The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-11
MEMBER MICHlGAN
OUR FUTURE

w = " VIM
A composite Of Washington opin'
ion on vital questions Of national
importance indicates that the ave
rage layman is right when he pre-
diets that the United States faces
a long period OF high taxes, high
federal expenditures and increas-
ing government control OF business
with It's economic future legend
ing largely on the type Of peace
treaty negotiated TO end the war.
This conclusion is based upon pub
lie interviews and "off-the-record
talks with scores OF political lead
ere. including three members OF
President Roosevelts cabinet.
on some points, the administra-
p ton and its critics agree. One is
that the American people face an
era Of higher federal taxes. Sen
ator Pat Harrison. Senate finance
chairman, says there will be an
immediate increase Of one billion
dollars in the nations tax Dill
Nearly everybody agrees with his
forecast that the people may ex'
pect a "lot Of taxes for a lot OF
years to come.
Another point in agreement Is
2 that one OF the nations greatest
dangers is uncontrolled Imitation
but there is general agreement that
the administration is now doing its
level best TO prevent dangerous in
flation. Cabinet officers say the
government is determined TO con
troll initiation and no one gainsays
their purpose-the only question
raised is whether they can sue
coed
Nearly all agree that the admin
istration is using every effort TO
prevent an increase in the cost
OF living.
A fourth point in agreement i:
that the public debt is going tC
reach 100000, 100000 in the no
distant future. Again the only
question raised Is what effect this
huge debt viii have upon American
economy and the American stand
ard Of living. Administration
spokesman say the United States
has the wealth and resources to
absorb that debt without reducing
the standard Of living for the ave
rage citizen but new deal critics
openly predict a lower and lower
standard Of living in the future.
with-as Rep. Joseph w Martin
says-"only gloomy days ahead
for the little fellow.
One big question that goes IN
answered with any certainty IS
what will happen TO the United
States after the war The replies
Of official Washington are either
guarded or uucertain<either opti-
mistic with hopes or pessimistie
with fears. They frankly do not
know
Secretary OF Labor Frances Per-
klns discloses huge public works
program 10 serve as a cushion for
the economic blows Of peace.
Other administration moves 70.
ward the future include the Treas
present defense costs out Of the
current savings Of the people, SC
that bank reserves may be kept in
tact for use in sponsoring private
industry when peace comes.
Administration critics are no.
50 optimistic Many OF them fore
see terrible depression in the
United states when the war ends
whether suddenly or after a long
struggle that would exhaust the
people on both sides Of the Allan
tic. These critics doubt the abil
ity OF the government to solve
the problems arising from sudden
shutdown OF defense Industries
which would throw 100000 mer
and women out OF work almost
overnight This doubt exists de
spite the success Of the administra
ton in solving the banking panic
in 1888.
There are new deal critics who
fear Mr.. Roosevelt Is carrying the
United States into a totalitarian
form OF government. which-they
say-will never be changed back
into a Democratic form when tbs
war ends. These critics saw nc
man ever voluntarily Yields power
and they assert Mr. Roosevelt 4.
acquiring dictatorial powers slow
ly but with deadly certainty. The
administrations reply to these
critics Is 10 dismiss their fears as
nonsense. Secretary Perkins. for
instance. declaring:
You don't get a dictator when
the people have sense OF humor."
One difficulty in drafting a pro.
gram for transposing the nation
from a war-nrepsredness basis 10 a
peace basis Is that we have no
prophet who can foresee exactly
how the war will end-nor what
new problems will then face the
government. Even the Presidents
cabinet ministers cannot forecast
the future with accuracy.
American ingenuity may be ex
pected to meet the problems OF
peace far more effectively than
at the close OF the first World War
A suddenly negotiated peace. pre-.
sumably resulting from a British
collapse. can easily bring econom.
SC disaster. but, on the other hand.
there II the possibility that Britain
will win the war and produce a
peace treaty that will yield meas.
ured prosperity to all corners OF the
globe. We can only hope for the
hast