Medford mail tribune., September 06, 1945, Page 1, Image 1

a
Reconversion Program
y Presented By Truman;
Prompt Action Urged
Washington, Sept. 6 U.PJ President Truman told eongresi
Jn a message today that prompt and courageous handling of recon
version Is essential to launch the United States upon "the greatest
peace-time industrial activity we have ever seen."
His message gave congress the administration's emergency
nd long-range programs, including "limited" business tax relief
in 1946. It was an urgent invitation to legislators to join Mr.
Truman In "determined action now."
The extraordinary, 16.000 word document arrived on Capitol
Hill with supplementary reports. The president did not deliver
it In person.
NEXT FEW MONTHS CRUCIAL PERIOD
"The next few months are crucial," the message said. "What
' Pne do now will affect our life for decades to come."
Mr. Truman acknowledged that there will be "a great deal
of inevitable unemployment." But he said there was "no reason
to fear either the immediate future or the years that lie ahead."
With the promise of almost immediate but limited and un
specified tax relief and more to come later at least for business
the message warned that price lines must be held on reconversion
and cost of living items. The president asked for extension of the
second war powers act expiring Dec. 31, 1945 under which he
exercises production and inventory controls as well as the right
to order allocations of food, set-asides of commodities and ration
ing among consumers.
He urged congress to avoid any arbitrary and wholesale
abridgement of the numerous war powers voted to the late Frank
lin Delano Roosevelt. If some powers should be eliminated, the
president said, let it be on a selective basis. Otherwise there
would be a sweeping and crippling abolition of powers variously
authorized for "in time of war," "during the present war," "for
the duration," or until the "cessation of hostilities."
TIME NOT ARRIVED FOR WAR END WORD
The time has not arrived, he said, for proclamation of "ter
mination of the war."
Mr. Truman indicated that mass production industries must
expect at first to produce at a loss until they actually are in mass
production again. Promising firm enforcement of price control
powers, Mr. Truman said the Office of Price Administration would
have his complete support in the hold-the-line program.
Mr. Truman proposed limited tax relief effective next year by
means of a transitional revenue bill designed to speed reconversion
and expansion of the peace-time economy. He proposed careful
modernization of the entire federal tax structure to encourage
business and aid consumer purchasing power. The latter was a
hint of some individual tax relief in the future.
The president recommended a "substantial" immediate in
crease in the fair labor standards act minimum wage from its pre
aent 40-cents-an-hour level and that workers processing agricul
tural products be made eligible. He said the 40-cent scale had
become "obsolete."
WOULD INCREASE CONGRESSMEN'S SALARIES
For congressmen he urged a whopping salary increase from
$10,000 to $20,000 a year, and suggested a retirement plan for
long congressional service. He recommended, however, repeal of
the $2,500 expense account which the house voted itself this year.
These recommendations were accompanied by a plea that con
gress soon provide "decent wage scales," not only for its own
members, but for persons in the executive and judicial branches
of government.'
This was a friendly message opening with a homey word of
regret that congressional vacations had been interrupted. Repeat
edly the president acknowledged congress' freedom of Judgment
y' and equal responsibility in many of the decisions to be reacned.
But it was a broad and insistent statement of Truman administra
tion policy in which the newcomer to the White House did not
back up from any earlier commitments.
He bluntly demanded an emergency reconversion period ex
pansion of unemployment insurance protection which he said now
was on too low a standard covering too few persons for too short
a time. Specifically he asked that coverage be extended to federal
employees, maritime workers and "others not now insured" on a
maximum basis up to $25 for a 26-week period in any one year.
BROADER SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM
The foregoing is a temporary, emergency proposal. Mr. Tru
man emphasized that it was not to be confused with "the broader
question of extending, expanding and improving our entire social
security program of which unemployment Insurance is only a
part."
