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

While the President and the Democratic leaders in
congress are 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 easier than
now to collect funds
During the last two years, Approximately 70 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. we'll known.
But it 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 THY have less wealth to draw
upon in an emergency than have the metropolitan
centers.
It is disgrace that the centers Of wealth not
or will not take care Of their unemployed Never
theess it seems to be true Such being the case it is
essential that the federal government 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 progressves since $780, First i'm
mediate emergency relief to the hungry; and, sec
ond, public works to stimulate industry and pro-
vide jobs.
Whether the proposed s3OO0OOOOO 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
Corporation does not seem to us vitality important,
so long as the job is done-and done promptly and
efficiently, without political favoritism
In the matter Of public works, Senator Robinson
and President Hoover making an important diff
ferentlation between general construction projects
and those that self-sustaining.
one trouble with the country already is that
certain states and cities have built roads and
public buildings than they 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 good long-term investment. For
tunatey there are plenty of income producing prof.
Gets upon which construction could be started nov
for the benefit Of industry and Of the unemployed.
The fact that leaders OF both parties have COM
snitted themselves to the principle of federal unem
ployment relief before congress adjourns is the
most hopeful news in a long time.