-ed September 9 by Congressman Van Zandt of Pennsylvania. All of the equipment belonged to the army and navy, and was classed as "surplus" war material. The transfers were effected by the army and navy selling back the supplies and equipment to the manufacturers, manufactur-ers, for resale to the allies. Transfer Trans-fer of these munitions is said to be the reason for the recent resignation resig-nation of Secretary of War Harry Wooding, who was opposed to stipping this country of defense items and leaving it unprepared in the face of crucial world conditions. condi-tions. Registration of 16,C'00,000 Americans Ameri-cans 21 to 35 years of age, as a reservoir from which the military sevices will select men for a year of training and service anywhere in the Western hemisphere or in United States possessions, is provided pro-vided in the Burke-Wadwqrth bill, the conference report of which was adopted by both houses Sep. tember 14. The senate, the night before, recommitted the report after aft-er the conferees had ignored the senate and house contained the Smith amendment which provides that, after -refusal of a defense order, or-der, the government could take over and operate plants on a rental ren-tal basis. The Fish amendment far 60 day volunteer recruiting was also eliminated. A 'two-ocean navy Is the ultimate objective of orders placed September Sep-tember 9 by the navy department amounting to $3, 861, 000,000 for seven sev-en super-battleships and 194 other warships. The latter figure includes in-cludes eight aircraft carriers, 27 cruisers, 115 destroyers, 43 sub-maines sub-maines and a repair vessel. When completed in 1945, these craft will give the nation a total fleet of 689 , war vessels, not counting several hundred tenders, supply ships, patrol pa-trol craft and other auxiliaries. The navy now has 15 battleships, with 17 building; six aircraft car. riers, with 12 building; 37 cruisers with 48 building; 197 destroyers' with 171 building; 103 submarines with 82 building. The recent contracts were placed on a "negotiated" basis, instead of competitive bidding, and profits will be limited to 7 and 8 per cent JPjie $5,251,000,000 appropriation bill signed September 9 by the president authojrizes purchase of |