Evening star., 1938-04-22


able to take up the slack? On the
answer to this question depends the
whole experiment and for the next
two years at least President Roosevelt
has the power to defeat his own eX-
pertinent again just as he unquestion-
ably did in the last two years
Private business insists that there
must be certain changes in Govern
ment policy before the field of private
investment will be able to function
effectively again and absorb the un-
employed, MI. Roosevelt either dis
agrees with the desires of the bus-
ness world or thinks these requests
are of no consequence. What is it
that business considers essential to a
sound economic position and one par
ticularly that could make public pump
priming" eventually successful in
transferring the spending to the pri-
vate investment field? Here are the
fundamentals, restated now because
the same old Cry for alternatives to
the Roosevelt policy is being raised
again when there has been no atten-
ton paid to the long list of alternative
policies submitted heretofore to Con-
eress and to the White House from
time to time
l. Modification of the social security
tax so that the billion dollar year
tax will not have to be added to prices
and so that the workers purchasing
power can be increased A pav-as-
you-go plan would cost far less and
social security would be assured. Prog
ress thus far toward this objective?
None. though a handful of Senators
did support Senator Lodges proposed
amendment to existing law showing
that the subject needs further con-
sideration
2. Clear-cut action b. the Roosevelt
administration abandoning its ten
dency toward state socialism and as
suring the public that it will not start
the process of Matchmaking businesses
by destroying such an important pri-
vately owned industry as the electric
light and power business. Peace be-
tween the administration and the
utilities has been talked of for a long
time and would mean private spend
would turn o"er two or three times.
Progress toward that objective? None.
though Mr.. Roosevelt lets it be known
from time to time that he is thinking
OF 1t. He now has waited five years
to do something. but he is appar-
emily not as courageous about his left
wing as he is about battling the right
wing. AS long As Mr. Roosevelt is
dominated by political considerations
nothing will be done to revive this vital
part Of private spending program.
Labor Disputes Media tor.
3. Restoration to the Government
OF the United States of its position As
fair mediator and umpire in labor dis
putes so that billions Of dollars now
being wasted in the interruption of
economic processes might be saved and
the wage Garner given the benefit of
regular work Progress toward his
objective? None. because Mr.. Roose-
welt is afraid to champion the in
terests OF all the people and is espe-
cially afraid Of the c. 1. o. and the
union vote. Private investment has
to the administra tion's partisan labor
policy that private spending has been
delayed and will be till fairness and
equitable procedure in Government
policy is made available to all citizens,
irrespective Of class.
4. Comprehensive revision of Amer
ica's tax system. including the elimi-
nation Of overlapping and, indeed,
competing tax systems between the
States, the cities and the Federal Gov
eminent. The increase in the number
Of State tax levies is operating as
sort Of trade barrier between market
areas in different parts of the country
and is gradually depressing the whole
economic system Progress toward
this objective? None. though Mr..
Roosevelt has promised to do some
thing about overlapping and burden
some taxes ever since his first cam
paign in 1882
Punitive Taxation Hit
S. Abandonment of the theory of
punitive taxation as Federal prin-
ciple and substitution of the principle
that the more income each business
can honestly accrue the more tax rev.
enue will be collected by the Govern
nent Progress toward this objective?
None, because Mr. Roosevelt cares
more about tinkerjng with the eco
nomic system than he does about re-