Evening star., 1939-04-11

DloNOSOLo ALL III . L n LS.-
Rhode Island, who spoke last nif
they may travel on the States roads.
These are examples selected at
random. They bear witness to the
existence of the problem and the
efforts the States are being put to
in order to solve It,
There is in this program an ap-
plication of the policy of the redis-
tribution of the wealth of the States
The men and women who work in
the mills of my State would be
somewhat surprised to learn that
more is taken from them in taxes
for every dollar that is given back,
on the theory that theirs is a
Wealthier State.
know that they have always
bee under the impression that it
was never easy to provide the neces-
sary funds and to pay for the serv-
ices they desire 1t will hurt them
more when they find the Federal
Government, to provide grants to
other States, taxes their industries
so heavily that they can no longer
give them employment. Nor will
the people much longer be misled
that they do not pay the taxes when
as a matter of fact the food they
eat and the clothes they wear are
subjects of taxes. Tenant and land
lord, employer and employe foot the
bill Hidden though it may be, the
true situation is barred by the slight
est examination. Let advocates of
new Federal grants tell us who is to
provide the additional aid when in
creased taxes drive more industries
out of existence And let them be
mindful that when the so-called
rich States bear burdens that are
too heavy. the whole country pays
the penalty in diminished prosperity
and a weakened nation.
Examining some of the activities
for which grants are made, let us
see whether the States themselves
could not carry on many of them
and whether some could not be
eliminated entirely. Here are few
of them: Forest fire prevention,
forest planting stock. agricultural
experiment stations, resident instruc-
ton in land grant colleges, agricul-
tural extension work, vocational edu-
cation. vocational rehabilitation.
State marine schools, public health
services. child and maternal health
services. and highways. and this last
includes roads in every State on
which the mail might ever be car
ried.
More Aid is Sought.
1t is absurd to claim that all of
these are so charged with national
interest that the Federal Govern
ment must take money from one
State to hand that money to another
State. Every man knows that even
the States which want such activi-
ties would not want to have so much
money spent If their people were
paying States taxes for the service.
And the most extreme advocate of
Federal grants would be laughed
to scorn if he claimed that the ad-
ministration OF such services is
watched as closely by the people
as it would be if the services were
paid for and administered on a
purely local basis.
Over and above the existing ac-
tivities. more is sought. In the last
Congress there was request for a
mere fifty millions to aid the States
in the eradication of noxious weeds.
There were others to aid the States
in paying for State tuberculosis hos
pitals, to help the States pay for
State highway controls, to give the
States money for kindergartens, to
give them money for open air health
camps, to provide for demonstration
centers for adult civic education, to
provide for the establishment of en-
gineering experiment stations at the
land grant colleges, to aid workers
education, and to aid business and
economic research in the schools of
business of State universities. There
were also proposals for Federal aid
for improvement of the treatment
of prisoners and supervision of pa
role and probation, and finally,
Federal aid for elimination of toll
bridges.
do not know how much the in
dividual States would benefit under
some of these gifts, but if my State,
or any other State, wants them, I
think generally it should follow the
course of providing for what it
wants and for which it will pay,
and not ask the Federal Govern
ment for a so-called grant to meet
the obligation entailed.
The theory behind all of these de-
mands seems to be that they are too
expensive for the States but still
within the means of a national gov
ernment which has been annually
in the red for billions of dollars,
this last year alone by four billion.
Is there no recognition that there
are some expenditures which the
Federal Government cannot afford?
But these demands are pittances in
comparison with what would be in
volved eventually under the ma
tional health bill and the Federal
education measure.
Opposes Education Bill.
A Federal education bill has been
pending for most OF the time since
I first came to Congress more than
Is years ago. have opposed them
all and I shall oppose this one,
changed as it Is in form from its
predecessors
Like the bills of former years,
this one is supported by the educa-
tional associations and some OF the
more publicized educators. 1t is to
be remembered that the legislation
will involve the spending OF more
money and the creation OF more
Jobs, and so their attitude Is not
astonishing. Experience has taught
legislators np' to be '''0n''n'0