The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-06-28
A PLEDGE THAT MUST BE KEPT
By J. E. Jones

Washington, D. c., June-Every
official statement from the United
States Government pledges to the
people of the United States that the
tremendous sums, started at around
or billions of dollars, are to be
used for national defense and to
keep this country out of war.
The fact must not be overlooked
that the legislation that has rushed
through Congress during the past
thirty days is intended to build up a
gaint system of military defense,
and that if it is used at all it will be
in a war with one or more European
nations.
The Washington correspondent of
the Midlad Journal feels that certain
matters are of vital Importance.
First. Congress has the filters. The
proof of this is shown by the fact
that they are voting approval to
practically every suggestion that
comes from the White House, even
though a very large percentage of
the members are in political disa-
greement with the head of the Nat
ion. Second. heard one of the very
best newspaper men in Washington
say on the radio this morning that
the homefolks Of this country have
the filters. I am not informed as to
whether this is true, but am Of the
opinion that as between condition
of jittery home-folks and jittery
Congressman that the legislators of
our country are the ones who have
most of the filters. Third. Congress
crisis has passed. But, if Congress
crisis ha spassed. But, if Congress
is to do nothing more than approve
recommendations from the White
House then they might just as we'll
vote extraordinary powers to Mr..
Roosevelt and go home, because:
Fourth. He has been complete mas
ter of all affairs in Washington that
concern the war.
There is no use picking on the
President about these details and
problems because whether n e
agrees with his policies or not, he
mas stated his program, and he
backs his position with all his pow
err On the other hand, there are 533
men on Capitol Hill that are his bos-
ses ca. 1t is pretty hard to COM
mend the record of these 633 states
men. They aren't doing their job.
TAXES WILL NEVER BE LESS :
For many years there have been
hopes that Federal taxes would be
reduced, and some people have been
optimistic enough to believe that
an annual budget might be met,
sometime. The same optimists have
believed the times would come when
the national debt would be whitfield
down again, as it was in the days
of Calvin Coolidge and Andrew Mel
len.
The present As billion dollar
national debt limit is now being bo-
osted to 40 billion dollars, and 4
billion dollars worth of securities
maturing within five years to be
known as the National Defense
Series" will be issued. According to
the present formula of the Govern
ment new taxes that are being levied
are intended to pay for this boost.
Serious writer's, who are not even
making a joke about it, record the
hope from Capitol Hill that "any
surplus would go into the general
fund of the Treasury. What i'm
agination!
While statesmen talk about is
suing 4 billion dollars worth of Sc
curities the House of Representa-
tives on the same day passed de-
tense tax bill by vote of 500 to 6
to raise billion dollars a year for
five years. That's 5 billion dollars
not billion dollars
You might just as well shut your
eyes right now and think about the
probabilities of 10 billion dollars
for the National Defense Series
and expect it to be voted by Con-
gress.