The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-20
HIGH PRICES

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against high prices. The situation is
too complex, and radical legislation
directed at one class may do little
good and much harm. The pressure
downward should be applied to all
business, as near as may be, in like
degree, and from all quarters.
Our national, state, county and city
governments should spend not a dol
lar, except for necessary, obvious and
pressing benefits; and then only when
an injury to the public, greater than
that cost, will quickly result if the
public money is not spent. If there is
any reasonable doubt as to any of
these points, the public funds should
not now be spent.
This is the plain. if hard, duty of
every public officer. The immediate
adoption of this as a standard by all
who have public funds at their dis
posal would somewhat reduce prices
before the moon fulls again. The pub
lie example would do more than many
lectures about producing more and
buying less.
Had the several states, and all the
counties and cities, in this Union
adopted this policy as soon after
April 1917 as it became apparent that
their local labor supply was short, l
doubt if we would now complain of
high prices. though substantial in
creases were obliged to take place in
consequence of the war and the i'm
mense appropriations by Congress.
Government is maintained for the
benefit of the people. To be of con-
slant and consistent benefit in every
phase of business depression or ex-
cesses is nearly always within its
reach and within it's duty. We knew
that the war was to be won with dol
lars. To save dollars was a public
and private duty. Our governing
bodies are far greater and far strong
er than any of US, so their follies and
caprices are more dangerous than
ours.
Every dollar of public money spent
for any purpose means adding to the
demands for more labor; and, this if
labor is scarce, means imitation and
high prices; while if labor is abundant
and wages are too cheap that is the
time of all others when our govern
ments, the strongest among US all,
will do we'll to relax and spend freely
for all good public work.
Subject to rare exceptions ii is a
good rule that a private individual
should quit spending when his money
gives out. Within the range of good
financing and for lasting public bene-
fits this rule has no application to
governmental affairs. and if adopted
would simply aggravate hard times.
The government being for the good
of it's people, all it's functions, it's re-
sources, its credit. should be used if
needed to promote in a proper way
the public veal.
| We have new country with abun-
dant opportunity for immense public
| Improvements. Immense incomes are
handled by our several governments
BY proper discretion on the part of
public officers it is safe to say that in
fation can be averted and hard times
prevented, unless they allow the bug
iness to once get out of hand, through
war or neglect. Imitation means hard
times if not speedily corrected. hard
times now might mean a revolution.
Public men are not all-powerful, but
have we no right to ask them to do
their best?
In the midst of war, with billions
being necessarily spent by Congress
and with prices being forced up by
leaps and bounds, with an insufficient
supply of labor long ago apparent,
| what have the state, county and city
governments done? From one side of
the Union to the other they are spend
ing more public money than ever be-
fore. Local budgets are increased,
local expenses are multiplied and local
tax rates are run up. speak in gen.
eral terms to condemn a bad policy
The individual officer may excuse him.
self by saying that it is better to be
with your people in a wrong policy
than against them in supporting a
good policy. But the aggregate
figures are eronmous and the dumping
of these funds into the labor market
and spending them for supplies is but
bidding against the true interest of
every one.
The increase in local taxes would in
itself be no great inconvenience to the
people, and if the funds thus collected
had been put in safety deposit boxes,
little harm would have been done.
But it was spent in booming prices
and boosting speculation. when we all
must know that the time will come
when this money would buy much
more for the public and the spending
Of it will then help labor, which would
help everybody.
A great majority of people suffer
by abnormal business conditions. The
more abnormal the more they suffer.
This is the rule in either boom times
or hard times-most people lose in the
end.
Only the very smart few can take
care of themselves under such alb