The Washington times., 1935-09-07
Government
Needs Four
Reforms
By JAMES T. WILLIAMS, Jr.

Twin foes Of our own house
hold" are the radical propagan-
dist and the pork-barrel politi.
clan.
Their unholy alliance has for
its sinister objective the Euro.
peanizing Of the American sys-
tenn Of government.
These allies would have the
plain people believe that the
Constitution Of the United
States must be rewritten if the
tax burden of the people is to
be alleviated and the quality Of
government improved.
Under this "Specious pretext"
the radical is attempting, as
George Washington predicted in
the Farewell Address," Ito un-
dermine that which cannot be
directly overthrown."
This the pork-barrel politician
is willing should be done, pro-
vided the parasites for whom he
speaks can continue to extort
taxes from the American peo.
pie in order to maintain hun.
dreds Of thousands Of political
appointees on the pay rolls Of
Federal, State and local govern.
ments.
These now total in number
one hundred and eighty-two
thousand political units-"all
having the power to incur public
debt"
WRONG COURSE
It is not necessary to over
throw the government of the
Constitution in order to reduce
the cost Of government or to
raise its standard of adminiStra-
tion.
1t is not necessary to set up
in Congress a political despot-
ism or to send to the White
House political dictator in
order to enable the American
people to meet the economic
challenges of modern times.
1t is not necessary to pay
through the nose in taxes the
bills of $4,000 governments
under the flag in order to pro-
tect the people in their right
"to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness" which the gov
ernment of the Constitution was
established to safeguard.
These blessings can be be-
slowed in more abundant meas
ure whenever and wherever the
people will rise against the radi-
Gals and overthrow the tyranni-
cal rule of pork.harrel poll
ticians throughout the Union.
Now is the time and the Fed
eral city and the State capitols
the places to inaugurate this re-
form.
Why should the American
people be taxed to support 435
members of the national House
of Representatives when a
House Of 200 members can give
them better representation at
far less cost?
Why should the American
people be taxes to support Al
legislatures, each with it's senate
and house of representatives,
when a legislature Of one house
will better and more econom-
ically serve each State?
Why should the American
people be taxed to pay for more
than 5000 county governments,
$4,000 school districts and 49,
900 townships and $4,000 other
political subdivisions, when 48
State governments with only
300 county governments, 25,OOO
school districts, and no town
ships can give them better gov
ernment at less cost?
Why should the American
people be taxed and taxed and
taxed to maintain "the Spolls
system" under which our po-
litical bosses pack the public pay
rolls with their political work
ers when the public service can
be more efficiently and econom'
ically manned by merit SyS-
tenn of appointment?
MAJOR OPERATIONS
These are the four major op-
erations on the body of govern
ment in this country which the
people can compel whenever
they raise up a Leadership
worthy to serve them.
These are four reforms which
will fortify the government OF
the Constitution and will re-
vitalize the American system
and restore throughout the Un-
ion popular government as the
trainers of the Constitution en-
visaged it.
These are the progressive
stages which public sentiment
must compel if the tax burden
of the people is to be reduced
and if the public service is to
be purged. And the month In
which the people of the United
States celebrate the birthday OF
their Constitution Is q good
time to think about them.
- rrI I. .fyur tyf1A