NEW U.S. SECRETARY

Grey River Argus, 2 July 1945, Page 4

NEW U.S. SECRETARY

JUDGE JAS J. BYRNES

Post-war Prosperity Policy

(Rec. 9.50). WASHINGTON, June 30. In Kansas City, the Presidential Secretary, Mr Ross, has announced that the nomination of Judge James F. Byrnes as United States Secretary, of State, succeeding Mr Stettinius, would be sent to the Senate on Monday. Immediate confirmation of his appointment is expected. Judge Byrnes is a former Justice of the United States Supreme Court, to which eminence he was-appointed by President Roosevelt in > Previously he had served in the Senate as a Democratic representative for South Carolina, his native State. Fifteen rnonths after his appointment to the Supreme Court, President’ Roosevelt made him Director of Economic Stabilisation, and in 1943 he was appointed Director of the Office of War Mobilisation. His resignation from this position was announced on April 2 of this year. He is 66 years of age. Four new members of Cabinet were sworn in on Saturday. They are: Lewis B. JSchwellenbach, Secretary for Labour; Mr Robert E. Hannigan, Postmaster-General; Mr Tom Clark, Attorney-General; Mr Clinton F. Anderson, Secretary for Agriculture. _ The Director of War Mobilisation and .Reconversion, Mr F’red Vinsen, in his quarterly report to Congress, said the Government must have plans to meet the possibility of Japan’s early defeat. Mr Vinsen outlined a post-war economic charter; which includes modernised tax laws, high wages, and a public works programme, all working towards a high level economy, so that Americti can know in peace time the twin blessings of abundant production and full employment. Mr Vinsen said: The American people are in the pleasant predicament of having to leaam to live fifty per cent, better than they have ever lived before. Only the defeatist can scoff at this inescapable fact that he must build our economy on that basis.” Mr Vinsen expressed the opinion that income tax. must be the chief revenue source, and that they should eliminate, as far as possible, the sales tax and excise taxes, .because they were a burden on low incomes, and restricted markets for business. Mr Vinsen urged that the excess profits tax should be eliminated after V-l Day.