Evening star., 1942-12-02


with winning the war or just why
Americas most successful and tai
ented citizens must be subjected to
sociahstic experiments in the midst
of war, diverting energies and time
that should be devoted to the pro-
duction of goods and vital services
needed in the war effort, is not ex-
planned by the President.
But it was not chance comment
that came from the President in his
press conference. What he said
must represent deliberate policy
of carrying on his feud against
Americas successful businessmen,
because Mr. Roosevelt has been well
aware of the furor which has re-
suited fro mthe czarlize acts OF his
subordinates. who, in disregard OF
the plain wishes OF Congress, wrote
into the anti-inflation law a power
that doesn't exist by mandate of
law.
The Office Of Economic Stabiliza-
ton was supposed to prevent infia
tion. but in fixing limits it has not
only reduced pre-War salaries, but it
has actually increased thereby the
profits of corporations while deny
ing individuals the salaries to which
they have thought themselves en-
titled by contract with their en-
ployers.
Restricts Deductions.
Not only this, but the Presidents
order undertakes to nuIlify the rev.
enue laws passed by Congress, deny
ing the customary deductions to any
citizen who may have more than
5000 left after paying the taxes
that have been figured on his gross
income "undiminished by any de-
ductions."
In the new phase of the contro-
versy the President comedies that
congressional action will be neces-
sary, but he has stated heretofore
that when Congress doesn't pass a
law he wants he can act anyway.
So it is possible, using the same
specious reasoning, for the Execu-
tive to proclaim any day that all
investments are equally subject to
his ntiinf1ation policy. He has
lust as much authority to do that as
TO reduce pre-War salaries and call
it a step to prevent imitation
The President made rather pc
cullar defense Of his policy in his
conference with the press He said
the reduction of the salaries of ex-
ecutives was necessary to prevent
national bankruptcy if we lose the
war, Nobody in Washington, not
even the President, thinks we are
going to lose the war, and nobody
with any knowledge of the statistics
would make such a statement, be-
cause If 100 per cent Of all incomes
above $4,000 a year from salaries
and investments were copfscated
by the Government it wouldn't paw
for three days of the war effort
nor would it pay off even seven
tenths of ! per cent of the national
debt as it stands today.
Opens Old Wounds.
What Mr.. Roosevelt chooses to
overlook is that his administration
has encouraged the biggest wave of
extravaganza and the biggest infla-
tion Of payrolls in all history and
that he has done this by insisting
that the social gains of the New
Deal must be preserved
Since this kind of inequality and
Inconsistency is known to all stu
dents of Government fiscal affairs
it should not be surprising now If
there is opened up again in midst
of war all the wounds of class war
fare which began in 1888 with the
Presidents attack on the successful
and thrifty and which has furnished
the principal ammunition for the
demagogues ever since.
The tragedy of the President S
blunder-for 1t is a blunder of ma ior
proportions and will hurt the morale
of the war effort rather than help
its that Congress, which is in
clined to be rebellious anyway, will
now refuse to grant any powers on
any subject that are not specifically
defined. The President this very
week is being refused powers by the
House Ways and Means Committee
because the distruSt of his admins
tration, which is showing up on
Capitol Hill. is increasing rather
than diminishing.
Might Enbolden Isolationists.
Members OF Congress are saying
the executive agencies merely want
more and more power over the cit
izenry and refuse to be specific
This means that important powers
really needed in the war effort will
be withheld.
Likewise, it will mean that. as the
demand for socialization is intensi-
fed by the President, the isolation
lists will be given opportunities they
never should be given. They will
see in the Administrations misuse
of its war powers plan to use post
war period for the enrichment OF
special groups and classes whose
votes have been such an important
part of the New Deal.
If class warfare is wanted by the
President, plenty of citizens are
ready to get into the fray. II what
fs wanted is to win the war, the
Executive has chosen peculiar way
to instill enthusiasm into the hearts
~ the mon whose genius is reSpon-