The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-08-31

1t now seems certain that when the
congress returns to Washington next
| .... January 1t will be
| WM AsR called upon immedi-
More Funds ately by the admin
| istration to vote
more funds for relief of the drouth vic
tins. Until later, however, the extent
to which the administration will seek
to go in this direction cannot be fore.
told. 1t Is evident that having seen the
circumstances first hand, Mr.. Roose-
velts entire sympathy will be behind
whatever proposal he makes.
Observers here, however, foresee
some dangers as a result of the pres
| ent desperate conditions. They know
that MIR. Roosevelt will, as he has fire.
| quently stated, go the limit with fed
eral funds, but the danger foreseen by
astute observers here Is that some of
the members Of the house and senate
will attempt to go beyond all reason in
| preparation of relief plans during next
winter. 1t is not unusual, as the rec
| ords show, that on every occasion
when the federal treasury doors are
| opened senators or representatives will
come forward with scores of plans I'M
der the guise of human relief to get
| their hands on government money for
| their constituents 1t is fair to say
! that some of these will be sincere. 1t
Is equally fair to say that, as in the
past, some of them will have been
misguided. The conversations one
| hears around Washington therefore in
| dictate that those charged with gov
eminent responsibility must be on their
guard If vast sums are not to be
wasted under the guise of extending
relief to needy victims of natures
pranks this year.
Some of the brain trusters already
have developed far flung plans for the
| physical transfer of thousands of farm
| families from the drouth stricken dis
| tricts into other areas where they can
| get started again. While generally
speaking l believe sentiment In the
government favors doing anything
that will afford relief next winter. a
| good many of the higher authorities
| in the administration point out that
| the scheme of transpositon of whole
| families and their belongings presents
grave problems.
without attempting to discuss the
| merit or demerit of the scheme. 1t
seems to me that attention ought to be
| called to the fact that human beings
| just can't agree to such programs.
There was cartoon in one of the
eastern metropolitan newspapers the
other day that de-
PrIce picted Uncle S a m
Situation begging a small boy
labeled prices" to
| grow up so that he could reach his
height of 1926. Beside it was another
caricature which showed Uncle Sam
warning the same boy to stop grow
| ing and announcing that if he, the
| prices of food grows too much, Il will
crack down." l refer to this cartoon
because most Washington observers
see the price situation in this country
| to be quite confusing. 1t is to be re-
called that throughout last year and
early in 1884 the administration pred
icated all of it's actions on a desire
to raise prices. Now, however, the eff
| feet of the prolonged drouth in the
agricultural areas is being felt in the
cities and President Roosevelt an
nounced his fear that profiteering in
food prices is likely to result and made
| known that the administration has
| definite plans to curb any undue rise
| in prices Thus far it has not been
made clear what is considered an I'M
due price rise under present condi-
tions but the President stated with
emphasis in press conference that
| he would not permit prOfteering to
| take place in the coming fall and win
| ter because, he indicated. he thought
| the price increases would be unjusti-
| fed
| The President and Secretary Wal
| lace, of the Department of Agriculture,
are working hand in hand in the de-
velopment of machinery which they
| intend to use to protect consumers
from profiteering. Mr.. Roosevelt as
serted he had plenty of power with
which to do this job. Mr. Wallace,
speaking later, said the first check that
would be placed on an undue rise in
prices would be closer supervision of
| the grain markets. Any indications of
manipulation in those markets will be
dealt with summarily. according to
Mr.. Wallace.
The circumstances surrounding price
questions, however, have caused many
observers to ask for further exposition
of the administrators policies in this
regard. AS far as have been able to
| learn, none of the administration
spokesman are willing at this time to
go beyond the threat to crack down
| IL there is profiteering. 1t must be as
sumed, therefore, that moderate price
| increases will be tolerated. If they are
| not, it is made to appear that the poll
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