Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-12
Keynes Rated
No Bargain
In New Visit
Advice Evil Genius Far
as We re Concerned
(The opinions sxpressed by
General Johnson are his oWn
and not neeessariiy those Of The
Detroit Times.
By HUGH S. JOHNSON

TT is not hard to agree with
William Guggenheim that
the English economist. John
Maynard Keynes, is no American
bargain and that his new visit
over here TO tell us how to- do
il is a second dose of economic
emetics which is not welcome.
He is the guy who is reputed
10 have sold President Roosevelt
the idea that spending for leaf
raking was the way out of our
depression. His advice has been
an evil genius so far as we are
concerned. He was advocating
in Paris, in 1919, the forgiveness
by us of the allied debt while the
borrowing still continued.
One credit that must be given
him was support at Versailles of
the American position and, by
the way, of that of Winston
Churchill that the war burden
on Germany must not be so
heavy as to attempt TO enslave
that people.
He was there, as l recall, rep
resenting the British treasury
and that position-the American
position-at least, as the event
has proved. was sound. But he
didn't support that position. He
went home in a huff and wrote a
book on the economic conse-
quence. He abandoned the ne
gotiations when his help might
have been of use to Offset the
foolishness of Lloyd George and
Lord Cunliffe who had promised
for political purposes 10 hang
the kaiser and make Germany
pay for the war
S THE debate in the House
"A of Commons on Winston
Churchill's vote of confidence
clearly showed. Britain already
is getting ready 10 hang the
blame on us for any disaster to
the anti-Axis powers-or l
should say power. Mr.. Lloyd
George observed that, while
Britain is spending 80 per cent
of her national income. we are
not burdening ourselves nearly
so much. Both British and Ca
madam press are laying the
ground to reproach Uncle Sam
in case they get licked.
One of the great and I'M
fulfilled necessities of this time
is a careful official analysis Of
the relative burden of the cost
of government as between this
and other countries. Mr.. Lloyd
George doesn't seem TO realize
that, whereas his government
has one taxing authority. we
have many. Some priv ate
studies. necessarily incomplete,
show that the total tax burden
hidden and open taxes--in this
and other countries is not I'M
duly light here.
God save us from any more
suggestions of Mr.. John May
nard Keynes. God help us TO run
our own serious business with
due regard to our own serious
problem.
MO OBSERVER of the present
" Washington scene doubts
that it is a positive bedlam OF
crack-pot theorism with no re-
spectacle executive direction
whatever. Take the conflicting
tax theories emanating from diff
ferent departments of govern
ment alone. The right hand
seems not to know what the left
hand doeth. In that confusion
one single guiding voice would
help. but must it come from any
EngliShman when the natural
tendency of the whole race,is for
us 10 put our own interest.
our own country. our own future
behind theirs in the present
crisis? There is too much talk,
and it is unavoidably reflected
Immediately in London, that we
are not doing our part.
Take the suggestions that we
use our taxing power, not for
revenue, but to deprive our
people of automotive transport
by 20 per cent tax or flat 500
impost. on the purchase of an
Confessedly that is not taxation
for revenue. 1t is taxation to
prevent the use of automobiles.
Why, this country is geared to
automotive transport. Our whole
economy and our balance be-
tween urban and rural life was
remade by making cheap auto
mobiles available to the poor.
This kind of tax won't affect
the rich, who pay thousands of
dollars for a car. but think what
500 added to the cost af fliv-
yer or a used car will do to the
Joad family and thousands of
others in better cases.
For the sake Of human justice
and some regard for the Ameri-