OCR Text |
Show mm - drftiffimfi. ill Released by Western Newspaper Union. WHAT U. S. FIGHTERS WILL FIND ON RETURN WHEN THE LAST of the nation's enemies have been defeated, and the American soldiers and sailors return home they will find that, during their absence on the battle fronts, a great change has occurred on the home front. Their government, for which they have been fighting, has grown into a great juggernaut, a thing of many strange parts. A machine, the operation of which calls for an army of more people than all we had sent to Europe to defeat the hordes of Germany. They will find departments, bureaus, bu-reaus, administrations that were undreamed un-dreamed of when they went forth to battle for freedom. They will find themselves subject to the edicts and rulings of those holding jobs they did not know existed. For them it will be a strange America. To maintain that juggernaut, with its army of operatives, they will find each of those who had done the fighting fight-ing must pay, on an average, each year, close to $200 as their part of the annual cost of government. That, during their absence a national indebtedness in-debtedness had grown to an amount of, on an average, more than $2,000 for each one of them, and of which each must pay his part, directly or indirectly, and the per capita part for any family they may have. Should they marry and establish a new home it will have hanging over it an unseen mortgage of some $4,000. That mortgage will increase as the children arrive at a rate of $2,000 for each child. Such are some of the conditions free America will offer its returning battle worn heroes. Will they consider con-sider the muster out pay congress has awarded as full compensation? Out of that muster out pay they must buy an outfit of civvies, they must pay the membership dues in a union. If they marry, as many-will, many-will, they must provide furnishings for a home. It does not seem that we are being overly magnanimous. AMERICA'S FUTURE IN PACIFIC AREA IF AIR LINE OFFICIALS are good guessers America is to play a big part in the rapid development develop-ment of the Pacific following the 1 defeat of Japan. Pan-American was the lone occupant of the airways air-ways of the Pacific before the war. From two to four planes in each direction each week . crossed the 6,009 miles of water between San Francisco and Manila. Ma-nila. Now six air line companies are asking for the right to operate over the Pacific. Of the six, in- ' eluding Pan-American, five ask for j either a direct or a mail subsidy. The sixth, the Matson Navigation . company, asks for a charter to i operate planes between Seattle, ' Portland, San Francisco, Los An- 1 geles and Honolulu, without a ; subsidy, but gives a guarantee to maintain a service of two ; planes, one day and one night, from each point every 24 hours. It seems only yesterday when ' crossing either ocean by plane was considered a job for only a : daredevil adventurer. INCREASED TAXES AND POSTWAR PRICES CAN DETROIT PAY WARTIME WAGES when vproducing automobiles automo-biles for us instead of tanks and planes for the government, and sell the cars to us at prewar prices? That is a problem to be faced by all industry. If peace time products, are to cost more money there willi be an immediate demand for more wages. Increased prices, followed by increased wages represent the ingredients in-gredients from which inflation is brewed. It would seem the solution, if any, is more efficient production methods in all industry if wages are to remain at wartime heights, and prices are to be those of prewar peace times. INTRICATE RAMIFICATIONS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A THING AMERICA NEEDS is an understanding on the part of the people of the details of operation of our federal government. The government gov-ernment has become so complex, with so many intricate ramifications, ramifica-tions, that but a limited few, if any, y understand all of it. What is the purpose of each of Its many departments, depart-ments, bureaus and administrations, administra-tions, and what each means to the individual, should be so presented as to be easily understood by all. Such a program would result in strengthening those departments and bureaus that are essential, and in eliminating those that serve no ' generally useful purpose. THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE to vote and do not do so are not good citizens. A SMALL PERCENTAGE of the people of a metropolitan city may be snobs, but snobbishness has no place in a rural community. THERE IS NO PATRIOTIC sacrifice sacri-fice involved in selling one war bond, and with the money received buying another. The patriotism is In keeping the ones you have and buy- Ino mnre. |