The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-20
BIBLE THOUGHT
WHICH is GREATEST?
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
40 MILLIONS RELY ON UNCLE SAM
when we pray" Nuke l1:2)

40 MILLIONS RELY ON UNCLE SAM
More than to million people. close to one
third Of the population of this country are today
dependent upon the government checks which flow
IN an overwhelming stream from the United States
Treasury. with supplementary aid from the states,
and If these subsidies remain at the present level
or continue to rise without being met by tax in
come. the only way out will DC reputation cur
reucy initiation.
Such * the clear picture presented by factual
s,Irve. IN the, United States News of July which
shows that during the next six months total APP
preaching ~ million persons will draw checks
O. against funds supplied by the federal government.
The previous high mark in the number of per-
sons looking the treasury for checks was set IN
the last halt Of 1886 when the record was near IL
millions.
When the increase started early in 1893 the
total number of persons receiving government
checks was Just over two million. Since that time
there has been a six-fold increase.
Among those now depending on the Federal GOV
eminent for checks are farmers, unemployed in
dustral workers. destitute aged persons, high school
and college students, war veterans, and regular
government employees.
From this total are excluded the personnel of
the army and navy. and nearly two million families
who are receiving direct relief from the individual
states and cities and who supplied with an im-
rortant part of their food by the federal govern
ment.
IF these bCuefciaricS added to the list OF
other persons looking to the government for par
tlal or complete support. the overall total would
rise considerably above Is millions,
, But only the individuals actually receiving checks
: are included in the calculation.
If to these individuals add members of their
,-b> ,,,ish4 hoy n
direct interest in the check from the government.
the complete total would pass we have seen. 40
million persons. including II millions affected by
the work relief program and social security pro
gram. Is million concerned with the farm program
and other millions dependent on government work
ers and on veterans pensions.
Thus We find that the government checks have a
definite meaning for nearly third of the popu-
, lation Of the United States.
II IS coming home to every thoughtful American
how rapidIv this dependence the central govern
. ment IS increasing Four million farm families
have been dividing up half billion dollars IN d.
rect subsidies paid 70 them for conserving the soil
, Zach check on the average. amounted to about
$t2S With farm prices receding an additional 200
. million dollars was quickly voted.
: There are nearly three million individuals en-
i ployed by WPA. a majority of them IN the I'M
skilled occupations. The pressure groups have been
at Notwithstanding the pohticianS-and wages are
being raised in some states.
At the same time, members Of congress begin to
feel the demands among the two million individuals
now drawing federal benefits for the aged and for
dependent children. The demand is for an increase
in the amount of the monthly check
An this says the United States N"ws repre-
SCENTS, on much larger scale, the type of demand
that led to veterans pensions after former wars
and 70 payments of veterans bonuses
Nearly 100000 persons now drawing checks
as regular employees of the federal government
an increase of practically 100 per cent under the
present administration. Another 100000 persons
are drawing veterans pensions. Old-ine public
works provide checks for yet another 200 thousand
Although the numbers have grown, these groups,
up to 1888, largely constituted the group within
the nation looking to the federal treasury Tor
checks. .... ..... GO. , e
On an annual basis the total of government aid
that has been assumed in the past five years would
, amount approximately to $4,000, 100000 Much of
that annual total is to he borrowed it has been
borrowed in the past If the federal government
did succeed in raising through taxation sufficient
total to pay for the increased subsidies the tax rate
, would have to be doubled.
The other alternative may be reputation or in
flation.-Macon (Ca) Telegraph.