Norwich bulletin., 1919-01-17

ed for casual reading. But probably
most of US know that rh. gist of il
was an admission that many millions
had been wasted there, thrown away,
dissaipated, scattered. sown to the
winds and the waters like chaff. No
criminal action would lie, according
to the report. It was simply case OF
sheer wastefulness and untfrift.
Some few of us may remember that
about the saT,e thing developed IN the
investigation of the hug2 aviation
fund. Millions by the hundred fritz
tered and filtered away with almost
no tangible result.
The simple truth seems 10 be thai
there has been an actual orgy of
waste ard recklessness, covering pref
ty nearly every department of public
service with 81 bad smell Of profiiteer-
ing rising from some parts of the
dun1p-heap. The people, called on
to shovel their money into the treas :
ury in order to win the war have done
SO with a willingness and cheerful
ness which has only been equalled by
| the jocund rrodigality with which It
has been shovelled out again, either
for actual need or-something else.
Prices have gone up and are still
| soaring; prices of foods and of fuel
and OF fabrics; prices Of necessities
| and of Injuries: prices of labor and of
| service. The munition plants. under
| government sponsorship, Rave boost
| ed wages paid in them 10 simply fab
| ulous rates.
The money has come eusy: it has
gone easy. But it isn't coming as
| easy, in the future. 1t isn't coming
as easy 70 the government: it isn't
| coming a easy to the proGteers; it
| isn't coming as easy to wuge-workerS
| The countrywide money drunk is
| about ready to sober Up.
And that means trouble, all round.
| For there is one noticeable thing
| about human nature; it can accuston,
itself to enlarged spending much
| easier than 10 a restricted income It
! stands prosperity much better thal-
| adversely. Having been Used TO liv :
| ing on $40 4 week it finds small effo-'
required when opportunity arrives. 10
make way with $50 a week But
| once having become accustomed to :,
| $50 week syle of living, it does no.
! return to tho $40 a week LASTS either
! chcerfully or with a good 81 ace. This
| may be regT2ttahle, but there is no
| gain in shutting ones eyes TO the fact.
! We are facing a future on whose
| character that fact is going TO have
! 2. vast influence. Government is go
! ing TO have less money 10 use or
waste; big. business is goina to have
! less money to profiteer with labor
| IS going to have less r5oncy to buy
with. TIE gates of pr, fusion and
| extravaganza, which havu s"ood wide
| open for some Years. ara already
| beginning to close. AMI 9 whole lot
Of folks are going to ges pinched il
| en-
There are some exceedingly uglv
! black clouds showing along the sky
! line. Il would be unwisdom to ignore
! them. They may dissipate FRAY
! heaven they dol The tnurder-cIout]
| which bulges over the horizon of 4
| July afternoon Sometimes turns or,
| to contain ouly a belly full of wind
| But the wise farmer gets IN his ne (
! as fast as he can, when he sees it. He
| doesn't take chances. Beyond such ~
! he is compelled to.
There is one thing TO be said about
! our special agricultural prospects
! While TIE demand for munitions and
War-sniDs and air planes. and uni
! forms, etc., has ceased with starting
suGdenness. the demand for our pro,
| duets is Likely 10 be less decreased. For
though we have no longer huge armies
| 10 feed We are evidently going TO be
| called on to feed a good many other
! wise starving civilians in Austria and
Hungary and Russia and to the Ri
! kan states, to say nothing NJ the pop
ulations in the German ravaged area:
| of France and Belgium. NJ, Hoover
| is credited with the statement tina,
we shall have 70 send Europe more
food, the coming year, than we did tse
! last
| Il this be really so. there ought tt
| be Il call for what we grow.
| THE EA PNFP