Capital Comment

Washington.

Official reports coming to Washington from United States government representatives stationed in Poland ###eveal some of the fundamental reasons behind the desperate ###light of Jews in that country.

The latest official report received here is from Commercial Attache Clayton Lane, who is stationed at Warsaw. This report tells a sorry story about the general economic depression which ###s driving Polish industry, business and agriculture to new low levels of despair. This economic situation is one of the primary reasons for the hardships and suffering which Jews as well as others are experiencing in Poland.

One of the major threats to the population of Poland is a scarcity of food. Because of uncertain economic conditions, Polish farmers are inclined to produce very little beyond their own needs. The position of the farmer in that country has been growing worse as the months pass by. Prices of their products have been declining and at present are at extremely low levels. Efforts of the Polish government to stabilize on the domestic market have met with failure.

The present situation leaves the Polish farmer with very little incentive to increase his production. This means that the people in the cities are confronted with a curtailed food supply. Hardest hit are the Jews. Very few indeed are the Polish Jews who are farmers.

Mr. Lane’s report to Washington indicates that Poland may experience a real food shortage this coming Winter. He says that Polish farmers maintain the conviction that under existing conditions it is impossible for them to recover their investment which is required for agricultural production. Under these circumstances, the Polish farmer’s principal aim is to secure his own existence rather than to produce for the market. In his report, Mr. Lane points out that this situation is likely to continue until Poland’s economic conditions improve and farm products may be sold at a profit.

Thus, the future position of the Jews in Poland may be expected to become increasingly worse. Along with the uncertain food supply situation, is the depressed state of Polish industry and business. During the first quarter of this year, commercial and productive activity in Poland showed further recessions.

The United States Senate will have to confirm the new treaty of friendship with Germany recently signed by the two governments to replace the existing treaty which comes to an end in October. It is expected that the Senate will act on this new treaty, which is minus the most-favored-nation clause, be-for the present session ends.

There is considerable speculation around Washington as to how the Senate will act when the treaty with Germany comes up for consideration. Many Senators are bitter against the Hitler tactics which have aroused their ire during the last two years. When the treaty comes up for consideration more than one Senator is likely to engage in some speech-making against the Hitler government. The treaty, however, will be approved, but not without expected words of protest directed at Hitler’s activities.

Representative William I. Sirovich of New York, is extremely interested in reforming the civil service system. For this purpose he has written and introduced a bill on which hearings are being held. Representative Sirovich is a member of the House Civil Service Committee. The public hearings on the omnibus civil service reform measure are being held by a subcommittee of which the New Yorker is chairman.

Along with civil service reform, Representative Sirovich is interested in knowing why it is that members of Congress have such a hard time getting government jobs for their friends. He maintains that applicants for positions recommended by members of Congress are ignored in various governmental departments. Right now, the Federal Housing Administration is the subject of the New Yorker’s investigation.

On Display in the office of Representative William M. Citron of Connecticut, is the pen with which President Roosevelt signed the bill making October 11 a national holiday in honor of General Pulaski, the Polish hero who gave his life for this country during the Revolutionary War.

The bill which designated this holiday was introduced by Representative Citron. President Roosevelt transmitted the pen to Representative Citron as a keepsake. Accompanying it was a letter from the Chief Executive.