Evening star., 1930-12-15
States Rights and Duties.

President Hoover has taken definite
stand on the subject Of relief for I'M
employment and the drought stricken
areas. He has urged and continues to
urge that the States and municipalities
deal with the major part of these prob
lens. The Federal Government, in the
Presidents opinion, can well set an ex-
ample and point the way in this emer-
gency by going ahead with construction
work, giving employment to many thou
sands of persons, and by loaning money
to the farmers in the drought areas
But beyond this the President would
not have the Federal Government go.
Opposed to the Presidents plan of
relief are a considerable group in the
Senate and lesser group-in proper
ton to the size of the two bodies-in
the House. These groups are asking for
Treasury than the administration be-
lieves are wise or necessary. 1t is OBJ
vious that the Federal Government
cannot bring an end to the unemploy-
ment situation by dipping into the
Treasury and pouring out the money
which in the present instance would
not be there but would have to be
raised by taxing the people. The prob
lem in this country is one which can
be dealt with more effectively by the
communities in which the unemploy-
ment exists. The Federal Government,
even If it undertook to make distribu-
ton of funds to the unemployed, or to
provide every one with job would not
be in a position effectively to carry on
the work. Governmental red tape must
usually be cut when it comes to emer-
gencies if effective action is to be had.
The disposition on Capitol Hill is to
attack proposals advanced by the Chief
Executive, no matter what the proposals
may be. II Mr.. Hoover urges economy
in Government expenditure at this time,
he is charged with supporting the
wealthy taxpayers of the country and
turning his back on the poor. Indeed,
the very essence of the resolution now
before the Senate, offered by Senator
La Toilette of Wisconsin, a critic of the
administration, is that the unemployed
are to be favored over the wealthy.
The resolution would place the Senate
on record as declaring that such is the
belief of the upper house Of Congress.
Such should be the belief not only of
the Senate but of every man and woman
with heart. The purpose Of the La
Toilette resolution, however, is to give
President Hoover buffet on the ear;
to make the country believe that the
Senate has the interests of suffering
humanity at heart but that the Presi-
dent has not There is a very con-
siderable chance that If some of the
critics Of the administration keep on in
their present course, the country will
come to the conclusion that after all
Mr. Hoover was right when he said
that some of the members Of Congress
are playing politics with human misery.
Aside, however, from the question Of
attacks made upon Mr.. Hoover, 1t is a
sound policy that would have the States
and municipalities, the local communi-
ties, deal with the problem Of relief in
this country. 1t is the policy upon which
this country has grown independent
and great. When the States and the
local communities turn finally TO Wash
ington for aid on every occasion-the
theory on which the Government has
been constructed and the philosophy Of
American institutions will have been
abandoned Who is to halt the advance
Of Capitalization Of all Government in
Washington is a question. More and
more the demand comes from repre-
sentatives of States which originally
were strongly for States r1ghts-which
also implies States duties. When the
dual system Of Government, with the
States dealing with affairs local to them
and the Federal Government only with
those things with which the States can
not deal for the entire country, breaks
down, there will have been established
| in Washington centralized Govern
ment which, from its very size, may
J collapse
/ ---------b-~~0S~S--
| There is Just one exalted title to
which Mr.. Ritchie of Maryland appears