anaheim-gazette 1932-05-12

Senator Shortridge Battles for Tariff On Oil; Rights to Protect State Industry Congressional Record Contains Full Information on California's Champion of Citrus Fruit, Copper and Oil Levies as Means of Protecting Country; Cites Authorities Senator Samuel Shortridge's battle on the senate floor to enact as quickly as possible a tariff to protect the California oil industry became known here this week when copies of the Congressional Record were received. Press dispatches from Washington, D.C., several weeks ago carried incomplete stories of the war on foreign oil being waged by California's able senator, but omitted many details which are of particular interest to residents because oil fields of Orange county are a source of tremendous labor employment and tax revenue. Citing a number of examples where the flexible tariff is of utmost benefit in protecting American business and agriculture, and challenging opponents to submit a bill to raise, or lower a given rate, he stated: "There are two items not on the protected list which I think should be. I refer to oil and copper. I am interested in anticipating how my friends upon the other side, and upon this side will vote when an appropriate bill is submitted to give protection to oil." Urges Oil Tariff "If that be," he said, after making the statement, "it must be made with foreign products: pete with foreign products: it then there is but one possibility for the prosper or for the prosper, and that is by way of an adequate tariff duty." He then said: "Having in mind the standard of living and the condition of other countries, we can not impose in our own market with products coming from cheap-labor countries. We do not covet possessions of any nation. We contemplate no attack upon any nation. We do not meditate disturbing their political conditions. We have more or less accurately termed 'a free trade policy.'" With permission of the vice president, Senator Shortridge next was allowed to have read into the record the decision of the United States supreme court, "concerning," the senator said, "the question here debated, namely, as to whether a so-called or real flexible tariff provision was constitutional. Challenges Opposition Senator Shortridge next declared: "I have just listened to my friend from Iowa (Brookhart), and I wholly dissent from his attitude, for I recall that he did vote against the existing tariff law, which reminds me that it was due to five upstanding Democratic members of this body that the act became a law they performed a patriotic duty, and I have heretofore and elsewhere tried to put a garland on their brows." Continuing, the senator said: "If any rate in the existing law is too high, or if any rate is too low, there is a speedy remedy. Upon request of the president or upon resolution of either or both houses of congress, or upon the motion of either or upon the petition of any interested party, the tariff commission may cause an investigation to be made. They report their findings and conclusions to the president, who under the law, may or may not approve them in whole or in part." After citing several examples where this has applied to California and other states, Senator Washington, economically in good seems to have done in that direction advantage, but before it a definite result, if materially reduced the United States. There is no illumination by both Houses that it was introduced friends, especially flight hard for the Hoover's plan or ment workers or instead of reduction regarded as per the rest of the recommendations in the bill, will be important of the given to the President bureauals and shift department to laws the Comment example, may have employees than work, while the may be working in some of the bureaus and shift department would be seen any department that but not so in government appointed to Department of Commerce department of the Department of Agriculture. "Having in mind the standard of living and the conditions of other countries, we can not impetrify our own market with products arising from cheap-labor countries. I state no nation. America has We do not covet possessions of any nation. We contempt no attack upon any nation. We cannot meditate disturbing their political conditions. We have no hate, no envy, but on the contrary, the most kind feeling towards all nations of the world. How our first duty is to conceive the welfare of the men and the women and the children of America. We of California cannot compete with China, West of Mississippi cannot compete with Egypt in the matter of cotton. Arizona cannot compete with Africa in the matter of copper. Yosemite Louisiana cannot compete, in your own home market, with Venezuela or other countries in the matter of oil. Why? Because of your cost of production. No Hatred Felt "I am opposing this substitute he Harrison measure) because I believe with the supreme court of United States that it is entire competent congress to enact a flexible provision in the tariff act, such as was in the tent of 1922 and is in the act of 1930. "I hope this proposition will be feated here in the senate, quite less of politics." In taking up the cudgel for the flexible tariff, after it had been attacked by several democratic members of the senate, Senator Shortridge stated that he bore no ill will toward any nation, but that he desired an oil tariff because the standard of living was lower in competing nations and consequently wages, the principal factor in production costs, were much lower. He quoted authority to prove the constitutionality of the flexible tariff and reiterated his stand for a protective measure. Senator Shortridge reminded his colleagues in the senate that the second act ever passed by congress was for such protection and was signed by President Washington July 4, 1789, the president having taken that day for signing to impress the nation with the importance of the matter. National Debt Comment Continuing his address, which had the close attention of his colleagues, Senator Shortridge said: "I emphasize that we started with a national debt, and we always have had a national debt although, if I recall, there was. I think, a day or two during one of the administrations of President Jackson when the national debt was said to have been entirely discharged. "To repeat, in the very beginning, it was recognized and has ever since been any rate in the existing law is too high, or if any rate is too low, there is a speedy remedy. Upon request of the president or upon resolution of either or both houses of congress, or upon the motion of either or upon the