Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-01-08

accept such additional levies with complacence
unless they observe positive signs that govern
mental authorities are actually taking effective
measures to bring about some deflation of this
swollen structure of governmental e%xpendl-
lures. The new taxes should be the occasion
for a widespread demand, Of such insistence
that it cannot be ignored, for some real econ
omy at Washington"
A recent statement by Senator Jones, Re-
publican of Washington, shows why it will be
difficult to get reductions in operating ex-
penses. In the face of present conditions and
growing expenditures, this Republican says,
81 do not see how we can cut down appropria-
lions very heavily" for 1--WE have been run
ming very economically right along"
It's foolish to talk about running anything
economically when huge deficits are piling up
and costs are increasing almost daily. Millions
could be saved in tax money if Congress want
ed to save it.
But, like The Baltimore Evening Sun, we
think lit is vain to expect any results from
the present talk about economy unless the
Democrats can adopt a program opposed to
that in vogue by the Republicans, but we
don't agree with the Senator that wasteful-
ness can't be easily found.
The Sun, for instance, takes the Depart
ment of Agriculture. 1t spends at the rate Of
more than 5000, 000, 900 annually, largely to
teach farmers how to grow more wheat, more
corn and more cotton. Having appropriated
that much to increase the product of staples,
Congress sets up a Farm Board and appropri-
ated $500, 000, 900 to maintain the prices of
these staples in a glutted market. Continuing
The Sun says:
1.-THE Farm Board, in its extremity, proposes
the destruction of the very crops the Depart
ment of Agriculture helped to grow. Then
Congress goes further: at the time of the great
est depression in farm prices, and when farm
ing land is a drug on the market, it appropri-
ates more millions 50 that desert land may be
irrigated and put under cultivation. 1t sounds
to us as if there might be some wastefulness
in all this.
"Or take this case: Congress has appropri-
ated $3.50, 600, 900 to lend to Americans anx-
ious to build ships in which to carry our for
eign trade. And the same Congress increases
our already exorbitant tariff to the point
where that foreign trade anguishes and dies,
and ships are a drug on the market.
I1eIe are Two examples OF WaSleIulneSS
which grew out of the inability of Congress
men to see things in the round. Other exam
pies may easily be found. We mention the
fact that Congress passes a law which proposes
to insure a fair return to railroads and then
sets up and operates-at a deficit-a barge
line which completes with at least some of the
railroads and drives them to the verge of bank
ruptcy."
The cost of government can be cut all right,
if the people will make Congress cut it. We
repeat a statement often made in these COL
,unns: 1t is just as important to cut the cost
of operating the government as it is to find
new methods of taxation. The people of Am
erica should raise such a howl over the Mellon
proposal that this session of Congress would
take other means of securing the money need
ed and then adopt a program calling for less
money in the future.