Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26

such efforts will help matters for the
time being, at least. Building projects
for which the public money has been
appropriated, will be carried through
on big scale. This means employment
for many idle persons. AS an emer-
gency measure it will only help so far
as the appropriations run. The money
must be spent some time. and there
could be no better period than right
now.
But the Government might very well
90 a step beyond this. 1t Is recognized
that the United States now Is in a real
emergency period. No man can say
with any degree of accuracy whether
it will be year or more before 1t Is
out of the woods. AS an emergency
measure 1t might be sound policy for
the Government to make no effort to
reduce the national debt over the next
three or five years.
Increase I'm Buying Needed.
Such action would result in a re-
duction in taxes all along the line.
1t would be a relief to many businesses
that have been sorely pressed and may
still have difficulties to overcome. It
would increase public buying power and
encourage business to go ahead with
plans for expansion. It would make
for more CHEEKY outlook on the
future. The employment situation
would improve sales of materials would
rise, car loadings would increase and
recovery In most industries would
follow
Only the ability and the inclination to
spend more, on the part of the public,
will again permit manufacturers to in
crease production and employ more
labor. The general public would react
quite as favorably as business to any
policy that reduced taxes through the
suspension of payments curtailing the
national debt until such time as it is
thought the present emergency no long
er exists.
Further reduction In taxes could be
obtained by a change in the drastic
prohibition laws. The Government
could raise a billion dollars a year
through an internal revenue tax on
alcoholic beverages, were they legal. AS
it is the Government Is spending vast
sums for the attempted enforcement of
laws that experience has convinced all,
save the most rabid, cannot be enforced
There is liquor to be obtained in every
section Of the United states by those
who wish to drink. AS matters stand,
the Government. instead of collecting
taxes on this consumption, is actually
paying out millions in a futile effort to
prevent the sale of forbidden drinks
Only the bootleggers are prospecting
through this state of affairs. and they
and the ever increasing lawleSs bands of
racketeers corrupt. bride and under
mine respect for government.
The farm problem, next to that of
! unemployment, demands solution before
the United States can get started on
anything more than a temporary re-
covery in business. Many prescriptions
have been written for the farmer and
tried out on him. Some patients may
have survived. but they can hardly be
rated as good insurance risks at this
time.
Suggestions for Farmers.
The farmer produces too much
doesn't diversity his crops enough, and
| is inclined to overwork his land. If all
| farmers would limit their crops, permit
certain amount of their land to lie
| fallow, and 60 in for diverSihcation in
| the foodstuffs they raise, hard times
and the agriculturists would be compar-
| alive strangers.
| Germany has such a plan. The Law
there limits the various crops and the
amount Of land to be titled, and govern
ment agencies specify what foodstuffl
are to be raised in the different sec.
lions. OF course, the United State!