Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-03-12

estate. Their excess Of assets yer liza
bihtieS was around three billion dol
lars, approximately as large as the
Federal deficit for last year.
The Senate has authorized a COM
mittee Of five members 10 make a
study of the machinery OF the Federal
government with the idea OF effective
reorganization and slmplificauon IN
the interest Of economy. Senator Byrd,
who submitted the proposal, explains
that the purpose in mind Is not to
'snoop around" but 10 explore the
various departments and agencies from
a technical point OF view, IN order to
ascertain conflicting and overlapping
activities. There can be little doubt OF
the possible good that can be accom-
plished if the recommendations, re-
surfing from such a study, can be kept
out OF politics.
The question Of taxes is again before
Congress, with much sentiment against
any new levies except the "substit-
utes needed to finance the farm pro-
gram. Regardless Of the Presidents
recommendations. however, there Is a
small group Of senators anxious TO
lower income tax exemptions and to
increase the normal rate. By doing so
they expect not only TO add to the
governments income but to impress
upon the public the ~inescapable truth
that somebody must put up the cash
that the nation spends. Senators Byrd,
Couzens and LaFollttte advocate such
a plan. Generally, however, there is
little expectation that they will get far
with the proposal at the present ses-
sion.
Exports from the United States in
January were II per cent more IN val
ne than in January, 1885, but only
about half the average for the month
in the period l923-25. Price declines
account for some of the loss. On a
quantity basis the exports were about
so per cent of the 1925 figures. In
teresting is the observation that our
imports of silver, amounting to nearly
S60,000,0 900, alone prevented an excess
Of imports over exports.
For the seven months ended on jan
uary 3lst, almost the same observation
applies. The excess OF merchandise ex-
ports was S3l5 $4,000 and net imports
of silver were 1914 $50, 900. During the
same period our net gold imports
amounted to almost 81 900, 600, 900. AS
this gold was not necessary to settle
the trade balance Of about 5 1,0O0,0OO
it is obvious that the gold came to this
na,,,frr, fn- athav rancnnc prnhnh1xr
seeking safety through investments in
American securities, the yellow metal
from abroad played a part in the re-
cent advance on the stock market.
Relief for the nations unemployed
continues to dominate the fiscal poll
cics of the Government. Talk of a bal
arced budget is vain unless this drain
on the Treasury is removed, either by
increasing employment through regu-
lar channels or abandonment of the
policy of aiding the iobless by the
Federal Government.
= .
Figures show that the Government
spent S2,338, 100000 in attacking unem-
ploymcnt during the twelve months
ending July /, 1884. The next year di-
rect and work relief required $685.
100000 and for the present fiscal year,
which ends next July, the total is es-
timated to be above 100000
These figures include funds spent by
the Federal Surplus Relief Corpora
ton, the CCC, and the REA. Major
items also include the CWA expendi-
ture, largely in 1884, the PWA mil
lions in each year, and the recently
inaugurated WPA, which is expected
to continue during the next fiscal year.