Carbon County news., 1937-12-03
ROADS AND HOUSES

That roads and housing conditions have for centuries
been two yardstcks for measuring degree of civilization
have been at all times recognized by economists and his
Itorians ..#rs**<
Yet President Roosevelts recent messages urges cur
failing of highway expenditures and the other hand
offering plan to boost the longlaggng building trade
Both plans offer plenty thought for speculation and
gesons not contained in Roosevelt addresses to con-
lgress. ~.
Building is sorey needed and nothing at this time could
revve optimism more surely than ambitious program
such the chief executive pictures But the actual real
zaon OF project which would to quote the president
build 100000 to 100000 dwellings annually the next five
years. will take hardheaded policy changes on the
part of Mr. Roosevelt For thing he IL have to about
facet his endorsement of the labor wage and hour bill
among other things.
Why has the response to previous housing programs
been woefuy weak? The average citizen will answer
simply, that building house ''costs too much.'
Roosevelt has consistently taken stand condoning sit
down strikes and other labor manifestations raising wages
beyond that justified in country not yet clear of the de-
preston There is only thing left for the employer to
do: he must raise prices for his commodities The result
is that the wage rise acts boomerang to the very
it is designed to hepno sales work Prices too high
To quote the presidents exact Words The success Of
such program this, however, not be assured by
governmental action alone It will depend mainly on the
willingness of industry and labor to cooperate in produc
ing housing at costs that within the reach of the
of people, The goal at which both industry and labor
should aim is sustained large scale production at lower
costs to the This will larger annual
for labor because of the larger amount of employ
men than is possible at high hourly rates with long periods
of unemp ployment."
The Carbon County News, long opponent Of the
Presidents proposals. in this statement agrees heartily
It is much BETTER other Words to work all year long at
reasonable wages than to work only few weeks at high
wage SCALE %.
But, ask buntly how the president reconcile his
housing proposal o reduced costs' with that of his
stand abor9 We can only hope he has taken the COM
sense practical viewpoint and that his admitted fail
in achieving other housing drives has altered his opn
ion.
AS to cutting construction of roadsand these cuts are
directed largely at the socaled feeder road program
this newspaper takes firm stand with the opposition
Roads-and good roads-are necessary everywhere it
America is to progress her people to enjoy untram
meed trade contacts and if the citizens to take part
in the nations social and business activities
Books have been written n-and many more could be
the desrability Of good network OF high
ways and other of transportation the very life
blood of modern existence If cut there must be let
come those many senseess projects which encourage
dleness the expense of mounting tax bill and mount
ing deficit in the treasury.
On the one hand the president wants to increase en-
oloment by building houses the other hand he wants
20 decrease employment by curtang the road program,
which, our opinion is the most practical and beneficial
IF all public expenditure.
We are inclined to agree with statements made by three
democratic congressen Senators Hayden and Ashurst
md Chairman Cartwright Of the house roads committee
Ashurst made the vitrolic statement that congress
knows more" about appropriations for road building
han the president and the secretary of agriculture
Hayden pointed out that congress should not repudiae
contractual obgataions He added that states have
ready mapped out two road building program and
hat to cut authorizations would interfere seriously with
heir projects.
Most singing comment of all came from Cartwright,
7ho said he wasn't going to take the presidents message
lying down..
"If President Roosevelt he stated, 'wans to balance
he budget and will reduce everything in proportion to
oads that's one hng but to take it out roads some
hing ese."
Will Roosevets road stand go the way of the supreme
ourt packing pan7
We sincerely hope so!
-n0KNnEDr TCn ,the big gun in the attack, leading
"NOW1DENO - his team eight points, be-