The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-14
Good News

While the President and the Democratic leaders in
congress working out details Of compromise I'M
employment relief plan the country rejoice that
federal aid of some sort at last is in sight.
Reports Of local officials and relief agencies have
shown for months that in many localities there is
way OF preventing starvation without federal help
Private charity never has been adequate in the
beginning Of the depression when it was easier than
now TO collect funds
During the last two years, approximately u per
cent of the cost OF relief distributed has come out Of
public treasures state and local.
Since last autumn these state and local authorities
have been increasingly unable TO carry that load.
Many of them not only have exhausted their funds,
but have reached the legal limit Of their borrowing
capacity.
The dire conditions resulting in large cities such
as New York. Chicago, and Detroit, are we'll known.
But is not generally understood that conditions are
worse in many smaller communities. That is true be-
cause some OF the smaller towns and cities are de-
pendent upon one industry virtually laid low by the
depression and because they have less wealth to draw
upon in an emergency than have the metropolitan
centers
It is disgrace that the centers Of wealth can not
or will not take care OF their unemployed Never
theless it be true Such being the case it
essential that the federal help to feed the
hungry in the large cities well in the small COM
munities.
Both the Democratic plan advanced by Senate
Leader Robinson and the administration plan out
lined by President Hoover, accept the two-fod relief
principle urged by progessves since $780, First inn
mediate emergency relief to the hungry; and, sec
ond public works to stimulate industry and pro-
vide jobs.
whether the proposed ssOOOOOOOO emergency d.
rect relief should be handled in the first instance by
a SEPARATE government commission or by the Amer
lean Red Cross, or by the Reconstruction Finance
so long as the Job is done-and done promptly and
efacIently without political favoritism.
In the matter of public works, Senator Robinson
and President Hoover are making an important diff
ferentlaton between general construction projects
and those that self-sustaining
One trouble with the country already is that
certain states and cities have built more roads and
public buildings than they can pay for, and thus
have mortgaged future taxpayers to dangerous
degree.
Obviously when the local and federal tax load
Is so heavy that it contributes to the economic de-
preston relief should be sought in public works that
produce income rather than increase taxes
Toll roads and bridges and hydroelectric projects
are types that produce financial return soon, and
reforestation Is a good longterm investment. For
tunately there are plenty of income producing prof.
ects upon which construction could be started now
for the benefit Of industry and Of the unemployed.
The fact that leaders Of both parties have COM
nitted themselves to the principle Of federal unem-
ployment relief before congress adiourns is the
most hopeful news in a long time.