Evening star., 1933-02-18

The report Of committee of Con-
gress, headed by Representative Shan
non, showing the extent to which the
Government, through its activities, has
been brought into competition with pri-
vate business, is receiving the attention
of the country. 1t is held to point to
the necessity for definite policy setting
| the bounds to such competition. The
| committee finds "at least 232 items OF
trade industry and personal and pro-
| fesSional service affected by govern
mental competition for which redress is
sought"
ITO get the Government cut of busi-
ness would be a new deal worth while,
indeed" in the opinion of the Charles
ton IS. Co. Evening Post, which believes
that 'it would restore the initiative to
the individual, give incentive to effort,
compel or attract the use of private
capital and make an end to the mendi-
cancy into which the people are falling,
looking dumbly toward Washington to
help them out of their difficulties u
The Abilene Reporter feels that there
IS justice In the claims Of private mer-
chants, manufacturers and professional
men" and advises that 'the argument
that the Government saves money by
such practices will not stand up for the
| simple reason that the Government gets
its sustenance from taxes levied upon
private and corporate enterprise; that
lit is killing the goose that lays the
golden eggs
Government competition, instead of
supplementing industry" according to
the San Jose Mercury-Herald, "impairs
its capacity to give service" That
paper views its existence as economic
war, just as harmful as destructive COM
| petition between or within industries ~
The Mercury Herald directs attention
| to IAN important question presented by
the report which should be considered
| and decided on its merits" and ex-
plains: The paradox of hunger and
want with overabundance of food and
goods has sharply challenged attention
to the fact that We have serious defects
| in our system which must be overcome
Intelligent opinion Is agreed that the
only remedy Is better control through
| planning. Private industries and Gov
ernment departments have engaged in
enterprises, giving no thought to the
effect Of them on industry as whole
The result is unbalance. The need is
sterilization, fer there can be no stable
employment without stable industries u
THE cost of much of this Govern
ment activity" declares the Indianapo-
lis News, "is far above what the ex-
pense would be if advantage were
| taken of the offerings Of private busi-
ness" Recalling that the practice
began in a small way and for good
reason, and has extended until it is
the subject of vigorous agitation in an
| effort TO correct an evil" that paper
is convinced that the committee rec
concentrations should form the basis
of a law for the immediate correction
of obviously wasteful competition and
recognition of the rights of private
business" The Columbia (Mo) Daily
Tribune adds its condemnation of "the
unwarranted wholesale expansion ir
business by the Government against
private initiative" and would ado
strength "to the arm of committee
in the House of Representatives te
deal with the subject"
| Nationwide approval of the COM
mittee report is predicted by the New
ark Evening News, which holds that
the principle involved is unassaile ble'
and points out that 'it has Deer
voiced by the United States Chamber
of Commerce and innumerable othel
bodies" The Evening News concludes
that 1--WE are on the Threshold, appar.
emily, of a colossal adventure into
Federal power development" and adds
mfr. Harding in 1920 promised les
government in business. In the year.
since we have multiplied Government
business activities beyond calculation.
The San Francisco Chronicle upholdl
the attack on "wastefulness. injustice
and short-sightedness involved II
Government competition with privat,
business" and offers the estimate o.
the congressional investigation: "Ths
committee seems to have done a CON
scientious job Of investigation. Though
it applies the principle ngidly, it b.
no means bases its recommendation
on the mere theory that government
has no business In business. Some o
its recommendations are based on say
ing money for the Government, others