Evening star., 1934-10-07
COMPARISONS of British and American
Recovery From Economic Depression

snow the way the BrltlSn nave re-
covered without experimenting. Some
of the statements and replies cleaned
from Government sources follow:
There is no English N. r. A. That
is true, but there is no English anti
trust law, either. Also, the British
government has taken a definite hand
in the reorganization Of the coal in
dustry and the steel industry. The
government is using its full powers
to open foreign markets for British
goods and it keeps a watchful eye
over business.
There Is no English A. A. A. That
also is true, but there is the equivalent
in farm plan that is even more
drastic than that in the United States.
Britain licenses marketers of farm
products, fixes farm prices and exer-
cises a control over farming in a de-
gree that would really qualify as
regimentation if applied to American
farmers.
There is no English P. w. A. The
British housing program takes the
place Of public works and Is proving
more effective as a job producer.
There is keen disappointment among
New Dealers over the job-creating ef-
feet Of P. w. A.
There Is no English NJ l. r. B.
Strikes are not a present worry In
England. But British employers long
have accepted collective bargaining
and union organization. Much Of the
S4riHjr1cy in tnie country union
activity. Great Britain years ago
went through that stage. So she has
no need for labor boards to settle dis
putes growing out Of labor demands
for the right to bargain collectively.
The English have no F. E. r. A.
But they do have relief rolls. And
they do have unemployment insurance,
about which the United States still is
arguing. However, the British relief
burden Is much lighter than that in
the United States and is borne in part
by those at work, who contribute to
the unemployment insurance fund.
When this country was prosperous,
back in the pre-1929 days, Great
Britain was troubled with the "dole." P"
Now we are equally, If not more
acutely, troubled by relief problems.
Commenting on the Presidents ref
erence to the United States and Great
Britain, the conservative London
Times said:
THE conversion loans, planned
agriculture, subsidy to shipping. closer
control of industry and the national
system of relief for all not covered
by insurance show how far the proc
ess of socialization has been carried
in this country.
TOO close a parallel between Brit
ish and American methods, however,
cannot be properly drawn because con-
ditions are in many ways so obviously
different. Some of the changes in
Mr.. Roosevelt's colossal effort have
been brought about in this country
gradually during the last hundred
years, such as the right Of workers 70
combine and abolition Of child labor"
Besides, the British for 20 years and
more have had unemployment insur-
ance, health insurance and old-age
pensions. Those are matters that this
country is just now beginning to con-
slider and they raise issues that some
industrial organizations are preparing
to combat.
But, on the other hand. there are
reports from several business quarters
that industry realizes it has to acc 'pt
social reforms on a broad Ecale and
is ready to accept their gradual ep-
plication. In turn, these industrial
lists are hopeful that in return for an
acceptance of reform President
Roosevelt will slow up the pace OF the
New Deal until business can catch its
breath and regain the assurance lost
during the Summer.
Copyright, 1934l