Evening star., 1938-02-01
Forum
Continued From Page B-8D

it is seen that in the enactment OF
this present law. the Congress OF the
United States has an opportunity to
advance the cause of the laborer. and.
I am sure. that opportunity will be
embraced.
A national economic system based
upon the promotion of the welfare of
the worker is quite as logical as any
other system yet conceived, and in the
long run it will be found vitality the
most stable. The stability of industry
which rests upon growing purchas-
ing power and the elevation Of the
standard of living is the most helpful
reflection of our modern political
thinking, but it is different from the
type Of economics which runs through
the mind Of the average man. Higher
wages seem to imply higher labor
costs. Actually. though. they do not
because the measure of labor cost must
be based upon the unit of production
and this rule can be made to apply
to labor on the high seas quite as we'll
as anywhere else. But the mind OF
the average man has so long thought
in terms of extending benefits from
the top. instead Of extending benefits
to the bottom of our industrial struc-
ture. that it is actually interesting at
this time to see the reactions of people
towards the various modern sugges-
tions.
Simple Illustration.
Take, for example, this simple illus
tration. There has been but one
single question asked so far in the
hearings that I have attended about
the cost of this program. I have
noted for years that at the time the
Navy bill is before Congress, or at
time that ship subsidy bill is before
Congress, we have complete relief
from the eternal dunning in our ears
about the balancing of the budget.
The press Of our country has never
yet seen the necessity of balancing the
budget when there has been a naval
program before us. The subject is
not mentioned in or out of Congress.
If farm relief measure is before us
which may call for an expenditure
in excess Of the estimated receipts,
we are told that We must provide the
tax before the bill can be acceptable.
But If an extra half billion is asked
for the Navy, We can pass that bill
without even mentioning the taxes.
This We all know is one of our
national habits; therefore it does not
even have to be explained.
The saddest of all sad reflections
upon the Government Of the United
States and its leaders in 1898 is the
fact that in the projected budget that
is now before Congress are the
suggestions for enlarging expendi-
lures for wealth destroying activities,
but reduced expenditures for wealth
increasing agencies. The wealth
increasing expenditures go almost
entirely to the benefit of men, women
and children. Most of the money for
the wealth destroying activities is
spent for the benefit of already privi-
legged classes and groups. I repeat,
that has been and that still is a
national characteristic, so shall not
attempt even to explain it. It is part
OF our Americana. I cannot refrain,
though, from mentioning the fact
that the only question yet asked about
the cost Of this program has been
one relating to the cost of training
men for the service. This is strictly
consistent with our spending habits.
To spend as much as $1,000 a year to
train boy for life's occupation in
our merchant marine seems extremely
expensive; but an expenditure OF ITS
million dollars as subsidy to q
merchant shipping program is ac-
cepted without consideration! We
have always been and probably always
will be penny-wise and pound foolish.
But as there is much personal salts
faction in such policy, there probably
Is also great national satisfaction
In it. Therefore its persistence.
National Economy Of Welfare.
Thus, you see, our thinking about
governmental expenditures is con-
trolled by habits of thought. Can we
not begin to build our national econ
omy upon the welfare Of men, women
and children instead of upon the well
fare Of corporations, profits and
dividends? Oh, know I shall be
told that I do not understand that
dividends go to people and that profits
make more work. I understand these
things. understand all such argu-
ments, but let me ask, If they are JUS
titled on the score Of helping men,
women and children indirectly, then
any act which has for It's purpose the
! upbuilding Of the economic life Of men,
women and children directly can be
justified both by the same logic and
In the same economic theory. A
direct benefit Is quite ~ consistent
- m indirect one.
+: have considered this Qaootnn e.