PAGE SIX UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS JANUARY 14, 1947 Kansan Comments Subsistence One of the veterans' organizations on the Kansas State campus has rounded up members' expense accounts and is submitting them, together with recommendations for pay increases for both married and unmarried veterans, to the new congress. Their figures show that K-State veterans are spending from $25 to $130 a month more than the subsistence allowance now paid by the Veterans' administration. They say that most veterans are making up the difference by drawing on their savings, by having their wives work, or by working themselves. Congress may raise the ante if veterans put on enough pressure and if there is no counter-pressure exerted against any such raise. Before supporting any drive to get increased subsistence allowances from the government, veterans should think the matter over carefully. From the first, the educational set-up of the GI bill included a subsistence allowance which was to aid, not support, the veteran. We had the good fortune to talk to one of the American Legion men who had helped draw up the GI bill which was passed during the war years. He emphatically stated that there never was any intention to do more than aid the veteran—that the veteran would have to spend more than he received from the government. The closer the allowance comes to being a "living wage," the more veterans will be drawn to the colleges, whether they want an education or not. The temptation to get in on an easy thing always is great. Educational requirements would have to be set higher to wash out the loafers. Any extra money the veterans in college get now will have to be paid back at some later date. And it won't be just the benefiting veterans and the "war-worthy civilians" who pay that bill. Fellow veterans who didn't take advantage of the educational opportunities will have to pay just as much as those who benefit. One of the proud boasts of many Americans is that they worked their way through four years of college. Of course, expenses weren't as high then as they are now, but neither were wages. Veteran can say "We worked for this, now let them put us through," or they can say "Education is worth working for." Which do you choose? On some people you have to use a cudgel. H. R. Knickerbocker was arguing with a rabid Russophile and at the close of the argument, remarked, "Sure is nice we live in a country where we can talk things over in the open." "Sure is," the self-styled communist agreed innocently as he walked happily away. The University Daily Kansan Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Education Association, and the Associated College Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service 420 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10036. York City. Managing Editor Charles Roo- Asst. Managing Editor Jane Anderson Makeup Editor Billie Marie Hamilton Business Manager Bill Donovan Advertising Manager Margery Handy Circulation Manager John McCormick Telegram Editor Edward Swain Management Manager Maria Sullivan City Editor R. T. Kingman It's Close Final week is very,very near. You don't need a calendar to know that—all you have to do is open the door of your favorite bull session room and feel the disapproving glances of your friends who have suddenly developed a strong affinity for books. Just glance at the walls in front of their desks—see those little slips of paper on which they have carefully mapped out their scholastic chores for the next two weeks. Remember when anything less than a bursting bomb didn't call for any comment? Just stub your toe over a match stick in the hall and listen to the shushes and the admonitions of "S'matter, don't you know when quiet hours are?" See how those books have been dusted off? Those pencils sharpened? Dictionary and reference books dug out from under the Lifes and Coronets and Esquires? Yep, all the signs of another final week are here. Sure will be nice when it's over and these guys once more believe that there's more education in a bull session than in a study session. Dear Editor---- Editor's Note: Every "Letter to the Editor" must be withheld from publication upon request, but the editor must know who all letters must be limited to 250 words. 'Concerts Deplorable' After reading the letter published in the Daily Kansan Jan. 10, I became quite relieved to see that someone felt as I did about the deplorable quality and number of concerts given on our campus. I spent my first three years of school in a college in Oklahoma, Oklahoma college for women, with an enrollment of 800 girls. The college was interested in the concerts heard by the girls, the type as well as the quality. All girls were urged to go, and our auditorium was filled to capacity at every concert. We heard artists such as Alec Templeton, William Primrose, Agna Enters, Argentinita, Veloz and Yolanda, Anna Kaskas, and many others, who were not "dull packaged goods." If this college with 800 girls and less money to spend on the artist course series can hear concerts with artists such as these, then what is wrong with a university of 9,000 students who hear only shopworn concerts such as the Icelandic Singers, who undoubtedly left listeners chilly. (Editor's Note — Alec Templeton and Agna Enters have appeared in Hoeh during recent years. Blanche Theobm was here Dec. 4, 1945; Ballet Theater, Jan. 17; Doss Cordchorus, Feb. 13; and James Melton, May 7, 1946.) Mary Margaret Markle College junior A display featuring the materials, media, and equipment for stimulation of art work by children will be shown at the University Museum of Art until Feb. 3. The exhibition, which is on loan from the Museum of Modern Art in New York, divided into four types of materials. Games designed to stimulate creative talents include color games, and construction sets. Art Work Materials Featured In Exhibit A model art school room illustrates such factors as bi-lateral lighting, a storage well made of multiple units, unit furniture and a wall easel. The plans can be adapted to the average school room. Workers May Get Only Fraction Of Portal-To-Portal Pay