Evening star., 1933-01-30
The Political Mill
By G. Gould Lincoln.

Tor Qlrect Government aid 70 the un-
employed. A bill has been reported
from the Committee on Manufactures
by Senator Robert M. La Toilette, jr.
Of Wisconsin and Is now on the Sen
ate calendar, calling for a Government
contribution Of $500,0oo,ooo to relieve
the destitute. The same members OF
Congress who fought tooth and toe
nail for direct Federal contributions to
the unemployed - for a Government
dole, In effect-during the last two OF
three years are fighting again for this
measure. No one will deny that there
Is unemployment and destitution In this
country on a large scale today. The
only question is whether once the
Federal Government has undertaken to
feed millions Of citizens, these citizens
will ever be content again, or a large
portion Of them, to live through their
own efforts and hard work.
\ 4
Federal aida Federal dole to mil
lions Of citizens-has much the same
drawback as currency imitation under
taken by government. Once 1t Is
started. there seems no way of checking
it. Yet both the dole and the currency
imitation are sponsored now by groups
in Congress. The Senate last week, by
vote of Sc to 10, turned down the first
lnf1ationary measure to come before it
in the shape of amendments offered
to the Glass banking bill by Senators
Long of Louisiana and Wheeler OF Mon
tana. The Wheeler amendment was
the old Bryan 16-to-1 and free silver
proposal. 1t Is no sounder to expand
Federal aid until 1t becomes a dole To
millions Of citizens than it is to initiate
the currency until the dollar becomes
practically worthless. However, the Fed
eral aid bill now reported Is believed to
have much support. 1t has the support
indeed, of majority of the member
ship of the Senate Committee on Man
ufactures. Recently Senator La Fol-
lette visited President-elect Franklin D.
Roosevelt at Warm Springs, Ca, and
came away. 1t is reported, pleased with
the attitude of Mr. Roosevelt toward
relief" Many Of the Democrats in
Congress sough to force a Federal dole
on the country. and more particularly
on President Hoover, a year or more
ago. They may be intent on doing the
same thing now in the closing days of
the Hoover administration. 1t is not
publicanS in Congress are willing to
have such a measure placed on the
statute books during a Republican ad-
ministration that winds up five weeks
hence. They would prefer to see this
kind Of an experiment undertaken. If it
is to be undertaken, with the Democrats
in full control
The funds which must be raised for a
Federal dole must come eventually from
the pockets Of the American people
There Is no real reason why the State
governments should not get this money,
If the States need to do so for relief
purposes within their borders Yet it Is
proposed. as usual, to put the burden
on the Federal Government.
The situation in the country, how
ever. is none too good. Reports from
the agricultural States of the West and
Midwest show that groups of farmers
have banded together to prevent fore
closure sales on farms and the property
of farmers to meet mortgages on which
the farmers have defaulted In many
cases hundreds of farmers have intim-
ldated the representatives of the hold
ers Of the mortgages and brought about
the buying in Of the farms and live
stock practically for a song The people
in this country who still have great
wealth are much to blame for the situa-
tion that exists, however. They have
refused to make use of their money;
have boarded it in many instances, let
it lie idle in banks or deposit boxes,
Ir have bought avidly of tax-free Gov
-nment securities. Unless these people
owealth wake up to the situation. they
nv find some day that their efforts
10 uake themselves safe have resulted
IN opditions IN this country which will
oepf'e them of the wealth they have
~ Is business and employment for
WHICH This country is starving today.
IL CAN'T be had while huge sums of
money ae tied up and a comparatively
leW OWNS decline to allow it to be
Some dathe Government, or rather
congress. whwake up to the bad situa-
tlon II mas hrmitted to exist because
OF tne 1ailureto tax Government Sc
curltles OF an ,inds. as it taxes other
wealth.. Win billions of dollars in
considerable port,n of the people or of
the wealth of thtentire people. is tax
free. while the reminder staggers along
under this burden. Not long ago Sem
ator Ashurst of Azona introduced a
resolution proposingsn amendment to
the Constitution doih away with these
| tax-free securities, least so far as
| future issues are conceoed. His amend
ment would give to thenederal Govern
ment and the State &ernments the
| right to levy taxes onsnv Securities
issued by the Federal Gsernment and
the States. but provides ,ere shall be
no discrimination by the FEDERAL Gov
ernmeM in the matter Of AK rates in
! favor of its securities, or b. the States
in favor of their own bono If some
such amendment could alst be made
to reach existing Governing bonds.
so much the better. Before leg it will
be necessary for the Federal Govern
ment to refinance many of il loans
In the reissue of these securit3 pro-
! vision should be made against * ex-
| emption. If all this wealth now tax
it would be a comparatively easy 1at-
ter to balance the Government briS Set.
X
Working quietly, but nevertheless r.
sistently, are interests and groups N
this country to prevent, if possible, e
appointment of Senator Thomas
NdAo4A o4 1NOAtaAld w tAAS RocV VA ZAt
torney General of the United States i
| the Roosevelt cabinet. In some quar-
tiers it is asserted that, despite the fac
that Senator Walsh has been ap
preached in regard to the appointment
and has had it Under consideration. i
the end the appointment will not b
made. The Montana Senator, it Is sal
| by those who do not wish his appoint
ment, might be too active in stirrin
up suits to enforce the antitrust law!
| X X
The self-styled ''Kingfish," Senate
Huey Long of Louisiana, may not be
| position to do much f1libustering i
| the Senate for the next few weeks, eve
if he wished to do so. The Senate Com
mittee on Campaign Expenditure
headed by Senator Howell of Nebrask'
is soon to open hearings in New o.
leans to ascertain whether charges {
gross fraud in the conduct of the nom
mating primary and election of Sen
ator-elect Overton, a protege of Lon,
are true or not. The committee ha
had investigators in the State for tn
last two months and they have turne
| IN Il is repOrted a situation that ha