He promised a later message with particular recommenda
tions for legislation to meet the broader question. Still other mes
sages will propose improvement of the national educational pro
gram and recommend "a national health program" providing 'all
Americans" with adequate medical care. The health message also
will propose measures to "protect them from financial loss and
hardships resulting from illness and accident."
Renewing his urgent request for a "full employment" bill, Mr.
Truman said he wanted early action on "a declaration of the ultl
Kmate duty of the government to use its own resources if all other
methods should fail to prevent prolonged employment."
But he leaned heavily on private enterprise and investment to
keep the pump primed, especially on a housing program of "rea
listic size" toward which he will seek comprehensive legislation.
HOUSING EXPANSION HELD VITAL NEED
"The largest single opportunity for the rapid post-war ex
pansion of private investment and employment," Mr, Truman
said, "lies in the field of housing, both urban and rural. The pre
sent shortage of .decent homes and the enforced widespread use of
sub-standard housing indicate vital unfilled needs of the nation."
A "vast backlog of orders" for all kinds of goods, and joint
federal and private financing of a multi-billion-dollar housing-slum j
clearance program, w re basic in Mr. Truman's confidence that I
we need not fear the future. He proposed that federal and local
governments join their funds in remaking the blighted slum areas, i
but that the "maximum use" be made of private Capital.
He said that the fundamental principle of new housing legis- I
lation should be that "house construction and financing for the
overwhelming majority of our citizens should be done by private
enterprise."
The president foresaw construction of 10.000.000 to 15.000.000
new homes in the next 10 years representing a private investment
of $60,000,000,000 to $70,000,000,000 and employment of millions
of workers. They would be not only construction workers who
build and fit homes but the additional millions who make the fur
niture and equipment which homes must have. j
A To speed the housing boom, the president pledged government
facilities to maintain moderate financing terms for persons of low
income. He proposed federal stimulation of research for better
and cheaper housing materials and methods.
DRAFT CONTINUATION FOR YOUNG URGED
Mr. Truman stood pat for continued induction of young men
Into the armed services to relieve veterans who have done tneir
part. But he asked congress to provide suitable inducements to
volunteer enlistments.
Until volunteer enlistments meet armed service needs Mr.
Truman proposed continued inductions of men between the ages
of 18 and 25, inclusive. Their term of service would be limited
to two years. lie pledged that congress do not arbitrarily tcrmin- 1
ale the selective service act. That would compel discharge of all
inductees within six months, which the president said wou'd
' create an impossible demobilization situation."
The 79th congress reconvened yesterday after a vacation in
terrupted by the emergencies of unexpected peace. The senate
adjourned after 17 minutes in respect to the memory of the l."te
Hiram W. Johnson, veteran California republican senator who
died during the recess. The house sat for a couple of hours dur- j
ing which bills showered into its hopper.
Chairman Daniel A. Reed. R., N. Y.. of the house republican
tax study committee warned of "major disaster" unless there s a
tr substantial tax reduction He said the Truman administration
evidently intended to continue tin "unrestrained New Deal spend
ing program."
Fortieth Year
JAPAN SUFFERED
TERRIFIC LOSSES
STATISTICS SHOW
5,639,350 Casualties Re
orted to Diet 2,000
Ships Sunk
San Francisco, Sept. 6 (U.P.)
Japan reported today that
she suffered 5.639,350 casualties
during the Pacific war. includ
ing 554.350 civilians killed or
wounded in air raids.
The Japanese army listed
4.470.000 of its 4.926,000 casual-1
ties simply as "sick."
The terrific toll was disclosed'
in statistics submitted to the
closing session of the emperial
diet today. Radio Tokyo said. j
2000 Ships Sunk j
Tokyo said other official
statistics showed that the allies
sank 2,000 Japanese ships total
ing 7.800,000 tons and by blo-k-:
ade had completely cut off im-'
ports of rice Japan's main
staple food by 1944. I
The enemy broadcast divided
the war casualties as follows:
Army 310,000 killed, 146,
000 wounded. 4.470,000 sick in-j
eluding 40.000 who subsequent-;
ly died. Total: 4,926.000.
