Evening star., 1924-05-05
u. 5. Business Solid.
Deficits and Shortcomings of Con.
gress Fail to Stop Progress.

To the Editor of The Star
on the purely business side of gov
erhmeht, where is the damage incl
dent TO a deficit? A mercantile busi-
ness is different from the business of
government. The former must not
have the figures show on the wrong
slde-certainly not over period of
years-or the wear and tear on the
principals in the organization would
exhaust them, even if their creditors
did not
But government is not organized
for profit. A deficit for any year NAV
be provided for in the coming year
SURPRISES in annual governmental re-
turns can be of serious injury in a
democracy because of the thousands
or tens of thousands of hands likely
to reach out to use them.
Last year there was a surplus of
$500, 900, 900. Very sensibIy, Secretary
Mellon proceeded to find some plan
10 present to Congress that would let
taxpayers all over the country get
the benefit thereof. and even more if
possible. Even if this does take some
small chance of deficit, which 1
doubt, L is a praiseworthy effort.
But let us look on its worst side If
deficit naturally results. where is
the fearful damage?
This fair chance enables business
to operate on a better basis, because
as taxes are made lower the charges
become lower against the product of
the country, whether commodities or
agriculture. Products become a per-
centage cheaper. All business men
know that lower prices produce a
more extensive use of goods A
larger measure of business also means
larger measure of employment
therefore larger returns for all. Does
rather than the wrong side the
chance, if chance there be?
The wrong method presents a grave
risk of failure and depression. We all
know that the losses. of depression
mount to enormous figures. to say
nothing of distress, discomfort and
unhappineSS. Collecting an additional
few hundred millions of dollars in
what may, after all, prove to be un-
necessary taxation is infinitesimal in
comparison to the losses of de-
preston.
As every man, woman and child
who consumes or wears out even no
more than $50 of value during a
month or year a taxpayer, with
not one chance in a million to escape
his or her obligations, it is not at all
unlikely that inefficiency, which the
people are coming to recognize more
velop a peaceful revolution, out of
which will come more simple pro-
cedure in government as we'll as a
cleaning out of unnecessary taXeaters
and political parasites.
Fortunately, fundamentals remain
the same. Our 1f0,000,000 of people
continue to consume goods and to be
fairly we'll employed. They are rea-
sonably happy, l think this accounts
for the degree of tolerance extended
by them to the political delinquents
In some way the large majority of
the people manage to have a measure
of success. We make progress not
because of the helpfulness of Con-
gress, but in spite of it. Many in
public life, who might appropriately
be termed slackers or worse, all have
their day. They will always be with
US to a larger or smaller extent
There must be vigilance, however.
or their operations become so bold as
to be extremely dangerous, not only
to the prosperity, comfort and happf-
ness of the people, but to the life of
the nation itself. When confidence is
shaken to an abnormal degree, people
become desperate. We all know that
the resultant of desperation is some
times worse than the cause which
produces it.
ALEXANDER REVELLA