Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-09
Proposals for Relief
Of American Distress

To the Editor OF The Star:
The calamity howlers Of Cur coun-
try seldom, II ever, stop to count our
blessings and seldom advance a con-
structive. idea. Was ever any country
before blessed with both a surplus and
deficit at the same time? Is not the
greatest blessing at the present time,
with several million unemployed people,
the fact that with a dollar you can
buy almost anywhere in the United
States, 49-pound sack of flour? The
fact of surplus in this country will,
believe. very largely take care of it
self Just one year of drought or poor
crops would wipe the whole thing of
the slate.
Many things, believe. could be done
with proper legislation to better pres
ent conditions. Why buy many millions
Of burlap sacks and yards of burlap
from Calcutta. India. when our own
surplus Of cotton would furnish better
sacks which are of value and can be
utilized at the consumers end?
Why cannot our Governments pur-
chase Of 200,000,00O bushels of wheat
be sold in the form of flour, furnishing
work for our laboring men and all
sacked in cotton sacks Of our own pro-
duction?
Why cannot this Government -four
be furnished to all National, State and
County institutions, thus saving the
public money and giving the taxpayers
break? Why cannot several million
bushels of this Government wheat,
made into flour. be sacked in Govern
ment- branded cotton sacks with penal
ties for any sale of same, and furnished
to the Red Cross and the Salvation
Army or any other charitable associa-
lions where desirable, to be given free
Of cost and without red tape or delay
where there are hungry children or
elderly people in destitute circum-
stances?
To help cur national deficit why not
put a Government tax Of 10 cents per
barrel on all crude oil products pro-
duced from the ground, also on all that
might be shipped into our country?
This would raise a very large sum
without excessive burden.
Why not put Government tax Of
IA to Il cent per bushel on all sales
Of grain for future delivery? This,
believe. would be beneficial in two ways
raising a large revenue for our Gov
eminent and curbing to some degree
the gambling that goes on in our coun-
trys products-which, all should agree,
would be desirable. This should not
ate delivery
Why not have a tax of to 10 cents
on each share of stock or bonds sold
on margin, which ewould also check
gambling and sales for the purpose Of
depressing or initiating our stock mar
ketS?
Why not increase the revenue tax on
cigarettes and tobacco IS per cent?
Why not put a tax of IS cents per
can on malt. which. believe, is mostly
sold for unlawful purposes? Also put
q tax on crane bricks?
Why not give the taxpayer break
and let him spend a little of his money
in his own way by reducing the expenses
OF our Government? During and since
the war, in all lines of our National,
State, county and city governments,
wages OF nearly all officials were in
creased from time to time to meet the
higher ost Of living. The farmers
products also for some time were in
creased in value and he was able to
meet these additional taxes with good
prices received
In the meanwhile, let us all be as
good citizens as possible. obeying the
laws of this the best Government on
earth-if we do right We will be right
and remembering there is God above
who sees all. J. E. WINSHIP.
Arlington Calf