The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-03
Time To- Economize
Connecticut Economic Council Warns Against Waste Not Only in Non-Defense Expendi- lures, but Those of Defense Ex-
 penditures as We'll

frequent expedient of advocates of pet projects, and of all they need to do to secure an appropriation is to label a project "a defense proj- ect." As an illustration, there Is the Jumping of such projects as the Passamaquoddy dam and the Flor ida ship canal for defense reasons In an all-incluSlve appropriations bill. The carrying out of the St. Lawrence waterway project, even If ultimately advisable, which is very doubtful, will cause serious de- days in the production of many more essential things by the diversion of labor and materials which are mere vitally needed elsewhere. The cost of these three projects alone can. not be even approximately esti- mated now: but speculation puts them in excess of one and one-half billion dollars.
 2. The practice of Congressional "log-rolling" by the representatives of both political parties to secure political patronage and the favoring of individual constituencies Is an evil ever present in Congress. Do not let us yield to 1t.
 3. Interests in particular bu- reaus become intrenched and dif- ficult to remove long after their im- mediate usefulness has passed. Once established they represent to the minds of their officials vested rights, which not only require increasing appropriations for maintenance, but increasing appropriations for pub- licity to justify their continuance.
 4. The ease with which public money can be obtained, particularly for defense purposes, caused in part by the fear that one community or state Is to receive benefit which another does not share, becomes a powerful incentive to make extrava- gant appropriations, or at least to silence objections to increases.
 The final source of authority over appropriations is undoubtedly the people. Congress derives its author ity from them. Unless conviction of the necessity for economy exists In the minds of the people, 1t will not exist in the minds of congress- men. How then can you and I, if we carry the conviction of the nec- esSity for national economy, make that conviction felt?
 What can we do?
 l. We can write to our individual representatives in Congress and im- press upon one and all of them our condemnation of waste or extrava- gance and of non essential expendi- lures.
 2. We can carry this same proc ess out through the resolutions of ! clubs, lodges, associations and so- cieties to which we belong. These are collectively more potent in their influence than the individual. 3. We can insist upon economy at home and in our community and local expenses. Economy may begin at home.
 4. We should resist the constant temptation to further the appro- priations of monies because other communities or states are going to get ahead of us and reap benefits at our expense if we do not. Ire spective of who benefits, remember we all pay the cost.
 5. We can put our savings into government bonds. thrift stamps, or into insurance policies where they may be used by investment in- sctitutions to buy government bonds. By: HOWELL CHENEY,
 Treasurer
 Connecticut Economic Council.