Evening star., 1940-08-30

and cry about
the need for selective service sys-
tenn so that the young men essential
to industry would not volunteer and
after all the argument about uni
versal service" as an obligation rest
ing equally on all youth, the Senate
has adopted law permitting dis
tinctions to be made between the
volunteer" and the "draftee." In
the last war volunteering was per-
mitted for month and then
was stopped in response to public
criticism.
The Nations morale and its trust
In public officials will not be i'm
proved by the adoption of two Sys-
TENS for getting soldiers-systems
that do not harmonic but only
mean diSorganization at a time
when the selection of men for train
ing should proceed smoothly and
without disorganization.
Example Of DemagOguery.
Likewise, in the amendment per-
fnitting plants to be Communicated,
the Senate has furnished an exam
pie Of typical demagoguery in de-
mocracy. 1t is we'll known that la
Dor is not to be conScripted for Serv-
ice in private industry. The fact that
the Government takes over plant
does not mean it can compel the
employees to work against their will
unless they are brought into the
Army or Navy. If a manufacturer
does not think he can make ends
meet on a proposed contract, he. can
allow his factory to be comman-
deered, but the Government would
then have to pay the wages de-
manded or else compel the workers
to accept military wages
Few things could be more demor-
alizing to industry than the helter-
skelter approach which our men,
bers of Congress are using in trying
to meet defense needs Having de-
1ayed the aircraft program by rigid
limitations on the profit margin
without fixing the tax allowances so
that a manufacturer could figure
out his costs and so that subcon-
tractors could make estimates on a
definite basis, Congress now pro-
ceeds to introduce the element of
governmental coercion and threat
into the picture as a means of
covering up its own Grass failures
Congress, which is dominated by
the Democratic party, has failed in
many respects to speed Americas
defense program, and the President
has been either unwilling or in
capable Of exercising any leader
ship over either the Senate or the
House. AS a consequence, legisla-
ton is being put through in a
hurry which is tending to make
more and more difficult the attain
ment OF those objectiveS which de-
pend on a continuously efficient
operation of the Nations industrial
machine.
Tax Bill RaiIroaded.
Another example of bungling
democracy" is to be found in the
handling of the excess profits tax
bill. The measure was considered
in secret session for three weeks
and then new bill written at the
last moment which was presented
to the House on one day and forced
through the next day by a limited
debate of only two hours. House
members never had a chance for
detailed study of the bill.
The industries of the country have
had no opportunity to examine the
proposal, though it affects count
less numbers of workers in busi-
nesses wholly separated from any
national defense work or projects
OF a by-product nature. The excess
profits bill means surgical opera
ton on the whole economic sys-
tenn, and it is important, therefore,
that ample time be given for thor
ough debate and consideration. But
all of a sudden the cry is raised
that national defense requires in
slant action. Everything is hurry
and hustle, though the problem has
been on the doorstep of Congress
ever since early June. There Is
really no need for haste. The
amortization provision could be
adopted in separate resolution
and should have been passed weeks
ago. The Presidents failure to do
this Is conspicuous example of
how little leadership there is in
Washington nowadays.
Business expects and approves the
passage of an excess profits tax bill,
and is prepared for drastic taxation
to meet defense expenses, but the
proposed measure is of such a tech
rical character that even the Re-
publicans have joined with their
Democratic colleagues in the House