The Washington times., 1934-12-24

~ pay:
-lA \ '~'>S<t' The questions
Lewis HaRey I want to raise
are: Cd If the States can't afford
relief, who can? (2) If the peo-
pie of the States aren't response
Bile, who are?
The governor of Colorado says:
'"The relief burden has become too
large for States and municipai-
ties" Several others say their
States cannot afford relief. There
fore, they say, let 1.-The Govern
ment" do it!
But how is this "E PluribuS
Unum" Federal Government of
ours made up? have been
taught that 1t is a federation
Of States. l have always sup
posed that every citizen Of the
United States is also citizen
of some individual State.
Isn't it clear that if no State
can afford the kind Of relief ex'
penditures we are now running
mp, then the United States can't
afford it?
Aside from a little tariff reve-
nue., about the only resource
which the United States has
above what the several States
have is it's ability to borrow and
initiate the currency through its
controlled Federal Reserve Sys-
tenn. Every cent the Federal Gov
ernment gets comes out Of the
pockets of the citizens Of the
States.
We can't pay the bill by taking
out of the United States pocket
and putting it into the States
pocket.
But we find another note in
the governors chorus. Thus
the governor Of North Carolina
says, North Carolina is over
paying her share for relief"
and the governor of Montana
says his State can't provide any
more money. Delaware suggests
that she pays enough Federal
taxes to let her out.
The idea is that some States
are worse off than others, and in.
Sist upon "the Government" help
ing them out. On the other hand.
other States say that they are be-
ing sponged upon by their SIS
ters; and that they are already
doing more than their share.
At least, this phase of the
problem should bring home to us
the question. Who pays? That
is what is needed-to bring the
problem right home" to us. AS
long as we can pass the buck,
and rely upon some distant and
mythical power known as "the
Government" we will not face
realities. AS long as we forget
that the U. s. is us, we will try
TO do wasteful things.
1t is time that the taxpayers
(whO are citizens both of States
and United States faced the
need of economy in government.
Economy in State government
does not help, If extravaganza
exists in United States Govern
ment.
So when relief comes back
home, there will be less killing Of
2atted calves and more bean soup.
Various Western governors claim
that others are responsible for
the depression, and that these
guilty parties should pay the
Western relief bills.
The Governor of Nebraska
blameS Eastern special inter
ests." The Governor of Idaho
blames "the policies of the Fed
eral Government" Another Sug-
gests "the capitalists"
To my mind it is just bunk and
demagoguery to say that any par
ticular section or group caused
the depression" But aside from
that, how are they gonig to put
the burden on the alleged guilty
party, IHeIeIy Dy pdSoAA1S UAA0 OON>
to Washington?
Federal Government taxes
have to be paid by all of us, in.
cluding. citizens. of. Western.
States. The West can't escape
taxes by increasing Federal
taxes, nor can it put the bur
den on Eastern Interests" that
way. Everybody pays Federal
taxes on movies, liquor, ETC.,
ETC., as well as the higher prices
caused by heavy taxes on cor
pOratiOnS.
There is no way to beat the
game. If the States can't pay,
the United States can't pay. 1t
the States are insOlvent, SO are
the United States.