Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-01-04
BabsOn Predicts
Best Six Months
In 10 Years In 1910
CONTINUED from page y

plSCOu IL uciiillCGly 10 HOI. dIHl-
ers' benefit payments will be al
most as big as in 1889. Relief costs
will still be heavy despite increased
jobs. Outlays for defense will break
all records = up half a billion dol
lars over 1889. If there is any
raring down of expenses it will be
done purely for window-dressing
purposes. Net result will be an
other whopping deficit for the
Treasury - as big, or bigger than,
in 1899.
Hence, the Roosevelt administra-
ton will come down the straight
away of its last year with the
eighth consecutive deficit and a ma
tional debt of nearly $45, ,000,-
900 - up $4,000, 100000 since
1888. 1t will be sorry record
indeed for a President who chided
his predecessors administration as
"being the most extravagant and
reckless of any peace-time govern
ment anywhere, at any time" De-
spite this record, Mr.. Roosevelt is
still popular with the majority of
voters. They particularly like his
foreign policy and his mammoth
defense program.
This record-breaking defense
program is just one of the four
props under 1910 business. (1)
Trade gains with neutral countries,
~ rising buying power in cities
ard on farms, and (5) heavy in
dustries boom are the other sup
ports which will hold business at a
high level. Most important of all
these is the renaissance in the heavy
goods industries. In the boomlet
of 1867, the consumers goods
industries furnished the drive. To-
Cay the burden has been shifted to
the broad shoulders of such indus
tries as steel mills, railway equip
ment shops and machinery makers.
For five years we have tried to
get the heavy industries going,
That's where most of our. unem-
pioyment has been. So the up
ewing in these "big businesses
will be the sill under jobs in early
1910. Employment in the heavy
Industries should increase, but
there may be some layoffs in GER
tain consumer industries. AS a
result, total number of jobs in early
1910 will be only slightly higher
than at present. No real inroads
On unemployment are in prospect
After schools and colleges dump
their crop of graduates on the
market next June, unemployment
may we'll be higher than it is
today.
Higher PayrOlls, More Strikes
Payrolls are another story. They
should be 20 to % per cent bigger
than in the same months of 1895
and even moderately higher thar
at present. Wages will be pushed
up where union pressure is strong
est while the Wage and Hour Act
will force up weekly income whers
overtime is concerned. With bust
ness riding the crest of the wave
it is only logical to expect more
strikes. / doubt, however, if there
will be any serious tie-ups such as
we had in 1887. Right now il
looks like the aviation industry i.
the odds-on favorite to provide the
labor trouble headlines.
These plants and nearly al
others - will be running under
forced draught. Machine shops
locomotive and car shops, construc'
ton outfits, and shipyards will b.
working at top speed in the next
few months. Soft coal miners will
be much buster than a year ago
Metal mines are slated for bis
six months. Steel mills SHOULD
average above 80 per cent of ca
pacity. More autos than in any
similar period in three years will
trundle off the assembly lines =
we'll over 100000. Railroads arr
in for their best first half veal
since 1880.
Activity in chemical, electrical
equipment, farm tool, furniture
paper, tire and rubber, and meta
plants should top the early months
of 1889. Use of electricity and pc
troleum products is destined to Sc
ncw all-time records. A let-dowr
from current boom levels in sucl
consumer lines as textiles ant
shoes would not be surprising
Wooden and rayon plants, however
will continue full blast. With in
dustrial activity wide open, serv
ice businesses will be in the clover