The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-02-05
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
COST OF THE TOWNSEND PLAN

count to eighteen billions was published in the
New York Mirror Along with the cartoon was
published a double-column editorial discussing III
pain terms just what the presentation of eighteen
billion dollars year to non-producers would mean
to those who continued to produce
"Learned professors" said the Mirror, "compre-
| bend the meaning of billion dollars the differ
ence between a billion and a million. But for our
own enlightenment we found this parable valu-
able instruction:
"If it were possible to count 800 every minute.
ten hours day. 365 days year, taking off only
the extra day of each leap year, it would require
* wears. so days, five hours and "a minutes to
count to ONE BILLION
| ozone million would be counted at the end of
the sixth day. Thus the difference between six
days and fifteen years IS roughly the difference
between million and billion.
"peter Molvneaux, able editor of The Texas
| Weekly, figured that out to explain the tremend-
ons amount that would have to be taxed out of the
working part of the American population in order
to pay the eighteen billion dollars year to those
over sixty, as called for in the Townsend Plan.
workers might better comprehend the vastness
of eighteen billion dollars if the figure is express
ed in terms of their wages for working. In 1929,
turing in the United States totaled $11 1921 ,0OO.-
OOO Dr. Townsend proposes to pay IN one year
six billion dollars more than the total wages of
all those workers to people over 90 for producing
nothing.
"Now that we know just how much eighteen
billion is, our next question is Where will it
come FROM
"Dr. Townsend tells us: 1t would be raised by
all ua
Remember it is two per cent all transactions,
not sales tax 1t would apply to every check
cashed, every salary paid, every bit of goods or
food bought every transaction in which money
figures
"And Mr. Molyneaux tells us what that would
mean: 1T would be equivalent to tax of more
than $40 month on every man and woman be-
tween the ages of 10 and 60 in the entire coun
try Dr. Townsends tax would be equivalent TO
S4S month from every one of the 31,OOOOOO
families in the United States, or Sl6o day from
every such family :"
When the expenditure that would be necessltated
by putting the Townsend plan into effect is con-
sdered in terms of goods its impossibility is seen
Immediately. Frankly, it would seem that most
people have had no very clear realization of just
how large an amount of goods is required to be
(Fla.) Times Union helps to bring about better
understanding of this matter: "By way of Illus
trating the preposterousness of the proposal, The
Texas Weekly declares that DR.. Townsend seeks to
distribute among the aged the first year of the
operation of his plan money equal to more than the
value of all the wheat, corn, rye oats and all other
grains produced in the United States in 1929
In addition to the value of the grains, it would also
reouife the value of all the fruits and nuts all the
vegetables all the cotton and cottonseed, all che
cattle and calves all the hogs, all the sheep and
wool, all the poultry and eggs, all the milk ana
dairy products, all the automobiles and motor
trucks. all the women's clothing, all the mems
clothing, ali the perfumes and cosmetics, all the
beverages and all the moving pictures produced
in this country in 1929. :"
Fortnight comment on the impractical scheme
of the California physician is the order OF the day.
Thoughtful people have awakened to the fact that
the Townsend plan is a menace and that II any
attempt were made to carry out its provisions the
result might we'll be disastrous to the country
"Writing in . The Texas Weekly, Peter Molly
neaux the editor, gives facts and figures says the
Macon (Ga.) Telegraph, to show what is wrong
with the Townsend plan.
.'Dr. Townsend claims that the spending CT
81, 500 100000 each month would hasten national
recovery Mr.. Moyneaux takes the probable eff
feet on cotton an example, and shows that the
falling off in American cotton consumption has
taken place outside the United States. The per
capita consumption in this country last year was
about % pounds whereas the average consump-
ton of all kinds of cotton outside the United States
was eight pounds. Suppose the Townsend plan
were to put up the per capita consumption of COT
ton in this country by three pounds what would be
the result?
at would mean total increase in consumption
in this country of about 1872 thousand bales not
drop in the bucket.
"In view of the heavy tax burden it would i'm
pose on the American people there is no reason to
suppose that it would increase the cotton consumr-
ton by single pound. ="
| Not only would the Townsend plan fail to in
crease consumption; it would have the effect OF
making gift of substantially more money to a.
group of non-producers than was paid in the form
of wages to workers in the year that marked the
high point of American prosperity In pointing to
this proposed unfair and negotiable distribution,
( the Tallahassee (F1a.) Democrat remarks I'VE