Navv 157,365 killed. 1.430
! died from sickness, 1,483 miss-j
ing. Total: 160.278.
Civilians 211,309 killed,!
313,041 wounded. Total: 534,
350. About 65 per cent of the army
dead 200,000 men "preferred
death to dishonor", a Japanese
spokesman said. He presumably
referred to Japanese who killed
themselves rather . than sur
render. 2,065 Suicides
The navy dead included ,065
members of suicide corps, he
said. Neither army nor navy
casualties were complete, the
spokesman added.
Tokyo said the latest air raid
casualty list represented an in
crease of 130.000 dead and
wounded over figures announc
ed Aug. 23. An additional 8 045.
094 persons wre rendered
homeless, the broadcast said.
Tokyo suffered worst with
88.250" dead. 61.306 wounded.
851.166 houses destroyed and
2,578,150 homeless.
Airline "Bumping"
Virtually Erased
Washington, Sept. 6 (U.R)
The 'Air Transport Association
said today that being "bumped"
from an airline seat is virtually
a thing of the past.
The statement followed an
nouncement by the War Depart
ment that air priorities on domes
tic commercial airlines will be
abolished Oct. 15. By Sept. 15.
the War Department said, vol
ume of priorities will be cut
from the present 100,000 a month
to 15 000 or less.
BOY WONDER SCORES
Pebble Beach, Cal., Sept 6
(UK H. MacGregor Hunter 16-year-old
Los Angeles amateur
junior golfing wonder, scored
the first major upset of the Cali
fornia amateur golf tournament
here today when he eliminated
Medalist Johnny Dawson, Los
Angeles. 2 and 1, in the first
round of match play.
Peace Envoy Kurusu Hurt
By Charges of Treachery
San Francisco, Sept. 6 (U.R)
Saburo Kurusu, one of Japan's
"peace envoys" to the United
States in 1941. had no advance
knowledge of the Pearl Harbor
attack hut admitted knowing of,
a "Pearl Harbor plan" for some
time before he came to this;
country, an American broadcast
ing correspondent reported to-,
day. I
Correspondent Frederick.
OppcT in a broadcast from
Tokyo said Kurusu had told him,
he was "deeply hurt" at Ameri-
tSn charges of treachery in the:
negotiations. This, Opper said !
was because "he was as ignorant;
himself of Tokyi's intention.- as
the Anierican people were."
"J dud iiut AJiow anything1
Unlttd Press Full Leased Wire sJr -.;
m
,ALL
Ameilcan
Chicago 5 8 1
Philadelphia 6 10 1
Lee and Tresh: Knerr, Berry
(9) and Astroth, Rosar (9).
Detroit 5 10 1
New York 14 13 2
Tobin. Pierce (4) Caster (4) and
Swift; Ruffing. Wilson 14) Du
biel (5) and Robinson.
Cleveland 3 10 2
Boston 9 15 0
Klieman, Center (4) Salvcson
(6) and Hayes, DeSautels (6);
Woods and Holm.
National
New York 1 7 2
Chicago 6 12 0
Voisclle and Lombard!; Bor
owy and Livingston.
TO GET DISCHARGE
BY FIRST OF JULY
Washington. Sept. 6 (U.R)
The army will release approxi
mately 600.000 of its 800,000 of
ficers by next July 1 under a
new point system for commis
sioned personnel, the War de
partment announced today.
Points will be allowed for
length of service, overseas duty,
combat awards and parenthood,
the same as for enlisted men,
and will be computed as of Sept.
2, 1945, V-J day.
Effective immediately, the
War department said, critical
scores will be: Colonels, lieuten
ant colonels and majors, 100;
captains, 1st and 2nd lieutenants,
85; warrant and flight officers,
80; nurses, 65; WAC officers of
all grades, 44; physical therapists
and dieticians, 41.
