Evening star., 1931-12-24
The ePolitical Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

United States . reduction or cancella-
ton Of the debts they owe this coun-
try, growing out Of the World War and
postwar conditions. In the first place
the United States Government faces a
possible deficit Of some $4,000, 900 900 OF
more. In the second place a national
campaign, with the Republicans and
Democrats striving for mastery, Is about
to be launched. Because of the deficit
and the present need for increased tax
alton In this country, the American
people and their representatives in
Congress do not look with favor on any
proposal to grant further reduction In
the amounts due them from other na-
tions. They resent the attitude Of the
foreign governments that their pay
ments to America shall depend upon
the reparation payments made by Ger
many to the allied nations. The Amer
ican view Is that huge sums of money
were loaned to the allied nations, many
OF them after the war had ceased, with
the distinct understanding that the
money was to be paid back. No sug-
gestion was made at the time that Ger
many was to be the actual paymaster
Of America.
Congress has just, by an overwhelm-
ing vote, agreed to the Hoover one-year
intergovernmental debt moratorium, by
which the United States foregoes the
collection Of $252,0o000O during the
present fiscal year from the foreign
debtor nations. But at the same time
without dissenting voice being raised
on the floor OF either the House or the
Senate, has added a section to the
resolution of ratification declaring il
to be against the policy of the Congress
to reduce or cancel the foreign debts
to this country. Neither the Republican
nor the Democratic party is going into
the campaign next year as an advocate
OF debt reduction or cancellation If il
can help it.
When times were good in this coun-
try there was strong sentiment against
debt cancellation. Now that times are
PAD, THIS sentiment Is even stronger
II 1t is shown that the foreign debtor
nations cannot pay, then America must
agree to a further postponement, unless
1t Is prepared to seek to collect the
money by war-which it is not, nor
does 1t desire to 60 to war. No matter
what the experts of the Young Plan
Advisory Committee have recommended
or may recommend the sentiment in
this country Is against scaling down
the debts further
4 II X
Politics is playing its part in the rep
arations and debt situation in all the
countries involved. In Germany it is
unpopular to keep up the reparation
payments and one large group has tax
en- the position that a refusal must be
made to pay further. Such a campaign
slogan is gaining adherents there. In
France, political leaders who seek tt
relieve Germany from these payments
are attacked and lose ground immedi-
ately. In America, cancellation of the
war debts owed this country IN all the
circumstances is criticized as an ef-
fort to make the United States pay
the war debts of Germany and all the
other countries involved. although this
country had nothing to do with the
initiation of the struggle. 1t begins II
look as though the foreign debtor ma.
tions, so far as this country is con.
cerned, would find themselves simply II
the position OF defaulters, if they under
take not to pay when their payment.
fall due next year.
+ X y
There may be no economic justice il
such an attitude. But it is an attitude
which political expediency is likely Il
fore the House Ways and Means Com
mittee begins work on bill increas
ing materially the taxes paid in thi
country. President Hoover already ha
recommended large increases in taxes
There Is talk in many quarters, too
about the reduction of all Federal sal
aries by approximately 10 per cent, O.
certainly all those of $4,000 or more
Some of the Democrats have beer
urging Speaker Garner to sponsor sucl
a proposal. But so far none of tn,
Democrats of the House have shown .
desire to head the drive for the pro
posed decrease. 1t may come. Senate
Borah of Idaho is out with a recon-
mendation that all Federal salaries o
$4,000 or $4,000 or more be cut 10 pc,
cent in order to help meet the govern
mental deficit. Senator Pat Harrison
of Mississippi, ranking Democratic
member Of the Senate Finance Com
mittee, has offered a resolution declar
ing it the sense of the Senate that ap
preparations for the next fiscal yea
shall be cut to a point $500 600, 900 be
low the estimates submitted by tn,
President and the Budget Bureau. Sen
ator Harrison has not yet said whethe
he would include in the slashes of th
budget cut in salaries. but 1t woult
appear that If such a large sun
is to be eliminated from the bulge
there must be material reductions o
salary The budget submitted by tn
President amounts to S3,942, ,754 900 TO
the fiscal year 1888 Under all the cir
cumstances, the time is not a good on,
to talk about scaling down debts owet
this country.
Senator George H. Moses of New
Hampshire continues to rem ain as Presi
dent pro tempore Of the Senate. despit,
the efforts of the Sons OF the Wilt
Jackass" to dislodge him. When tn
Senate met two weeks and more ago
the Progressive Republicans. ASSERTING
that Senator Moses had threatened
them with reprisals If they did not sup
port his candidacy for reelection a
President pro tempore, began ballotinl
for other Republican Senators, whil'
the Democrats have stood steadfastl.
W SAHSAi Culiol0dIC, oCIldVOl INCy
Many ballots have been taken on man,
days, but without result, since a ma
jority of the Senators voting is needed
to elect. Moses holds, under a resolu
tion of the Senate, until his successo
Is chosen. It looks as though the dead
lock would go on through the remainde
OF the session of Congress. With tn
introduction Of important legislation
interest has tagged in the Presiden
pro tempore row, over which the coun
try. needing relief from the depression
can summon up little emotion unless l
be derision. No great principle is in
volved. 1t is a question Of PERSONAL
ties. Senator Moses makes an excellen
presiding officer and when he is in tn
chair legislation Is expedited. Many O
the Senators realize that they could g
lar and not do half so well in the Sc
lection of presiding officer, to sit whel
the Vice President is absent, If they Sc
aside Mr.. Moses. The row over the of
fice of President pro tempore of tn
Senate was laid aside to take up tn
consideration of the Hoover moratorium
resolution. It looks as though it woul
be laid aside again whenever there ar