Evening star., 1933-01-17

Comments on prospects of balancing
the Federal budget, with particulars at
tention to results OF the conference be-
tween President-elect Roosevelt and
representatives of his party, indicate
belief that there Is some CONFUSION
which calls for vigorous assertion OF
leadership. New taxes are viewed with
disfavor. and the proposed economy
through reorganization is believed to
face hard struggle.
'Mr. Roosevelt will serve his party
and the country" advises the Baltimore
Sun independent Democratic), IF he
can prevail upon congressional leaders
to formulate a program based on recog-
milton of the attainable in the short ses-
sion, and consistent with the larger pro-
gram Mr.. Roosevelt presumably win Of
fer after March 4. If the congressional
leaders could actually make up their
minds on what they intend to do they
would find the doing of it much easier.
The Texarkana Gazette (Democratic),
recalling "a promise that free hand
will be given to Roosevelt after he en-
tiers the White House, to reorganlze the
Government" voices the belief that "a
lot of Congressman had their fingers
crossed when they talked so freely OF
free hand" since that body wouldn't
be running true to form If it permitted
any reorganization in which 1t didn't
have hand" This paper concludes:
With some cheese pairing here and
there, they are proceeding on the as
sumption that the vast Federal machine
is to be retained virtually intact, ana
that the deficit will be met with new
taxes despite the evidence that tax
boosting is driving capital further into
hiding"
at is unfortunate" declares the New
York Times independently. that the
meeting which Mr., Roosevelt had with
the leaders OF his party in Congress
should seem TO have been marked by
hesitancy and divided counsels." The
Milwaukee Journal independently urges
that Democrats. apparently in con-
fusion, need to show that they can cut
the pie counter out. cut out good things,
even desirable things, that the country
cannot afford. Then We can listen"
adds the Journal. Ito their proposals
for new taxes" The Buffalo Evening
News independent Republican,, observ-
ing that publication of the proposals
resulting from the New York conference
Democrats to get away from them" yet
finds cause for commendation in the
principle that the budget must be bal
anced by taxation in some form" The
Lincoln State Journal independent
Republican,, quoting statements that
Mr.. Roosevelt will not try to pose as
dictator in the matter Of balancing
the budget" adds that mo one wants
to be responsible for any mistakes Con-
grsss may make in imposing taxes and
raising revenues. or even n reducing
Expenditures"
THE <Mntry looks to Mr.. Roosevelt.
ns the head of his party" according to
she Newark Evening News (independ
ent) "tor leadership. His own state
ment, Do something neees application
right now" The Springfield Mass
Republican 0ndependent) offers the
judgment: "With all the adroitness in
the world q President-elect cannot exert
the same E.nuence over Congress that
he may exert after being established In
the White House and becoming the
actual rather than the potential head!
OF the Government. Yet it Is obvious |
in Washington constitutes new ana
graver challenge to Franklin Roosevelt's
powers of leadership
In the matter of pay redCctions in the |
Government service. the Oklahoma City |
Times Independently says: ''There Is |
no yardstick which will accurately /
measure the decline in earnings of the |
people, but the forthcoming income tax |
reports will give some gauge Of the |
slump in incomes. No one doubts that |
it has been tremendous, but further /
cuts can be applied to many Govern |
ment workers and still come under the |
head of reasonable economy" The /
Birmingham Age-Herald CDemocratic) |
suggests the significant problem is
whether Democrats shall cndeavor
actuaIly tos.6alsncc the BUDGET or in
dulge in the Focus -pocus Of ) paper ad- |