Evening star., 1934-01-27
Subsidized Competition.

oOAh PSeASA~AA'
[ The idea behind the Reedsville. w
o., subsistence homestead develop
unent now being undertaken by the
Public Works Administration Is to
demonstrate the possibilities OF eStab-
fishing a model community Of small
BARNS, with factory to provide gain
M occupation for the families. There
hre, of course, many possibilities which
Dxtend beyond the mere provision of
eood and shelter, and the undertaking
has created a great amount Of interest.
But the House yesterday, acting hur-
Saedly and without debate, inserted in
Ahs Post Office appropriation bill an
amendment the effect Of which would
Be to prevent the Post Office Depart
ment from purchasing equipment from
euy Government factory save the mail
bag manufacture and repair shops, To-
Gated In Washington. Representative
Ludlow Of Indiana, author of the
amendment, explained that members Of
the House wished to write into the bill
provision that mo part Of the ap-
Propriations carried by this bill shall
Be used to finance the proposed Gov
ernment furniture factory in the State
ef West Virginia"
Mr.. LudloW's chief point was this:
When Secretary Ickes allotted $685.
UO0 OF public works funds to establish
? Government furniture factory in
West Virginia he was actuated by
noble purpose, but I submit that he
must not have taken into conSidera-
ton the fact that nothing would be
gained from humanitarian standpoint
py giving factory employment to un-
employed coal miners in West Vir-
E1nla If at the same time an equal
plumber of heads Of families are robbed
Of their employment and thrown on
the charity lists elsewhere.
He explained that privately-owned
plants furnishing equipment to the
Government were located in his district
md that the West Virginia factory
would close those plants. "The pro-
posal to put the Government in COM
petition with private business violates
The fundamentals of American phi
losophy and sets a precedent that will
hound and plague this country for
tears to come" he added.
Some years ago the Congress author
Ted q contract for mail bag manufac-
ture and repair work at the Federal
prison in Atlanta, but the work to be
done there was only the work that
could not be done here. The business
decline prevented mail bag work at
Atlanta. as the Washington plant can
adequately meet the demand But II
Tie mail bag work had been handed
over, lock. stock and barrel, to Atlanta,
tl1e ruthless hardship worked upon
Saithful employees here would have
been inexcusable.
Only relatively few persons will be
employed by the demonstration plant
N West Virginia. Their competition,
outside Of certain specialized lines OF
work. would not amout to much. But,
- Mr.. Ludlow said. If employment in
West Virginia means unemployment
elsewhere, nothing has been gained.
Yhe success Of the West Virginia ex-
pertinent will not be endangered by the
.1aldlow amendment. But 1t seems rea-
Joonable to suppose that, besides demon
Ntrating the merits of subsistence homes
Rnd model communities, the burden of
proof rests on Uncle Sam to show what
new, employmentgiving industries may
be established. The demonstration will
Immediately lose force if the Govern
pnent factory at Reedsville merely turns
out to be another mail bag or furniture
equipment plant, robbing other people
II present opportunities for work.