Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-19
nNE rENT EcoNoMY

ONE CENT ECONOMY.
Tbi. i surely an illuminating fact IN
more wavs than one. One reflects, tor
instance that most Of the Impassioned
oratory about economy which goes INTO
tho Congressional Record i directed
against this poor little one-cent group.
senator's with city constituencies sterniE
deno,1nce the amounts that are being
snent 10 cure hog cholera and tlgnt the
boll weevil The Bureau OF Labor ~tafls-
t,gs i called a prodlgal waste 81 puDhc
funds and the Children Bureau i bitter
+. attacked every year In the interests 81
economy the Coast and Cieudeilc survey
vs. almost starved out Of existence teW
vears ago. and the Public Health service
heQs in VAN for enough money 70 carry on
IFS fight against venereaI disease and
tuberculosis.
There i some debate to be sure over the
CONCENTRATIONS for rivers and harbors. but
because this money * scattered among the
various states. It is appropriated quite
willingly. There Is never a whisper against
the amounts that 20 10 pay the legislative
expenses. for the Congressman ana ther
appolntees draw this money All of Inc
huge war costs are cheerfnly PAID.
Of course. all of these other expenses
u st he paid Perhaps some OF them could
Ee whitfield down a little, but we must
meet our public debt, and We must main
tain our army and navy ami our govern
ment. But IS IT not ridiculous and ms
leading and unwise for Congress TO howl 50
loudly over tins one cent which goes Tor
constructive work, when the other ~
cents is appropriated with So htiLe 90
leetlonl
not put the blame on Congress tie SIMPLY
states the facts. But he does suggest that
this rigid economy on constructive work
i not only unnecessary. hut may involve
a nositiye loss of money For II Is the con-
structive work which creates wealth, and
thereby creates taxable values The
enormous amounts which We spend on the
army and navy may he necessary, but
| they do not add anything Immediately 70
| the wealth of the nation. Money spent IN
fighting the boll weevil, i'll discovering new
/ mineral resources in establishing new
| industry like that Of making optical glass.
m promoting foreign commerce, j. money
| invested which often brings very large
return II Is impossible 70 estimate the
value of money spent in improving public
| health but certainly il brings an enor-
nous return We spend only few mills out
Of every dollar III keeping ourselves we'll.
| INToRrANCE or CONSTRUCTIVE WORK.
Dr Rosa makes a somewhat detailed
/ study OF his own organization. the
| Bureau al Standards. ia order 70 show the
/ value Of this constructive work. In addi-
| ton to fixing standards of weight, inca
sure ct cetera, this bureau docs much in
dustrial research For example, it is now
| standardi2ing materials III the building
trades There is no more desperate need
| right now than that for houses. Standard
/ lzcd building materials mean cheaper and
| more rapid construction, and lower rents.
| Yet the bureau cannot get the money with
which 10 carry on this work on an ade-
quate scale,
4 gasoline shortage impends The
Bureau Of Mines and the Geological
Survey are liz work developing ncW sourc-
much But Il little more money would
enable them 10 accomplish a great deaI
more
Examples like these could tie multiplied
almost indefinitely. This one cent ont d
every dollar which You give for con.
structlye work is being used t. the vt
| most. But it ls not enough II Il were IN
| creased to five cents YOU would scarcely
| notice the difference The Increase wouiC
be relatively small for one thing, and 10
another YOU would almost surely proh
directly from the work done.
The need Tor this increase IN the share Q
our national income spent on constructive
work is especially imperative Just noW TIC
cause the increase IN the cost Of living ha
made il practically impossible to emplo,
hrst-class scientists and other techniga
men at the salaries the government
| willing to pay Every ono u these bureau