FULL COLONELCY
FOR FRED GREEN
News of the promotion of Fred
W. Green to the rank of full
colonel in the army on August
24 has been received here by his
wife and family, 1716 East Main
street. Col. Green is currently
stationed in Manila with army
headquarters.
The officer, who was with the
CCC for a number of years, was
called to active duty with the
regular army in 1940 and was
sent overseas early in 1942. He
has served a total of 38 months
in the Pacific area. In January
Col. Green returned to this coun
try for duty at the command and
general staff school at Ft. Lea
venworth, Kan., from which he
was graduated. Following a 30
day leave in Medford he return
ed to the Philippine islands In
May.
Col. Green holds the bronze
star for action on New Guinea
and the purple heart for wounds
received during the Lcyte cam
paign. ASTORIA POLICEWOMAN
HANDS IN HER BADGE
Astoria. Ore., Jcpt. 6 (U.R)
The Pacific coast's first police
patrolwoman, Mrs. Ella M. Rob
erts, has handed in her badge.
Mrs. Roberts Joined the As
toria force three years ago but
now she wants to retire from
pounding a boat so that her posi
tion can be filled by a returning
serviceman.
about the attack on Pearl Har
bor before I left Tokyo, and as
a matter of fact I found Prime
Minister (Hidcki) Tojo more
optimistic about the chances of
pc.-,ce than I was," Kurusu was
quoted.
"I told him I thought things
were very precarious in the Pa-'.
cific. and when I met President
Roosevelt a little later I told
him the same thing.
"We learned about the open-i
ing of hostilities when we got.
back from the state department;
building that morning and turn-'
ed on the radio.
"What hurts me is to be cill-1
ed treacherous and double i
crossing by America I have'
worked hard Xur peace." j
MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
DISASTER VOTED
Senate Backs Truman-Endorsed
Resolution Intro
duced By Sen. Barkley
Washington, Sept. 6 (U.R)
The senate today voted for a
special administration - endorsed
congressional investigation of the
Pearl Harbor disaster. Prompt
approval by the house was prom
ised by administration lenders.
The senate, under suspension
of rules, unanimously adopted a
resolution introduced by senate
Democratic Leader Alben W.
Barkley with the knowledge and
approval of President Truman.
Barkley said House Speaker
Sam Rayburn, D., Tex., promised
him that the resolution would
get "prompt consideration" in
the house.
Truman For Probe
Barkley and Rayburn dis
cussed the need for such an In
vestigation with the president at
the White House yesterday.
Barkley said the president not
only approved his resolution
"but urged that 1 not be dis
suaded by any reason."
Barkley's resolution calls for
a 10-membcr committee of five
senators and five congressmen to
make a complete and impartial
investigation of the Pearl Harbor
disaster and report to congress
by Jan. 3, 1946.
85,000lDLTAS
f
DISPUTE RESULT
(By United Press)
Labor - management disputes,
most of them the result of war-
end layoffs and cutbacks, kept
: more than 85.000 workers away
from their jobs today.
I Detroit, erstwhile "arsenal of
democracy" now undergoing con
version from war to peace pro
duction, counted a total of 34,500
idle. Approximately 22.000
workers were laid off by the
Ford Motor Co. alone because
of a strike of 4.500 wdtlters at
the Kclscy-Hayes Wheel Co.
Company officials said a lack
of wheels from Kelsey-Ilayes, a
Ford supplier, had forced the
j shutdown of Ford plants through-
out the country and idled an ad
ditional 1,500 workers in Louis-
vlllc, Ky., Edgcwatcr, N. J. and
I Dallas, Tex. The showing of
! 1946 model Fords was delayed
indefinitely.
j Auto production also was at
a standstill at the Hudson Motor
i Car Co., Vhere 6,000 were af
! fected by a strike of foremen
protesting alleged wage cuts.
Scattered strikes in other De
troit area plants kept 2,000 idle.