Asked Editor's Note: Everybody—government, industry, labor, taxpayers—is deeply involved in the multi-billion-dollar portal-to-portal pay picture. Legal, fiscal and legislative aspects of the picture are confused. The following dispatch endeavors to unscramble the situation as it stands now.) By AUSTIN C. WEIHWEIN (United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington. (UP) — Nobody expects the mushrooming claims for billions in back portal-to-portal wages to be settled for more than a fraction of the totals asked. Many persons, aware of the temper of congress, doubt that the bulk of the union claims will ever be considered. They expect congress to pass legislation killing the suits. ◆ Even if congress should not act, responsible government sources consider it most unlikely that more than a small part of the claims, now in excess of four billion dollars would ever be allowed in court and finally paid. Too many legal obstacles stand in the way. But all indications are that congress will pass legislation throwing the cases out. The Republican leadership of both houses is on record favoring such legislation. Senate hearings will begin Wednesday. Several bills have been introduced. They would either throw out all if the suits filed or limit their number drastically. The government's interest in the Among those who hold that the back-pay claims have been "grossly exaggerated" is L. Metcalfe Walling, administrator of the wage-hour law. Ultimate liability of industry under the Supreme court's Mt. Clemens, Mich. Pottery Co. decision, he said, "would only be a small fraction of the amounts now being talked about." For a while both industry and government were tremendously upset over the claims. Industry feared loss of profits if not, in some cases, outright ruin if the claims were allowed. Government saw the possibility of losing millions in taxes and in war contractors' suits for reimbursement. Both have calmed down now, according to representative spokesmen, after examining the situation more carefully and considering the effect of prospective legislation. The government, however, is acting on the just-in-case theory that some sizable claims may be allowed. It is intervening in the Mt. Clemens case and will file a brief some time this week. And the National Association of Manufacturers also intervened with a request that all of the back wage claims be denied. Even if portal pay is warranted, it should not be retroactive, the NAM said. Mr. Walling believed that much of the hullaballoon over portal arose from "a misconception that the Supreme court held that all time spent on the employers' premises was working time." Actually, he said, the court "merely decided that the minimum necessary walking time to the work place from the time clock, including the time required for necessary make-ready activities, was working time." And having decided that, the Supreme court instructed the federal district court in Detroit to determine, as it is now in the process of doing, whether the employees actually have any back pay coming. If the court finds that the time involved is trivial, it may decide that it can be ignored altogether. In any event, a host of limiting factors undoubtedly would cut down allowable union claims. A multitude of workers in whose behalf claims were filed have long since left industries in which they worked during the war. Many probably could not now be located. Courts hardly would allow claims for them. Mr. Walling mentioned among limiting factors state statutes of limitations, absence of coverage under the wage-hour law, exemptions, and difficulties of proof. Other sources noted that most of the union claims included punitive damages which the courts, if the employers proved good faith, could be expected to deny or reduce. Mt. Clemens case stems from fear that it_might find itself subject to action for portal-pay reimbursement by war contractors. War and treasury department officials insisted that most final settlements with war contractors have no provision for reopening. They conceded, however, that some cost-plus-fixer fee contractors had reserved the right to re-open final settlements if unexpected liabilities cropped up. And justice department officials admitted privately that even in cases where there is no reopening provision, contractors might be able to bring suits in equity asking reimbursement for back portal-to-portal claim payments. If corporations could revise back tax returns on the basis of back portal payments, they could claim huge refunds for the years before 1945 when the 90 per cent excess profits tax was in effect. Speaker Gives Advice To Fossil Collectors Advice to amateur fossil collectors was given by Edwin C. Galbreathe, graduate student of the department of zoology, at the meeting of the Phi Sigma, honorary biology fraternity. Friday. In his talk, Mr. Galbreath used slides to illustrate how to remove fossils from their natural habitats without damaging them. Also at the meeting, Mrs. Ruth McNair, instructor in biology, was elected faculty advisor of Phi Sigma. A program committee was appointed to plan the initiation of new members, to be held in March. The next meeting will be Feb.14. Holford, Duggan Elected To Lead Lambda Chi Lambda Chi fraternity elected the following officers at a meeting last Friday night: William Halford, president; Paul Duggan, vice-president; Bob Barnes, secretary; John Long, treasurer; James Fuller, social chairman; James Fleming and Jackson Worley, representatives to the Inter-fraternity council. Ethan P. Allen, professor of political science, is faculty advisor of the organization. WURLITZER PHONOGRAPHS FOR PARTY RENTALS Used Juke Box Records For Sale John H. Emick 1014 Mass. Phone 343 Sunflower Village Cleaners He's a darling little rascal, but does he keep you so busy you don't have time to do the weekly family wash? Send your clothes to us and devote all your time to him. 4-Day Laundry Service Delicious and Novel Treats For You ★ PITTED DATES—A real confection. ★ BRANDIED NUTS—They'll melt in your mouth. ★ FIGS—Here's a real taste treat. ★ DRIED APRICOTS—A must for cooking. SOMMERS 1021 Mass. Phone 212