petition of any interested party, the tariff commission may cause an investigation to be made. They report their findings and conclusions to the president, who under the law, may or may not approve them in whole or in part." After citing several examples where this has applied to California and other states, Senator Shortridge said: "Therefore, I am submitting that if the tariff as it is is defective and senators do not wish to take advantage of the existing flexible provisions in the act, let them introduce a bill to raise or lower a given rate. California Leads In Cooperatives 550 Farmers' Groups In State Contribut/ To Better Market Practices Figures attesting to the growth of farm cooperatives, nationally and in California, were given to the members of Public Welfare League of Alameda County recently during the course of an address on farm cooperation by Dr. H. E. Erdman. Addressing the standard leadership training school of the league, meeting in the First Christian church, Professor Erdman said that during the crop year of 1930-31 national membership in farm cooperatives was in excess of 3,000,000. During the same period, according to Dr. Erdman, California cooperatives had more than $5,000 members, many farmers belonging to two or more cooperatives. Figures Are Given "For the United States, the number of farm cooperative organizations," said Professor Erdman, "representing both selling and buying groups, is reported by the United States department of agriculture to be approximately 11,950. In California, there are more than 550 farmers' cooperative groups. "During the 1930-31 crop year, California's cooperatives did a business totalling more than $250,000,000. For the country as a whole, the figure is represented by $2,400,000,000." Benefits Are Listed According to Professor Erdman, the chief benefits of cooperative marketing are: reflection back to the producer of premium for quality stuff; improvement of rate of flow of farm commodities to markets; and betterment of distribution among various markets; economies from large-scale operations in buying and selling; and elimination of bad market practices. In view of the men, manufacturers against many of tax bills is adopted changed by the Senate begins to look as would be a good deal to everybody who than had been fearful result of the public of the House tax everybody who has been taxed. There "soak the rich" idea session of the House so popular as it was. Whether credits be expanded on them to a point which is world-wide rise in is doubted by the Coinage. Weight which has been consolidation into the relationization of silver, while on all over the world commodities. As a investigation, the corporation a resolution able to call an international commodity prices hence to silver, in which may result in a rest position it occupies systems of the world. Some surprising out in the silver people realize that country has reduced silver in its subsidies; the silver money of Germany, Italy and rest of Europe does anything like its face; the establishment of India on a gold bullion action of the British resulted in cutting National Debt Comment Continuing his address, which had the close attention of his colleagues, Senator Shortridge said: "I emphasize that we started with a national debt, and we always have had a national debt, although, if I recall, there was. I think, a day or two during one of the administrations of President Jackson when the national debt was said to have been entirely discharged. "To repeat, in the very beginning, it was recognized and has ever since been recognized, that a tariff is levied or may be constitutionally and wisely levied in order to raise revenue, in order to pay the national debt, and in order to encourage and protect manufacturers and agriculture and all other industries. I question whether today there is a thoughtful, unprejudiced member of the senate who does not recognize that a tariff is essential for the purpose mentioned in the second act passed by congress, namely, to raise revenue, to discharge the national debt, and to encourage and protect American Industries; and that is indeed, in essence thus briefly stated, the protective tariff doctrine." Protects Cotton Men Senator Shortridge, after reminding the senate that "when the so-called Hawley-Smott tariff bill came over from the house and went to the finance committee, it happened to be I who proposed an amendment placing long-staple cotton on the protected list," had read into record a house concurrent resolution, adopted by the Mississippi legislature "requesting the senators and representatives in congress from Mississippi to favor a tariff on both short and long staple cotton." The speaker then recalled that "in the senate finance committee and here on the floor of the senate and when the bill went into conference there was no more able champion of a tariff duty on long-staple cotton as provided in the amendment proposed by me than the senior senator from Mississippi (Harrison). I trust that Democratic senators here and Democratic members of the other house will not array themselves against a protective tariff in the belief that their party is irrevocably committed to a tariff for revenue only gr that it still adheres to what may be formal's cooperatives did a business totalling more than $250,000,000. For the country as a whole, the figure is represented by $2,400,000,000." Benefits Are Listed According to Professor Erdman, the chief benefits of cooperative marketing are: reflection back to the producer of premium for quality stuff; improvement of rate of flow of farm commodities to markets; and betterment of distribution among various markets; economies from large-scale operations in buying and selling; and elimination of bad market practices. In his address, Dr. Erdman included an analysis of the consumer's dollar for several farm commodities, showing how cooperative marketing through efficient operation, brought back a larger portion of that dollar to the producer. Olympic Games Committee Thanks The All-Year Club A resolution was adopted today by the organizing committee of the Olympic games, expressing appreciation to the All-Year club, Southern California's national tourist advertising organization, for "its invaluable co-operation in providing the greatest national advertising sales program ever accorded an international sports classic." The resolution follows: "WHEREAS, a large number of our public spirited citizens have formed and carried on for 12 consecutive years a non-profit agency to further the well-being of this community, and WHEREAS, this organization, the All-Year Club of Southern California, Ltd., expertly advertised the Olympic games during the first six months of this year in a total of 37 metropolitan newspapers and 20 magazines of international repute with a combined circulation of 104,922,405 now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that we, the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, do unanimously endorse and commend the All-Year Club for its invaluable co-operation in providing the greatest national advertising sales program ever accorded an international sports classic. Signed William May Garland, Chairman." ANAHEIM GAZETTE THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON Washington, D. C.