Evening star., 1933-01-02


machinery over crumbling roads and
shaking bridges. There are times when
silence IS not neutrality, but assent"
! In a discussion of the democratic
form Of government, the findings say:
Many have been led to conclude re-
, luctantly that the emergence of some
recognized and avowed form of pluto
cratic dictatorship Is not far away. -
An Interpretation which seems to
have margin of advantage Is that of
the prospect Of a continuance of the
democratic regime, with higher stand
ards OF achievement, with a more high
ly unified and stronger government
with sounder types of civic training
with a broader social program and &
sharper-edged purpose to diffuse more
promptly and widely the gains OF civili-
cation, with control over social ten
sions Of the time, with less lag between
social change and governmental adap-
tation and with more provision and
contriving spirit"
In listing specific ways and means
! for continuing research and for the
formation of concrete policies. as well
as for the administration of the lines
Of action indicated" the committee says
a national advisory council may emerge.
Such council would include "scien-
tific, educational, governmental, eco
nomic industrial, agricultural and
labor) points of contact"
| The committee found that the type
OF planning now needed must include
the scientific, the educational, as well
as the economic and also the govern
mental"
Among the committees findings
| were these.
"A change In the distribution OF in
| come which puts more purchasing
power in the hands of wage earners
would enormously increase the market
for many staples and go far toward
providing places for all competent
see little prospect for rapid increase
| Of wage disbursements above the 1929
level"
"A Tariff Ridden World
Another possibility is a great ex-
1 panSion Of exports, but in a tariff
ridden world that also seems a dim
hope"
The six-hour day and five-day week
are methods of distributing the loss of
jobs in less inequitable fashion"
"A solvent unemployment fund would
do much to mitigate the distress which
many now suffer before finding new
openings"
An extension Of old-age pensions to
K CdIe lOI flCtlIIlS Vi pIOkItSS
may bulk large In future discussions"
People whose property Is rendered
valueleSs by new methocs may in future
demand compensation after some fash
ion. For example. investors in public
utilities which have become unprotita-
| bic by reason Of competition which
/ they cannot meet and which the State
will not prevent may demand that
, Government buy their holdings"
Economic planning is called for.
The best which any group
Of economic planners can do with the
data now at hand Is to lay
plans for making plans"
1T is conceivable that without any
surrender Of our belief in the merits
! Of private property, individual enter
] prise and self help, the American people
will press toward a larger measure OF
| public control to promote the common
/ welfare. One possibility is a further
extension Of the list of public utilities
to include coal mining and perhaps
| other industries"
Progressive taxes may be graded at
still sleeper rates. An upper limit may
be put upon inheritances"
Death rates are still much higher in
the lower income groups than in others.
Until point is reached where the
death rate does not vary according to
| income, 1t seems paradoxiCal TO claim
that wage earners are receiving living
wage"
Indications are that even in our late
period Of unexampled prosperity there
was much poverty III certain industries
and localities in rural sections as well
as IN cities, which was not temporary
o. accidental thing"
Millions Live Meagerly.
In the best Of years millions OF
families are limited to meager living"
Unless there is speeding up Of
social invention or slowing down of
mechanical inventions, grave malad-
justments are certain TO result"
In this fleld (of government) the
most dlsquieting developments have been
those OF the intrusion of the graft sys-
/ tenn in the domain Of the Federal Gov
ernment, especially in the form of boot
Logging, but also touching the cabinet
in the Teapot Dome case and the rise
! OF racketeering in certain urban COM
! munities"
The lower forms of collusion between
! the courts and crime, the intermediate
! types OF job brokerage in judgeships
and the more refined manifestations
OF ludlca! remisSneSs are challenge
TO our constructive craftsmanship and
at times an occasion OF profound de-
\ spair
The American standard Of living for
| the very near future may decline be-
cause Of the lower wages caused by
| unemployment, possible Slowness OF
| business recovery and the weakness Of
mass action by employees.
Two great social organizations, the
| economic and governmental, are grow
tYaH at aKNtA k,f1
the church and the family, have de-
clined in social significance, although
| not in human value"
! Church and family have lost many
OF their regulatory influences over be-
hayior"
Government like the family, has
been backward in strengthening its
| social services TO meet new conditions.
If present trends continue, one OF
every flve or six bridal couples OF the
present year will ultimately have their
marriage broken in the divorce court"
Stagnant Population Seen.
Immigration restriction and birth
control are slowing up population
| growth SO that the United States may
! have stationary population before the
end OF the century, with the proportion
oil children growing less and with the
total population close to las, ,000.000.
The idea of a national minimum
| standard-in health, in education, in
culture, ss well as incomes-below
which citizens should not be allowed to
fail is applicable to localities as well
! as to individuals"
There has been "a growing spirit Of
accommodation" in the relations OF
| Negroes and white.
Moral guidance is peculiarly diff
/ hat ha,