The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-05
Editors Opposing New
 Federal Spending Plan
Pmp=Priming Proposal Fails to Excite Any Enthusi=
 asm Among New England's Newspaper Publishers

"Less than per cent of New Eng land editors endorse the whole o1 the presidents pump -priming propo- sals, while 95 per cent believe that new spending program will fail tc result in the permanent prosperity desired by the president" the Ma. tional Economy League announced today as result of their New Eng land newspaper survey. The most popular sections of the program arc the REC loans to business, which had the approval of 36 per cent of the editors questioned, and the $1,- 250,000,000 appropriation for relief whic.! had the approval of 30 per cent.
 Protest Appropriations
 The results of the poll, which went to every daily newspaper in New England, show that major propor- tion of the editors censure new ap- propria tions for public works. 83 pei cent of the answers condemn the re- sumption of federal public works projects. 3 per cent are uncertain declaring that their approval or dis approval rested upon the handling of public works funds and, of the l; per cent approving, many answers were modified by such comments as Eff justly apportioned," or "just SC long as private industry fails to ab- sorb useful labor" More than 82 per cent of the editors condemn the ST. 000,000,0O0 loans without interest to cities and states for public works projects, calling the proposal "un- necessary" or "poll-priming funds. 70 per cent disapprove of the $l,- 250,000,000 appropriation for relief some on the grounds that the ap- propriation is too large and others commenting that any such move should be contingent upon the re- turn of relief to the states.
 No distinction between the states was apparent in the answers re- ceived. Both praise and condemna- tion of the pump-priming program came from each one of the New England states. A majority of the editors were convinced that their attitudes reflected the prevalent feeling in their community, but 26 per cent said that they did not know One editor commented that "only selfish editorial views reflect com munity feeling. Honest editorials at- tempt to guide it."
 Production
 Only one editor believed that over production alone was responsible for the present recession. The chief req sons given were fear on the part of business" government interfer- ence with business" "the attitude oi the National Labor Relations Board towards employers" "unwise taxa ton" and "the failure of the presi- dent to take steps toward rebuilding business confidence" Some of the editors felt that business itself could do much towards re-establishine purchasing power in the country by assuming an attitude of confidence in the future.
 In answer to the question "What steps other than those which have been suggested in the latest pump. priming requests, can be taken tt relieve business and restore prosper. ity?" variety of answers was re. ceived. ''The repeal of punitive taxa ton measures" 'an effort to bal ance the budget" "the cessation O Administration attacks upon busi ness," and encouragement of tn, utilities" were the most frequent Some of the comments made were If the President will change hi violent attitude and not try to mak over the world in one generation 1t would do more than anything else to restore the confidence o business, lack of which and nothinl else is the cause of the Roosevelt depression" "Pump-priming does no in the long run relieve business o restore prosperity. Decentralize gov