—The move for economy in governmental expenses seems to have become really serious. To be sure, everything that has been done in that direction so far is complicated by efforts to gain political advantage, but Congress at last has before it a definite program prepared by one of its own committees which would result, if put into effect, in very materially reducing the cost of running the United States. There is no likelihood that the committee's economy bill will be adopted by both Houses in the form in which it was introduced. The President's friends, especially in the Senate, will fight hard for the substitution of Mr. Hoover's plan of laying off government workers one month in each year instead of reducing their salaries. It is regarded as probable, however, that the rest of the President's principal recommendations, which are embodied in the bill, will be adopted. The most important of these is the authority given to the President to consolidate bureaus and shift personnel from one department to another. Under existing laws the Commerce Department, for example, may have fifty per cent more employees than are needed to do the work, while the Interior Department may be working a small staff overtime in some of the bureaus. In any kind of a business organization surplus employees in one department would be shifted temporarily to any department that was short-handed, but not so in government work. The clerk appointed to a position with the Department of Commerce, stays with the department of Commerce, and if the Department of Interior is short- Farmer Group In Sound Condition Queries Regarding Automobile Inter Insurance Exchange Answered Farmers' cooperative associations, organized for their own benefit and protection, always have been subject to attacks from private business affected by the association work, and consequently the organization of the Farmers' Automobile Inter-Issurance exchange which is operating in California with headquarters at Los Angeles, is not exception, in the opinion of the California Cultivator, which responded to requests and conducted an investigation of the company. The Cultivator says, in part: "We are glad to state that the second investigation of this company has vindicated our faith in it. We find it to be not only solvent, but with splendid surpluses and reserves, with an excellent record for paying claims and we were impressed with the thrift and integrity of the management. Lower Cost of Insurance This company was brought into existence through the efforts of the farmers of California to relieve themselves of the excessive costs of automobile insurance. The fact is that this company is saving around a million dollars a year to its members, when its costs are compared to the amount they would have to pay at the rates charged by old line companies for the same protection. The above savings more than justifies its existence, and the only reason we are not insured in it is because we live in-the metropolitan area where the company does not write insurance. Insurance Assets In regard to the payment of claims, which is very vital to the policyholder, we found that the company handled about 1,700 claims a month during the year, 1931, with only 1,306 claims open at the end of the year less than one laws the Commerce Department, for example, may have fifty per cent more employees than are needed to do the work, while the Interior Department may be working a small staff overtime in some of the bureaus. In any kind of a business organization surplus employees in one department would be shifted temporarily to any department that was short-handed, but not so in government work. The clerk appointed to a position with the Department of Commerce stays with the department of Commerce, and if the Department of Interior is short-handed they've just got to go out and put some more people on the payroll. It is quite probable that one of the biggest fights on the economy program will occur over the proposal to consolidate the army and navy into the Department of National Defense. This will be opposed by both army and navy men, and the chance of its adoption is regarded as doubtful. In view of the protests by business men, manufacturers and financiers against many of the proposals, in the tax bill is adopted by the House and changed by the Senate Committee, it begins to look as if the new tax law would be a good deal more satisfactory to everybody who has to pay taxes than had been feared. The immediate result of the publication of the terms of the House tax bill was to scare everybody who has a dollar that might be taxed. There are signs that the "soak the rich" idea which took possession of the House for a while is not so popular as it was. Whether credits and currency can be expanded on the present gold basis to a point which will bring about a world-wide rise in commodity prices is doubted by the House Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures which has been conducting an investigation into the relation of the demonetization of silver, which has been going on all over the world, to the price of commodities. As a result of this investigation, the committee has introduced a resolution asking the President to call an international conference on commodity prices with special reference to silver, in the hope that this may result in a restoration of silver to the position it occupied in the many systems of the world before the war. Some surprising facts were brought out in the silver investigation. Few people realize that every European country has reduced the amount of silver in its subsidiary coinage, so that the silver money of England, France, Germany, Italy and practically all the rest of Europe, does not now represent anything like its face value. That and the establishment of the money of India on a gold bullion basis, by the action of the British Government, has resulted in cutting the value of