The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-01-26
Cure The Relief Habit

tNeW York WOrld-Ielegram)
 There were many compelling reasons why the fed eral government had to undertake the relief of human suffering caused by depression and unemployment. Only one argument against it impressed us very strongly-tha the habit of depending the govern nent would be easy to form, quick to grow and terri lbly hard to break.
 How hard is indicated by the following evidences, cited from the of few recent days, of organized pressure for federal relief at time when recov- cry is advancing and the need for relief should be lreceding:
 The United States Conference of Mayors, having made relief survey in 100 major cities, asks the President to recommend S877500000 appropriation provide work relief for 2700000 persons from Febru- ary to June 30 which would mean adding about a half million persons to the present WPA pay rolls.
 Congressmen from fifteen Midwestern States OF ganize bloc with potential strength of thirty Sena tors and 135 Representatives, to demand continued WPA jobs and wages for drought-distressed farmers
 Senator King, of Utah, charges that "a cloud of letters" urging Senators to vote for larger WPA ap- propratons apparently is inspired by persons within the WPA organization
 WPA workers in many cities reported ready for more strikes of the sit-down and other varieties if any future attempt is made work relief pay rolls.
 And relief marches on Washington threatened by the Workers Alliance of America to demand immediate addition of 100000 persons to WPA pay rolls and a 20 per cent wage rise for all workers; iby the American Student Union of collegiate left wingers to demand a S3000000000 appropriation for the aid of students and unemployed youth.
 Pressure from people relief from people who want to get relief from people who administer relief from local officials and from COngreSsmen- and it raises some grave questions. President Roosevelt in the past has asked huge Appropriations for relief In every instance Congress has given the President what he asked The election stamped national approval the Presidents policy We believe the country wants that policy continued to the extent that federal relief spending shall meet actual needs. But
 Can relief spending be held down to actual needs? Or will the load keep growing until it impairs or breaks the national credit? Government borrowing | to finance against a depression emergency is sound policy. But unless the government stop borrowing as the emergency passes, unless the pub lie debt reduced instead of increased times get f better, look out for trouble.
 What MT Roosevelt has to say on this subject is awaited with extreme interest He, more than any, one except possibly WPA Administrator Hopkins, knows how strong the pressure for relief spending is. We believe he realizes the dangerous situation into which this pressure may push the government
 We hope he will announce plan, or at least his determination to develop plan for treating and even- tuay curing the relief habit It can't be and shoudn be broken off abruptly of course. There are great many people who still need the governments help and should have it.
 1 One urgent task is to find how many such people there are Another is to find how many getting federal relief longer really need it and to remove them from the rolls. Another is to develop better more positive methods of encouraging and helping federal dependents to obtain private employment Another is to the local governments which bene- fit so greatly from WPA projects pay fair and specific share of their costs
 These points and others must be covered in es- tabshng a firm. long-range federal relief policy which believe and hope the President believes is one the important duties of his second ad- Iminstration. For without such policy the relief habit will almost certainly become fatal disease.