Evening star., 1935-04-23

ing to set power 70 ccntrcl the farmer.
What have been the results? Has the
governmental control Of private busi-
ness ever reduced the cost Of operation
Of that busineas or improved It's e.
ficiency? The N. r. A. increased the
cost Of manufactured goods to the
consumer without corresponding bene-
1its - o whole to business or to labor.
Under the N. r. A. for the first time
In the history Of America It became
. crime to give the consumer the
benefit Of . reduced price. The anti
trust laws are suspended to raise the
price as high Is the traf1c Will bear,
but let Q reduced price be quoted and
under certain codes o business man
may become Q criminal.
We should proflt and learn by the
wise system Of trial and error. The
N. r. A. endeavored to regulate the
details of more than TOO classes of
businesses. II the N. r. A. had con-
fined its operation to . few basic
commodities, It's opportunity for sue
cess would have been greater.
The A. A. A. started out to control
certain basic commodities, and un-
dismayed by the failure Of the N. r. A.
to regulate al business, now wants to
extend its control over all farmers, oil
processors Of food and all handlers,
by Q system Of universal licensing. In
other words, we are now asked to
N. r. A. the farmers Of America.
Increases Business Costs.
The N. r. A. has injured and in
many instances destroyed the small
business man, and Q licensing system
will injure the small farmer. Let me
call your attention TO q handler Of
food such as . wholesale dealer. This
dealer must now obtain Q license to
do business from the Federal Govern.
ment. He must be licensed by his
particular code authority under the
N. r. A., and then II this legislation
Is enacted he must get . third license
from Secretary Wallace. How could
any business man operate successfully
with three bureau bosses, each with
power to revoke his license to do busi-
ness. The several licenses may even
contain conflicting provisions. And
listen to this: The cost Of the several
licenses and the policing Of the vast
organisation must be paid by the per-
son who obtains the license, who in
turn win endeavor to add such cost
to the price paid by the consumer, or,
failing In this, the expense Of this
supervision will be deducted from the
price received by the farmer.
Imagine Q farmer who Grows a
perishable crop waiting for the un-
winding Of the red tape at Washing
ton, thousands Of miles away, before
he can ship . product that will spoil
In q few hours.
When 1t comes to the penalties for
violations Of the act, the courts are
set aside and the Secretary takes the
place Of both court and jury. If a
license Is issued In accordance with
law-namely, to carry out the policies
Of the act and to bring about normal
economic conditions Of marketing,
etc. - and this gives the greatest
latitude to the Secretary and makes
him virtually the sole judge-then his
decision Is not renewable by the court
and he has the power to fine those
who ship without . license, and the
penalty shall be payable to the Treas
ury Of the United States and recover
able In . civ1l suit brought In the
name Of the United States.
Arbitrary Tax.
Theoretically, only Congress has the
power to tax, but under this proposed
legislation the Secretary is given the
right to prescribe operating funds for