Evening star., 1942-12-16

as they please:
Already the is ~ '"'3.
suance of an David Lawrence.
executive order limiting American
initiative has produced a virtual re-
beuion in Congress, and there are
plans afoot to deny funds to any
executive agency which abuses its
power and violates the will OF Con-
gress.
The idea OF writing executive reg
ulations in defiance of the expressed
wish OF Congress is much more a
totalitarian than q democratic con-
cept. And the idea Of leveling of all
incomes is much more Communis-
tic than an American program.
AN arbitrary limitation and cei-
ling on income of individuals" says
Senator Byrd, Democrat. of Virginia,
has been one OF the basic parts Of
the platform Of both the Socialist
and Communist parties for many
years. Why take the amount of
$4,000? Why not limit all incomes
to $4,000 or 5000, or even less, and
thus level of and put ceiling on
the incentive and the initiative of
the individual just as 1t has been
done in those countries with Com
munistic governments?" .
$1,000 Suggested.
II the logic Of the New Dealers in
the executive agencies. who are using
the war emergency to put over So
called reforms, is followed, then a
ceiling on incomes at $1,000 a year
would be far more effective in at
tanning the alleged goals than the
limitation at the $25 900 point.
Thus, there are only 106 per cent
Of all the people gainfully employed
namely, ,OOo,OOO-who receive
$4,000 a year or over. In terms Of
the total population of this country,
there is only AZ per cent who re-
AClNC pO,ooo vi ofCl.
According to the official express
sions OF the New Dealers, this makes
the plan desirable, because If only
a few persons are injured, it pre-
sumably doesn't matter. Thus, a
plsn that does not affect 958 per
cent Of the people is in conformity
with the New Deal theory Of the
maximum good for the maximum
number.
It might turn out, Of course, that
the successful and talented persons
who earn $4,000 a year or more
might be so demoralized that this
limitation might break down the
whole management system, but
that's not an argument which affects
the New Dealers. For in the midst
OF war they have permitted Amer
ica's most successful management
class to have its personal financial
affairs upset and the hardships
haven't been of the slightest con-
Germ to the powers that be.
Escape q DelusiOn.
Erroneous reports have been pub
iished that the management class
can get $4,000 net after payment
of fixed obligations and insurance,
but . careful reading of the regula-
tions will prove that the propaganda
as to the alleged amelioration of the
rules is incorrect. The truth is that
nobody can get any allowances
unless he can prove he is virtual
pauper or a bankrupt and that he
cannot sell his assets-his home and
his belongings - to get enough
money to meet current obligations
Of fixed nature.
II the purpose of the reform were
to gain revenues for the Treasury,
1t would be defensible. But under
this scheme, when $25 900 net is the
top income, there is actually sless
coming in to the Government than
before.
This defect would be remedied If
$1,000 were the top salary. For
while all the income of persons both
from salaries and investments, If
confscated 100 per cent. would give
the Treasury about s272,OOO,Oo0, the
intake by limiting salaries and
wages to $4,000 a year would give the
Treasury about s12,37O,00O,0OO.
Paul Estimates Needs.
Inasmuch as Randolph Paul, AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury,
says that at least $4,000, ,000, 900
must be siphoned out of the stream
of purchasing power to prevent in
fation, here is big lump sum that
meets his specifications. Inciden-
tally, the amount retained by the
citizens in the $3,000-a- -year-or lover
class would be more than $16,000,-
100000.
It may be assumed that nobody
would starve on $4,000 a year. 1t
may be assumed that, If the New
Dealers are sincerely anxious to
cure alleged inequalities, they cam
not afford to ignore the more than
$4,000, 100000 which can be con-
fiscated from only AZ per cent OF
the population Maybe the New
Dealers are getting ready to defend
their sincerity of purpose by issuing
another executive order limiting
salaries to $4,000 a year. Certainly
their consistency, If not their sin
cerity, may otherwise be open to
question.