STRIKES IN AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 10

STRIKES IN AMERICA

COMMUNISTS BLAMED ATTEMPT TO PLUNGE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 9.30 a.m.) The Dies Committee to-day declared that the New York City bus strike is the preview of a Communist-inspired attempt to plunge the country into chaos. It alleged that Communists •were firmly entrenched in the leadership of the Transport Workers’ Union. Strikes breaking out in many places are gravely disrupting the defence prooramme, causing the authorities much ■ anxiety. The latest occurred at the Edgewater aluminium plant. Further • trouble threatens in the Bethlehem steel works. AMERICA'S WEALTH GREAT BULK OWNED BY CORPORATIONS ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION URGED WASHINGTON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 9 a.m.) Clarification of Mr O’Mahoney’s statement in reference to lower income was explained by Mr O’Mahoney, who said: “It appears that the great hulk of the wealth and income of the country is owned by corporations, that an overwhelming percentage of - this is owned by a comparatively few corporations, and that the stock ownership of these corporations is nob substantially distributed among the people of the country. Finally, that the dividends paid by these corporations go to a very small proportion of the population.” Mr O’Mahoney stressed the enormous importance of over-concentration of wealth in the hands of a few vast corporations. He said the country had passed completely from individual to corporate economy, characterised by an amazing concentration of corporate ownership of wealth and dividend distribution. Not only did the corporations own the great bulk of industrial and commercial assets and income, hut within the corporate structure itself concentrations were progressing. Commerce Department statistics and testimony proved that only 10 States had assessed valuations greater than the total assets of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Large corporations tended at a rapidly accelerating rate to invest their surpluses in Government funds, thus, slowly as the concentration proceeded, the flow turned away from organised business towards the Government. The inevitable and inescapable result of such process was the final triumph of big government and the destruction of what was called the private enterprise system. “ We need a programme which will set free for productive enterprise the unimagined energies of the most progressive people which ever inhabited this globe,” he said. “ New business and small enterprise are necessary for the purpose of encouraging new employment and wider distribution of wealth.” [Mr O’Mahoney, chairman of the Federal Monopoly Committee, suggested that Congress call a conference of business. Labour, farm, and consumer leaders to draft a national economic constitution that would abolish economic uncertainties “ which seem to threaten even our political system.” * Air O’Mahoney also proposed national charters for national business, steps to increase income for lower-paid workers, reduction in tax rates for new enterprises, and more vigorous enforcement of the anti-trust laws. He said the only remedy to save democratic economy “ is to' be found in making economy democratic. American people must choose between free enterprise and Government planning. If the_ former, it. must he free from both private and pifblic organisations.”] JAMAICA'S CONSTITUTION PROPOSALS FOR REFORM (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Received March 13, at 12.20 p.m.) Replying in the House of Commons to a question relating to the constitution of Jamaica, the Secretary of the Colonies said proposals for reform based on the recommendation of the West India Royal Commission had been discussed with the Governor of Jamaica, who was recently in Britain. As a result the following changes were recommended:—Universal adult suffrage and an enlarged Legislative Council to comprise approximately double the present number of elected members, witli nominated members and three (instead of five) ex officio members. The total number of the council to be not less than 40.

The difficulties in carrying out those changes, the Minister added, were the absence of trustworthy statistics of the population and the standard of local Government, which had resulted in unsatisfactory social services. The Governor, therefore, was being requested to consider the carrying out of a census as early as possible and to reorganise local government. Until that was done and elections held on the new franchise reconstitution of the Legislative Council could not take place. There were, however, changes that could he made forthwith, and proposals to that effect were being placed before tbe council fey discussion. . v