Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-06-29

He controls the spending Of three
billion, three hundred million dollars
for public works, and $500,000,000 for
restitution relief.
He controls the country's money, can
| reduce, with q stroke of the pen, sala-
ries Of all Government employees, re-
organize the pension system, repeal
taxes. publish income tax returns, in
fate the currency, regulate the rail-
roads under one COORDINATION" and do
many other things.
ALI this power, unknown to former
Presidents, is in President Roosevelt's
hands, because he has q strong will,
and Congress knows the people have
confidence in him.
The National Recovery Act, which
would give government officials power
to control practically all industries,
business payrolls, and wages in the
United States, represents an important
step, taken suddenly.
of industry by government. II govern
ment could prove that 1t has more in
telligence, in such control, than the
private individuals that have controlled
hitherto.
Nothing could be more desirable than
an arrangement that would prevent too
much production in one direction, too
low wages in another.
But barring occasional panics and
depressions. this country has done
marvelonsly well, leaving control Of in
dustry to individuals that have spe-
cialized in industry.
Henry Ford expressed the thought
Of many when he said he had always
understood that to manage q business
well you must know something about
| 1t.
But something had to be done, and
the nation hopes that what has been
done, taking control Of United States
enterprises from those that have built
up the enterprises, will prove wise and
profitable in the long run.
Experience shows that the nation,
after depression, or panic. has always
struggled back to its feet, somehow,
and gone on to greater industrial de-
velopment, greater prosperity and
higher wages.
President Roosevelt has rejected the
proposition to let European countries
decide on the value of the dollar, as
compared with their own money. and
the people will be glad to hear 1t.
1t was proposed to make the British
pound sterling, which is . piece of
paper printed by the Bank of England,
worth four dollars. America sees no
particular reason why Europe should
regulate the value of our money, or
have anything to say about it, except
to take 1t or leave it as they choose.
Britain did not consult us about 60
ing off the gold basis. The French Gov
eminent, when it cut 80 per cent from
the value of its franc, did not ask our
opinion, or the opinion of England.
What IL the matter with this coun-
try, with all its talk about being the
greatest and richest in the world"
that 1t must travel 5000 miles across
the ocean to ask others for advice about
our own business?
Scientists attacking the atom report
progress" That atom, q word from
the Greek meaning mot to be cut" be-
cause men assumed that nothing could
be smaller, is now explored by chem
lists and physicists as, astronomers ex-
plore the solar system and the outside
universe.
Terrific energy, unknown to men
hitherto. is locked up in the atom, so
much Of it, that the atomic energy of
one tablespoonful of water would run
the biggest steamship across the Allan
tic and back. Scientists do not ask you
to believe 1t, they prove 1t.
In attacking the atom, to release and
use its energy, scientists use the "Deu-
ton" which is the nucleus OF an extra
heavyweight hydrogen called Hydro
gen Two"
These "Deutons" or atom guns"
with an electric charge of 100000
volts, are fred at the heart of an atom
of lithium.
Scientists assure you that while only
about one in 100000 atomic bullets
hits the mark. they nevertheless, re-
lease ten times as much energy as they
use in their bombardment!
You ask how they are going to har.
ness and use that energy, and 1t all
seems unimportant to the layman.
Some day 1t may be more important
to human welfare than the discovery
OF steam or electricity.
When Papin was trying to develop
the steam engine, which he almost
created. but could not quite develop,
everybody would have called his work
a waste OF time.