Evening star., 1932-05-15
Unity of Action.

anu tHe OcInOCIhLlC ledOeI Oh Tie SENATE
both have appealed to Congress and to
the country for the enactment Of emer-
gency relief legislation. The people may
be the sufferers If this legislation fails,
due to the fact that irreconcilable diff
ferences arise between the Republican
administration and the Democrats in
Congress, who control the House and
who, with the insursent Republican
group, are able to dominate the Senate.
President Hoover In . public statement
issued Friday night calls for unity Of
action In campaign to re-establish
public confidence and to set the wheels
OF industry In motion again.
Mr. Hoover reafirrs the need for .
prompt balancing Of the budget Of the
Federal Government as the first and
most important step toward financial
rehabilitation. This Is to be accom-
plished through the levying Of addi-
tional Federal taxes and through drastic
economies in the Government itself.
There Is now no disagreement between
the President and the Democratic lead
ers In Congress over the prime necessity
Of balancing the budget. It Is An i'm
portant step forward. But Mr.. Hoover
warns that in adopting relief program
no steps must be taken which will tend
to overthrow or break down the bal
anced budget for which all are striving
today. In this warning the President Is
entirely correct. What more idle gesture
could be made than TO balance the
budget with one hand and with the
other to enact legislation which would
increase governmental expenditures by
billions Of dollars?
Unfortunately, some Of the Demo-
cratic leaders In Congress and out have
become welded to the idea that great
program Of Government construction,
costing anywhere from $4,000, ,ooo, 900 to
$4,000, ,ooo, 900, must now be ordered and
undertaken as means Of returning
men and women to work In this coun-
try. A great part OF the construction
program would be productive. Much
Of II could be left TO more prosperous
times without the slightest injury 10
the Government and with much bench.
TO the people, who viii be compelled
through taxation 10 pay for this huge
program.
D~>~tSnrt yTonv>~ S.as S~,y.r~A a~~ 10 s&
such program. He has substituted for
II Q program Of relief through the in
strumentality Of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation. with greater pow
ers for making loans TO productive in
dustry--a program that In the end viii
not cost the taxpayers hundreds Of mil
lions and billions Of dollars. His pro-
posals. the President points out, do not
AFFECT the budget and do not constitute
a drain on the taxpayers.
The President and the Democrats
have reached an accord on the need OF
putting through legislation setting up
fund Of approximately $500, 900 .ooC
to be loaned to the States for enaergen-
cy relief. II is an emergency fund
which the President hopes win not
necessarily be used, certainly not in
full. The proposal keeps the Govern
ment away from the Federal "dole,
although making It's resources available
to those states which hnd the burden
Of relief too great for them.
The President demands unity Of
action In this emergency. It viii be
indeed unfortunate II politics or pride
Of authorship In any relief plan are
allowed to creep into the consideration
Of this relief program. The proposals
advanced should be judged alone on
their merits and not from the point Of
view that they will promote the in
terests Of any political party.