Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-15

phlet. printed by the Federal Govern
ment in large quantities for free dis
tribution at the cost of the taxpayer,
which opened with the statement that
babies of 5 or months need clothes
of particular patterns" and closed with
the Injunction that toys are not the
only things with which to encourage
manipulation"
Senator Bingham also criticized the
expenditure of tax funds for publication
of a pamphlet under the name OF the
Department of Commerce on The Love
Life of the Frog" prepared by the Bu-
reau of Fisheries.
He described also how Government
scientist, who had spent Is years IN
study of lightning bugs, thanked
foreign student for asking him about
his work, saying it was the first re-
Quest for information he had received
in the IS years service.
Referring to another expenditure he
scored the distribution by the Bureau
of Public Roads of thousands OF cards
to motorists entering washington,
which asked where they were going
and where they came from, this being
traffic survey project. Now what
business is it of the Federal Govern
ment where these motorists are going
III WaShlngtOn? ne asked.
Some of these things may be worthy
in themselves. he concluded, but why
should the taxpayers have to pay Tor
them?"
Some advocates of such expenditures,
he said seemed to have believed they
could make the rich pay for them, only
to find that the Weather taxpayers
have been investing their funds in tax
exempt Government bonds. This has
raised a question in some quarters, he
said. as to whether the Constitution
could be changed so that these bonds
may be taxed.
I'VE are taxing many things almost
out of existence" he said in conclusion,
land there are tax rebellionS in prog
ress in small measure all over the
country
Mr. Page in an inspirational address
on the ideals of the United States Gov
eminent declared that this country has
departed widely in the past quarter
century from the original concepts OF
the American form of government, and
ito the great detriment" of the country.
Underlying all our troubles, he said,
is the Indifference of the franchlsed
citizen to carry out his right and duty
to vote This, he said, has led to ex-
travagance in expenditures, to creation
of loud clamoring by m1norit1eS and
organized propagandiStS, with resulting
influences upon officials. This has ere
ated stronger central, State and Federal
governments which have been gradu-
ally extending their powers over the
lives, activities and even the homes OF
the citizens. He called such centraliza-
ton of government powers "Franken-
stein"
Mr.. Page particularly assailed the
growth of Federal and State agencies,
independent boards, Offices and commits
sions, which have grown up like mush-
rooms" Many of these, he asserted,
could be entirely dispensed with and
| the functions of others could be trans
directly responsible to some RESPONSE
BILE official.
THE only way to economiZe," he de-
clared, sis to use the knife sharply"
Another speaker was ElWood Street,
director of the Washington Community
Chest, who outlined the business poll
cies being carried out by the Chest
organization and its IS member Or
CARNATIONS. He pointed out that the
cost of the current campaign would
amount to but per cent, because Of
efficiency in the organization and the
valuable volunteer service given free of
charge by workers. This economy has
been effected, he said, in the face of
100000 increase in the Chest budget,
| occasioned by the depression and con-
dition of unemployment
George w. Offutt, president of the
board, presided, with Charles W. Morris,
secretary, assisting. Harry H. R. Helwig
announced completion of arrangements
for the annual banquet meeting of the
board February 6. A musical program
was given by Charles Trowbridge Tit
mann, accompanied by George Wilson.