Montana labor news., 1935-05-16

crease in tariff rates on agricultural commodity,
which the farmer vainly imagined would help
him, was matched by a corresponding increase
in the tariff on manufactured products, so that
even if the farm tariff was effective the disparity
remained. The AAA therefore set out to raise
the price Of farm commodities, in almost every
one OF which there was a surplus, by a series Of
plans to restrict production. As an inducement
to cooperation by the farmers in addition to the
expected higher prices, rentals or bonuses Tor
the average withdrawn were paid. Whether
owing to these efforts alone or to those efforts
in connection with other natural causes, the
price Of most farm products has risen and the
spread has been slightly lessened. But there has
been no substantial gain because, just as in the
case Of the tariff, the farmer gain is almost
wholly nullified by the higher prices the indus
trialists obtain through the NRA.
Failure to see to it that these two great ex-
periments having to do with the largest divisions
Of the national economy should harmonic and
work toward a single end may be excused on the
ground that they were initiated at the very out
set Of the Roosevelt Administration when the
times were critical and quick action was nee
essary. Besides, they could not reasonably be
abandoned without a chance for fair trial. But
between the special session Of Congress when
they were put into effect and the converting of
the regular session in January this year six and
one-half months elapsed in which it would have
been possible to take account Of stock and work
out a co-ordinated plan.
Such a scheme however was not presented.
Many useful measures were passed by the SEES
sion. The law regulating stock exchanges will
correct the serious abuses, the housing plan viii.
assist home owners and remove some of their
worries, the revenue act will do away with Ger
tain forms Of income tax e%vasions. The tariff
act will give the President, who is fond Of fish
ing, the exhilaration of angling for a world trade
which no longer exists. But none of the laws
passed went to the fundamentals Of the situa-
ton. Hence persons who are who'll. friendly to
the Administration and in full sympathy with
the broad humanitarian purposes enunciated by
President Roosevelt are asking why the things
he now holds out as promises to be fulfilled by
the next Congress could not have been got ready
for the one which has just expired so that val
liable time should not have been lost. Bills Gov
ering some Of them we're already in committee.
The IDEAS contained in the suggested program
are basic. They 60 to the root Of the trouble
security in home, in living, and in old age. But
will the means to attain this end be formulated
with such care and thoroughness as to exclude
the confusion and conflict that have attended the
numerous experiments inaugurated during the
past year? This is a question which is worrying
those who entertain nothing but good will for
the Administration, and the reason for it is to
be found in the record.
1t is now everywhere admitted that the prob
lem of production has been solved and that the
acute problem remaining to be solved is that of
providing consuming power to balance produc-
ton. All talk has been Of stimulating industrial
production. Although the banks are choked
with funds which they can't or won't lend, a bill
was passed at the last session of Congress pro-
viding more than $|5OO,OOO,OO0 additional money
for loans to industry through the Federal Res
erve Banks and Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton. More is added to too much. 1t was pretty
well demonstrated by reports of retail sales,
which are regarded as a good index, that the Civil
Works Administration and the AAA through it's
bonuses were the only operations which gave
substantial impetus to business; therefore the
failure to devote more attention to the stimula-
ton Of consumption is rather surprising. 1he
CWA and the AAA bonuses were antidotes for
the higher prices created by the NRA and the
AAA's own crop-restriction plans. But the CWA
as such was abandoned and the fundamental task
which it had been performing Of providing more
consuming power was thrown back upon direct
relief agencies.
No intelligent person of humanitarian impulses
would think for a moment Of a relapse into the
old order. All in that category welcome and ac-
claim President Roosevelt's recognition Of the
vital need Of security the removal Of the
deadly fear Of want which Expresses 50 many mil
lions Of human beings and they ardently desire
to go forward with him. But they do hope he
will pull together into an orderly system the
disjointed operations now in force before he is
overwhelmed BY the confusion and cross pur-
pose.
Likewise it is hoped that his three great OBJ
jectiyes, security Of the home, security Of live
lihood, and the security Of social insurance" will
be reached by methods which take into account