The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-16

AAICO tllC l1CdSuly VI llIN OkllICN 0JdtCo,
either by taxes or loans, on the as
sumption that the government can
create more employment by use of
these funds than a industry and
commerce itself. While I am a strong
advocate of expansion of useful pub
lie works in hard times, and we have
trebled our federal expenditure in aid
to unemployment, yet there are lin
itations upon the application of this
principle. Not only must We refrain
from rObbing industry and commerce
OF it's capital. and thereby increasing
unemployment, but such works re-
quire long engineering and legal in
terludes before they produce actual
employment. Above all. schemes OF
public works which have no repro
ductive value would result in sheer
waste. The remedy to economic de-
| preston is not waste but the creation
| and distribution OF wealth.
Refused Subsidy Schemes
1T has been urged that the federal
| government should abandon its sys-
tenn Of employment agencies and
| should appropriate large sums to SUBJ
sidize their establishment in other
hands. I have refused to accept such
schemes, as they would in many
| places endow political organizations
! with the gigantic patronage of work.
| mems Jobs. That would bring about
| the most vicious tyranny ever set up
In the United States. We have in
stead expanded our federal govern
ment agencies which are on nonpo-
litical basis. They r of far greater
service to labor.
I'VE have had one proposal after
| another which amounts to a dole
from the federal treasury. The larg-
est is that of unemployment insur-
ance. I have long advocated such in
Surance as an additional measure OF
safety against rainy days, but only
through private enterprise or through
cooperation OF industry and labor it
self. The moment the government
enters into this field 1t invariably de-
generates into the dole. For moth
ing can withstand the political pres
sures which carry governments over
this dangerous border. The net re-
suits of governmental doles are to
lower wages toward the bare subslSt-
ence level and to endow the Stacker.
It imposes the injustice Of huge bur-
dens upon farmers and other calllngs
which receive no benefits. .....
There have been some complaints
from foreign countries over the re-
vision of our tariff and it is proposed
that We can expedite recovery by an
other revision. Nothing would more
prolong the depression than a session
of congress devoted to this purpose.
There are no doubt %inequities and in
qualities in some Of our tariff rates:
that is inherent in any congressional
revision. But we have for the first
time effective machinery in motion
through a tariff commission with au-
thority for any necessary rectifica-
ton. And that machinery is func-
tioning.
Hardship Not Realized
IAN analysis indicates that the
large majority OF these foreign COM
plants are directed against added
protection we have given to agricul-
ture. I believe that some of these
countries do not realize the profound
hardship which they themselves
with no malevolent purpose-have
imposed on the American farmer. |
Improved machinery, the Develop |
ment Of refrigeration, and cheapening
of sea transportation have created for
them great resources from their vir-
gin lands and cheaper labor. AS a
result they have taken profitable ex-
port markets from the American
farmer. There have been complaints
from older nations who import a por-
ton of their food products and export
another portion. Yet these nations
look upon their own agriculture as q
way Of life and as vital to their ma
tional security, and have long since
adopted protective tariffs against the
special farm products of the United
States. We do not reproach them. for
we, too, look upon a healthy agricul-
ture as indispensable to the nation.
The growth of our industrial popula-
ton will ultimately absorb the pro-
duction Of III farmers, but our agri-
culture was attuned to the export
business and Is Of necessity passing a
prolonged crisis in its shift to a do
nestle basis. Our tariff had proved
so low that our farmers were being
crowded even from the domestic mar
ket in many products which by use as
Investigation they a substitute to
take up the slack in export business
From that condition we have given
him protection, and we stand upon
it. 49,.
1.-THE experiences Of this depression
demand that the nation carefully and
deliberately reconsider the whole ma
tional and local problem of the Incl
dence Of taxation. The undue pro-
portion of taxes which falls upon
farmers, home owners. and all real
property holders as compared to other
forms of wealth and income demands
real relief. There are far wider
questions Of our social and economic
life which this experience will illum-
mate. We shall know much more OF
the method Of still further advance
toward stability. security, and wide:
diffusion of the benefits of eco
nomic system"
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