The Hardin tribune-herald., 1942-01-01
WILL WAGES BE
FROZEN?

ASO4<A%ASs
Some engaged in the defense
industries may get wage in.
creases during 1912; but no,
more than enough to offset the
rise in the governments cost.
of-living indlces. Certa n con.
Germs engaged in the monde.
fense industries will be obligec
to nay key people a little more
to hold them. The great major
ity of workers in non defense
industries will get no increases
in 1912, while some will gel
their wages reduced. The veal
1941 saw the peak Of strikes ano
wages increases. The Canad IAN
labor policy may be adopted by
our Congress. The law of supply
and demand is still working
Cost-of-liVing in the defense
areas may have already seen its
peak. The new workers who are
flowing into these areas NAV
so flood the market as to pre-
vent further wage raises. Be
sides, I'm in hope the govern
ment will issue a supplementary
table of Iving-coStS after pro-
viding for switches in purchas-
ing and waste eliminations.
WHAT WILL
CONGRESS DO?
My forecast a year ago as to
what Congress would do in 1941
was 1000 correct. Now, I am
even surer OF my ground. When
Congress declared war it per
formed its most important sin
gle act until peace comes. From
here out it will become of nee
esSity somewhat of a rubber
stamp. War emergency powers
of the President will require but
little action on the part of
Congress. Remember that there
are important Congressional
Elections on Nov. 8, 1912. Incl
dentally, the results of these
elections will be very interesting
to watch. They will give us a
good clue as to Republican
chances in 1914; but this is
something for me to discuss a
year from now. There is another
possibility, namely. the enact
ing of labor control legislation
such as Canada has adopted.
PRICE CONTROL
AND RATIONING
If price control legislation is
enacted in 1912, it will not be
very successful. Price control.
without rationing, is usuallv a
failure. OF course. the entire
set-up appears cock-eyed to me.
For instance, the purpose of
price control is to prevent in
flatlon and to discourage the
purchase of n-essentials. But.
does keeping prices down dis
courage purchasing? No! The
way to discourage purchasing is
to Let prices rise. But, you ask:
How about the prices of es-
Sentlals such as food? Well,
strange to say. the prices of
farm products are not being
controlled! Even wages are om-
itted because we cannot force
people to work" and yet wages
are the most important factor
N setting prices. Bernard Bar
UGH Is correct when demanding
the freezing of everything on a
given day - commodities farm
products, wages, rents, interest,
and profits. Fine! But how can
such a law be enforced? Re-
member the boot-legging during
prohibition days and apply this
to 100000 articles! The answer
Is in having price control apply
to a few essentials and then
ration these essentials.
SOCIAL SECURITY
LEGISLATION
There will be new tax bill
In 1912. 1t will somewhat in
crease corporation and personal
income taxes, but net seriously.
Let me again remind readers
that all the Congressmen and
one-th!rd of the Senators will
be up for reelection on Nov. 3,
1912! There will be a serious at
tempt by the anti-inflation
group to further tax luxuries
and unnecessary non defense
products as the easiest way to
raise money.
Social Security taxes on wa
ges will be another easy way
to get funds. They are really
a sales tax of the most vicious
kind; but the name and prom
lses which go with them make
them very difficult for Con-
gressmen to oppose. Social Sc
curity' is a poisonous pill, su-
gar-coated. The United States
can easily commit suicide by
taking too much Social Secur-
ity' poison. Of course. one fair
way to collect more money
is fer Congress to put an excess
profits tax on wages Identical
with the present excess tax on
profits. This would both raise
all the needed funds and put
an end to the labor racket for
the duration of the war.
RENTS AND STRIKES
Rents will not decline during
1912; but whether to make long
or short leases is debatable.
Those owning large, old style
houses should sell them during
1912 for any price they can get.
I say this because of the action
nf oorronforc l.r;., 1...