these costs are compared to the amount they would have to pay at the rates charged by old line companies for the same protection. The above savings more than justifies its existence, and the only reason we are not insured in it is because we live in the metropolitan area where the company does not write insurance. Insurance Assets In regard to the payment of claims, which is very vital to the policyholder, we found that the company handled about 1,700 claims a month during the year, 1931, with only 1,396 claims open at the end of the year, less than one month's accumulation. It must be realized that some of these claims, especially where there are personal injuries involved, necessarily take some time to adjust, and the small number of claims open as of December 31, indicates clearly the speed with which these claims are handled. We further found that their average payment on all claims for the last year was $42.87, while the company carrying reserves on all claims outstanding of $165.46 each. This reserve is four times the amount of the average claim for the year; but the reserve is set up in this manner on all claims to cover any possible emergency. "Even though 1931 has been considered a year of poor business, the Farmers Automobile Inter-insurance Exchange increased its assets more than ten per cent, or to a total of $929,976.25, of which approximately two-thirds was invested in the highest type of municipal bonds. It also has a surplus over and above all liabilities of $159,$72.39. Cash on hand was $186.$84.72. These figures should dispel any doubt regarding this company, and fact that the farmers have been able to bring about and maintain an organization with a splendid record for saving and service should give the members and others confidence in its ability to handle its own business successfully using cooperative lines. "When our investigation brought us to the point of inquiring about the personnel of the governing board, we found that we were acquainted with many of them and we believe that nearly everyone will know one or more members of this board. They are men of wide experience in the farm cooperative field, and are known for their leadership in farm movements. Anyone reading the names of the board of governors and their identification will readily understand way this company has succeeded. Bear in mind that this governing board serves without compensation. Their sole remuneration is the knowledge that they are doing a real service to their people." Some surprising facts were brought out in the silver investigation. Few people realize that every European country has reduced the amount of silver in its subsidiary coinage, so that the silver money of England, France, Germany, Italy and practically all the rest of Europe, does not now represent anything like its face value. That and the establishment of the money of India on a gold bullion basis, by the action of the British Government, has resulted in cutting the value of the silver coins of India, China and Mexico, which include about half of the population of the world, squarely in half. That has reduced the power of these countries to buy goods from abroad, the prices of which are measured by the gold yardstick, with the result that either international trade has to come to a standstill, or prices have to be cut to a point below the cost of production. That, at least is the conclusion of the committee which believes that putting silver back into its old place as the basis of currency alongside of gold would raise commodity prices and restore prosperity. At any rate, it is believed that Mr. Hoover will call an international conference on the subject as soon as the House requests him to do so. Talk of the repeal of prohibition gets louder week by week. Efforts to "smoke out" the President and get him to state his position have uniformly failed. It is understood he feels as he has always felt, that as the executive he has no option except to obey the Constitution and the laws, and that it is not his function to dictate to the Republican National Convention what it shall recommend about changing the prohibition laws. Personally a dry, Mr. Hoover as a Republican and candidate for reelection is expected to accept the Convention's pledge of a referendum on repeal, if such a plank is written into the party platform, which now seems more probable than it has previously been. And the belief grows here that both parties will make a promise of a referendum in the hope that it will take the prohibition question completely out of the Presidential campaign. Miss Annie Warburton Goodrich, Dean of the Yale University School of Nursing, honored by the Nurses' Convention for her work. far, from the Senate investigation into short selling on the Stock Exchange. The idea that some organized group of unpatriotic capitalists were trying to ruin the nation by concerted effort to depress prices, which was at the bottom of this investigation, seems to have been pretty well exploded. "Mortals, Immortals" Lesson-Sermon Topic "Mortals and Immortals" is the subject of the Lesson-Sermon on Sunday in all branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. Among the Scriptural selections are the verses from James: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures... Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." Another Bible selection includes Jeremiah's words: "Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed. O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid." A passage from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, states: "The days of our pilgrimage will multiply instead of diminish, when God's kingdom come on earth; for the true way leads to Life instead of to death, and earthly experience discloses the finity of error and the infinite capacities of Truth, in which God gives man dominion over all the earth." Leaders in both Houses of Congress think that they are going to get the business of the session finished in time to adjourn before June 10th, so that they will not have to come back for summer session after the political conventions. DON'T PASS THIS UP!! DON'T PASS THIS UP!! Experience is authority for this statement: "You can shop through the columns of the Gazette more adventageously than in any other way." It isn't always the mere matter of price that counts most — service and quality are very important factors. Remember that the merchant advertising his wares in the Gazette is giving you his word — and his word is his bond — that he'll back up with service and guarantee of quality the merchandise he handles. ANAHEIM GAZETTE