Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11

An extended discussion as TO the
merits Of the Muscle Shoals measure
has followed the veto by President
Hoover, The question Of Government
operation is viewed from many angles,
while the Presidents suggestion that a
board appointed by two States take
charge Is critically viewed. Further
opinions relate to the quality OF Gov
eminent regulation, as exemplineo In
the past or proposed for the future.
"A ringing challenge to those who
would further weaken and cripple the
system Of State government upon which
this Nation was founded" Is seen in
the veto message by the Louisville
Courier Journal The Detroit Free
Press declares that 1.-The reasoning Is 50
cogent. and the facts are 80 convincing
that it Ia not surprising that Senator
Norris could not muster sufficient
strength to override the Executives
action" The Youngstown indicator
AYERS that 1.-THE engineer President here
gives the country the benefit OF expert
advice"
"The country has the sound judy
cording to the Hartford Times, while
the indianapolis Star holds that the
presidential action upholds the theory
Of O majority in this country that the
Government should not engage in bust
ness" The Philadelphia Evening Bull
letin is convinced that "the power OF
Government to regulate TO the extent
that the public welfare requires 1t Is
ample"
On the question Of regulation, the
st. Louis PoSt-Dispatch takes the posi-
ton that regulation of the power in
dustry has broken down because OF de-
cisions by the United States Supreme
Court" and that there Is not State
in the Union which has not found its
regulatory commission powerleSS in the
face of those decisions" The Topeka
Daily Capital argues that regulation OF
power is at this time a practical
nullity"; that Estate public service COM
missions are blocked by the overlapping
into interstate commerce and Federal
regulation Is lacking" The Rochester
Is desired to get the utilities to do any
thing they don't wish to do, regulation
develops into a battle in the Federal
courts, with odds all on the side of the
utility companies and the costs Of lti-
cation charged TO the people"
\ \
mo doubt the President will suffer
politically because of his Veto" thinks
the Newark Evening News, which, how
ever, states that he is to be commend
| ed for having enunciated policy In &C
cord with American ideals" After con-
| sidering queries on traditional policies
| lease provisions of the vetoed bill, fer
| tilizer possibilities, national defense and
| public interest In the area affected, the
| New York Sun concludes: THE answer
| is likely to be negative to all f1ve. But
| If the answer were affirmative In regard
| to them all there Is still another con-
sideration to warrant the veto-whetheI
all the people should be taxed for the
benefit of q few in order that private
| initiative may be wrecked"
eral Government should keep out OF
business that belongs primarily to the
| people" is Endorsed by the Atlanta Con-
Stitution. . The st. Louis Globe Democrat
| asserts that Muscle Shoals itself and
all public enterprises of its type would
ultimately prove disastrous" while the
Boston Transcript raises the issue
whether the voters Of the country shall
| follow the leadership OF Impractical
theorists or Of President who faces
facts as they are"
Considering the proposal for control
/ by Alabama and Tennessee, in CO.
| operation with farm organizations and
Army engineers, the Chicago Daily Newl
advises that "the alternative recon-
mended is worth fair trial" The
Cincinnati Times-Star agrees that "the
| average American win accept the Presi-
| dents conclusion that Muscle Shoals is
something for two States to work out
their own way" The Akron Beacon
Journal on the other hand, offers the
adverse comment, "UnARppily the Presi.
dent spells 1t all by suggesting that Q
venture into the zone of private indus.
! try, which is anathema to the Fedora
prudent thing when undertaken By the
States" a