Carbon County news., 1937-06-11
National Topics Interpreted ]:
hu William Rr1icl

corporations who are in no way par
ticipating in conservation activities.
Now, while Mr.. o'Neal thinks that
the proposed law can be operated
without expense to the federal treas
ury, there is yet the conviction in
some quarters that it probably will
cost about six hundred million dol
lars a year to pay the subsidies
and pay for administration of the
law. Six hundred million dollars a
year is a large sum at any time
and it bulks much larger at time
when there is nationwide cry for
balanced budget for the federal
government. It is sum that, if the
budget of the federal government
otherwise were balanced, would be
sufficient to frighten thousands of
holders of United States bonds.
It would seem then that the farm
leaders ought to take into consid-
Grafton the status of the federal
governments financial affairs if
they want to develop program
that will live. I have heard from
many students Of agricultural prob
lens that the remedy for farm con-
ditions is not an expensive new sys-
tenn of farm subsidies. They assert
that it will be impossible for Uncle
Sam to continue annual payments
to some three million or more farm
ers and they are convinced, further,
that most farmers themselves OBJ
iected to being placed in the cate
CORY Of relief clients. An argument
is also advanced that more and
more farmers believe federal poll
cies that cause money to be handed
out free to farmers will, in the end,
destroy the independence of agri-
culture. However that may be and
however the majority of the farm
ers feel about receiving money gra-
tis from the government at Wash
ington, it cannot be said that agri-
culture is being placed on a sound
footing by politicians and political
farm leaders whose sole objective
is to loot the treasury.
The Department of Commerce
which has supervision of airplane
=. traffic has an
Air Pilots nounced that it
Out of Races will not permit
American pilots to
participate in an air race that was
proposed for this summer. The race
was to have taken place from New
York to Paris, but the Department
Of Commerce has vetoed the plan
because it considers
the race as nothing more than a
stunt.
It may occur to some that such a |
ruling by the Department Of Com
nerce. constitutes an interference
with private business beyond rea-
son. / cannot share that view. The |
of Commerce and its |
experts 4ave been unable to find in |
his proposed race any possibility |
of benefit for aviation nor any ex-
oerimentation that would lead to
more scientific flying. It has taken
he position that there is too great
4 danger involved for those pilots
Who are foolhardy enough to under
AXE the three thousand two hun
lred mile flight across the ocean.
is position is further fortified with
he argument that If any Of the
,ilots should lose their lives in that
ype of aviation, it will cause many
thousands of persons to lose faith in /
he airplane as a means Of trans
,ortation. In short, the department
links that there are only disad-
1antages and no advantages in
prospect.
While many persons may disagree
With the position the department has
aiken, it is heartening to those Of
IS who like to see private business
to know that respon-
ible federal agency charged with
of a private industry is
gain functioning as it was intended
D do. For several years, the De-
,artment of Commerce, with par-
ocular respect to its aviation di-
'ision, has been in a state of tlr-
noil. There were wide differences
t opinion and in consequence little
n the way of permanent develop /
nent was sponsored from Washing
on for the aviation industry. With
he departments action in the New
fork to Paris race, one cannot help
eeing the promise at least of an
policy in the Depart
nent Of Commerce.
In criticizing the governments in
ctivity, no observer would be fair
nless he also called attention to the
railties and the failures Of the in
ustry itself. 1t is true that some
the larger lines lately have made
improvements in the
quiprnent they use in the air and
a the operations part Of flying.
is true that larger and better
lanes have been built and are
But it is likewise true
nat a number of airlines, have
dopted penurious, penny pinching
olicies and have refused to re-
lace worn out and obsolete planes