The Washington times., 1929-01-17
FLAYs
Government
TACTICS
By B. G. FORBES

BY b. c. FORBES
The reputation Of business is
higher than the reputation Of our
Government! WIN President
Hoover prove able to do something
to remedy this?
In our dealings with business
concerns we know that we win
get redress il we have any legiti-
mate complaint to make. II the
grocer or the butcher or the
baker sends. us an incorrect bill,
entailing an overcharge, he very
readily does the right thing. II
merchandise ordered from de-
partment store is damaged in
the slightest in the course Of de.
livery, all we have to DO = TO
state the fact and satisfactory
. action is Immediately taken,
1t has become automatic thal,
the bigger the business concern.
the moro careful it Is TO satisfy
customers. When the United Stafes
Steel Corporation was attacked
by the Government, not one GUS
TONER or even one competitor
came forward to make the slight
est complaint Of unfair treatment
Have you ever heard complaints
about. improper financial dealings
on the part of such concerns as
General Electric, Eastman Kodak
General Motors. Wrestling and
lafterly, our large railroads? True,
some corporations have not
spotless record. especially In their
dealings with supply concerns,
but their number is decreasing.
But what do we find when we
examine the record and reputa-
ton of the United States Govern.
ment?
It's highhandedness its diIatori-
ness in renedying its mistakes,
its unbusiness like behavior are
notorious. It's nliTliona rarely feel
bounden to treat citizens with
that consideration expected ami
received from business organiza-
tions. Tax gatherers and inquisi-
tors of every description usually
act as Tnartiuets. The hundred
d0lIar-a-month Government clerk
does not hesitate to talk dicta-
torially to a hundred-thousand.
dollar-ayear executive on some
matter with which the latter is
thoroughly familiar.
A shining example of the code
and the tactics Of lawmakers has
Just been afforded by the discus
sions in Congress Of tax refunds.
Ii they could have their way.
certain of our rulers apparently
could refuse point blank to repay
the million Of dollars Federal tax
gatherefs have illegally compelled
individuals and corporations to
hand over to the Government. Be
cause Secretary Mellon has fa-
vored honest action by the Treas
ury, he has been denounced ard
maligned disgracefully this nos
withstanding that andrew w Mel.
lon built up a reputation over a
period of half-a-century for honor
able dealings and an unimpeach.
able character.
What would these same critics
say and do il they personally were
grossly overcharged by some cor
poration?
Would they not first storm and
rave, then institute legal proceed
ings il the money rightly belong
ing to them were not promptly
returned?
Yet they stop at nothing to
throw obstacles IN the way of the
United States Government making
refunds to individuals, firms and
corporations abundantly proved
entitled to refunds. They demand
that Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon act in a way that Banker
Mellon would never dream OF act.
ing ia his own business relation.
Z ships.
Is it not justice, the most ele-.
a1entary justice, that money ille-
galfy taken from the pocket of a
citizen be restored at the earliest
possible moment. whether the IL
{ legal taker OF the money is a pri-
vate citizen or the Federal Govern
H11ent2 Should q government be
less honest, less honorable, less
considerate than It's citizens, the
people it Is supposed to represent?
10 ask the question is to an.
swer it.
Copyright, 1928. By B. c. Forbesl