EXCESlESPEED
EOF
Arcadia, Calif., Sept. 6 'U.R)
Kxcessive speed on a soft road
bed under repair was blamed to
day by Santa Ke railroad of
ficials for the wreck of the sec
ond section of the California
Limited, leaving six dead and
125 Injured.
The crowded Chicago-bound
train went off the track and
piled up near Santa Anita race
track Tuesday night when It hit
a switch which led to a siding
being used because the main
line was under repair. j
SCHMEUNGARRESTED
UNDER MILITARY LAW,
British Army Headquarters.:
Germany, Sept. 6 (U.R) Max
Schmcling. former weld's
heavyweight champion boxer
has been arrested in Hamburg
and charged with breach 'if mil
itary government laws, it was
announced last night.
No details were available
iuuutilialely
u vj
Welcome For General
! S..5 !
Gen. Albert N. Jones, back horn In San Francisco, altar threa
yean imprisonment in Japanese POW camp In Manchuria, ll
greeted at Hamilton Field by over-joyed wife, Mrs, Jonet (back
ground) and two grandsons, who
hit grandfather's souvenir Jap sword. Gen, Jones was with Head
quarters. Philippine department, Manila, at time of final sur-
render of troops in 1942,
Allied Officers Stripped and Beaten
By Japanese In Formosa Prison Camp
San Francisco, Sept. 6 (U.R)
High ranking allied officers, In
cluding Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wain
wright were slapped, beaten and
forced to strip publicly at a Jap
anese prisoner of war camp on
Formosa, a fellow prisoner, just
returned to the United States,
said today.
Maj. Gen. Albert M. Jones,
commander of the 31st division,
who was confined at three war
prisoner camps with Walnwright,
said he and other officers, in
cluding Lt. Gen. A. E. Percival,
British commander at Singapore,
had been "stripped in parade and
slapped in public."
Prayers Forced
"We were forced to pray three
times a day to the emperor and
bow to Jap privates and civil
ians," Jones said,
"I sow Skinny Wainwright
beaten by a Japanese sentry. He
hit him repeatedly with the flat
of his hand and knocked him
back on his heels."
The incident occurred, Jones
said, at a special camp for high
ranking officers at Karenko
5
KILLED BY JAPS
Washington, Sept. 6 (U.R)
The navy revealed today that
Japanese forces executed five
navy airmen shot down over
Borneo last Jan. 13.
Names of the executed navy
fliers were not revealed, and the
navy gave no further details of
the executions.
The executions were revealed
in a navy announcement telling
the story of three members of
the crew of a Liberator bomber
shot down in a dogfight with
four Japanese fighter planes.
Four members of the crew of
10 survived. Three have just re
turned to an advance base in the
Philippines after 171) days of
wandering through the Borneo
jungles, the navy said. The
fourth made his way to safety
separately.
REAL ESTATE EXAMS TO
BE HELD HERE MONDAY
Examiners for real estate
agents and brokers will be held
at Medford armory at 8:30 a. m.
Monday, Carl Tcngwald, mem
ber of the board of real estate
examiners for Oregon, said today.
Tribune
UnMcd Press full
6, 1945
hug him tightly, one holding
where he and Walnwright were
confined for 10 months In the
summer of 1942 to June, 1043.
Freed By Rede
Jones said he and his group
were freed at 7:23 a. m., Aug.
17, by Russian troops.
"They got themselves an In
terpreter. He bowed to us and
said: "Gentlemen, you arc free."
The Russians, he .said, put the
prisoners in charge of the camp.
They promptly put their captors
In the guard house "but we tried
to treat them a little more de
cently than they had treated us."
"We just put them to work,"
Jones said.
Oslo, Sept. 6 (U.R) Vidkun
Quisling delivered his own de
fense summation today and de
nied angrily that he had been
guilty of treason, murder or theft
in his five-year reign as nazi
puppet ruler of Norway.
Alternately whinning for mer
cy and bellowing definace at the
prosecution, Quisling swore he
had acted only to prevent the
communization of Norway.
"There is no riddle of Quis
ling, but the riddle is the Nor
wegian people," he shouted.
"That I who for 40 years have
done so much for my country
should be a traitor that is the
riddle."
Quisling denounced Soviet
Russia, accusing Moscow of plot
ting with Norwegian leaders to
communize Norway.
He also took a back handed
slap dt the Norwegian Jews,
many of whom he Is accused of
sending into nazi death camps
in Poland.
SURPLUS ARMY GOODS
FOR CIVILIANS SOON
Washington, Sept. 6 (U.R)
Surplus army goods, including
towels, .sheets, mattresses, flash
lights and photographic film,
will be in retail stores by late
October.
The surplus property office of
the department of commerce
said today about $300,000,000
worth of consumer goods and
construction equipment will go
on sale to wholesalers and Job
bers about Sept. 15. Withii. 90
davs the amount will increase
to S600.000.CU0.
Leased Wlr
NO. 142.
TO
Penalties Up To Death Fixed
By 8th Army Occuation
Authorities Near Tokyo
General MacArthur's Head
quarters, Yokohama, Sept. 6 .
(U.PJ Occupation authorities to
day clamped a dusk-to-dawn,
curfew and other restrictive
measures with penalties ranging
up to death on the Tachikawa
area, eight miles west of Tokyo.
The restrictive orders, reveal
ed in a Tokyo radio broadcast,
may set a pattern to be followed
at least in part in the occupation
of Tokyo itself, scheduled to be
gin at mid-morning Saturday
(Friday night, EWT).
Japanese sources estimated
that 8.000 officers and men of
the first cavalry division will
enter Tokyo Saturday.
No Reaion Given
No specific reasons were glv
en In the Tokyo broadcast for
the Imposition of the curfew and
other prohibitions at Tachika
wa, where eighth army unit
have taken over a big army air
bass.
The broadcast merely said
that the American commander
at Tachikawa had issued the fol
lowing instructions to Japanese
police in the area:
1. All civilians are prohibit,
ed from leaving their homes
from sundown to dawn,
2. All members of the police
force must wear their regular
uniforms and must carry lan
terns at night.
3. Sale or other distribution
of alcoholic beverages within
the district Is forbidden until
further notice.
4. Acquisition or use of
American - manufactured cloth
ing, foodstuffs, tobacco, house
hold furnishings, automobiles,
etc.. Is prohibited with the ex
ception of such Items in the
possession of the owners before
the entry of American occupa
tion troops.
5. Those found purchasing
or exchanging goods with Amer
ican soldiers will be sentenced
to death or subjected to 20
years' Imprisonment.
Respect Demanded
6. All civilians must respect
the Americans.
7. Japanese riding any kind
of vehicle must not overtake an
automobile carrying Americans.
Violators arc liable to be shot
at.
Fleet dispatches said papers
formally transferring northern
Honshu and the adjoining home
Island of Hokkaido to American
control would be signed aboard
Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletch
er's flagship Panamint on Sun
day. Civil police below the rank of
sergeant will not be permitted
to carry arms, only swords.
Brig. Gen. William T. Clem
ent, commander of marine forc
es In the Yokosuka area, said
American troops were treating
the Japanese too kindly.
"If we are as kind as AmeVl
cans usually are," he said, "the
Japs will lose a good deal of re
spect for us. You've got to be
firm and tough with them."
He said Americans still were
passing out cigarettes and candy
even though it was prohibited.
E
Pressure testing of D'Anjous
pears for picking, expected to
start next week in some orch
ards, is underway at the county
agent's office. Harvesting of the
record-breaking Bartlett crop
will start in many orchards next
week. The packing plants expect
to complete the major portion of
the crop this week-end. Howells,
a small crop, are now being pick
ed. Picking of the peach crop if
now at its peak with the J. H.
Hale and Elbcrta the main varie
ties The Hales are In brisk de
mand by housewives for cannirjfc
Are
f