The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-01

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 may so flood the mar
ket as to prevent further wage
rises. Besides. I'm in hope the
government will issue a supple
mentary table OF hying-costs after
providing tor switches in purchas-
ing and waste eliminations.
What Will Congress Do?
My forecast a year ago as TO
what Congress would do in 1871
was 100 per cent correct. Now.
| am even surer OF my ground.
When Congress declared war it
performed its most important single
act until peace comes. From here
out il viii become OF necessity
somewhat of a rubber stamp. Wan
emergency powers OF the Presi-
dent Will require but little action
on the part of Congress. Remem-
Der that there are important con.
gressional elections on November 3,
1912. Incidentally, the results OF
these elections fill be very interest
ing TO watch. They will give US a
good clue as to Republican chances
in 1914; but this is something for
me to discuss year from now.
there is another possibility, name
~, the enacting of labor control
legislation such as Canada has
ADOPTED.
Price Control and .Ratonlna
II price control. legislation IS en-
acted in 1912. it Will not be ve,y
successful. Price control, without
rationin3, is usually a failure. OF
course, the entire set-up appears
cock-eyed 10 me. For instance, the
purpose of price control is to p. e.
vent initiation and TO discourage
the purchase of nOn-essentials. But,
does keeping prices down discour.
age purchasing? Mo- The way to
discourage purchasing is to let
prices rise. But. you ask: How
about the prices of essentials such
as food? Well, strange TO say, the
prices OF farm products are not be.
ing controlled Even wages are
omitted because we cannot force
people TO work" and yet wages are
the most important factor in setting
prices. Bernard Baruch is correct
when demanding the freezing OF
everything on gwen day,-commo-
dities, farm prouucts, wages, rents,
interest, and profits. tlnei But
how can such a law be enforced Z?
Remember the bootleg sing during
prohibition days and apply this 10
100000 articles! The answer is in
na'ing price control apply TO a few
essentials and then ration these
essentials.
Social Security Legislation
Ihere Will be a new tax bill in
1912. 1t will somewhat increase
corporation and personal income
taxes. but not seriously. Let me
again remind reauers mat all the
congressman and one-third OF the
senators will be up for reelection
on November 3, 1912; There will
Do a serious attempt by the anti
imitation group to further tax lux.
aries- and unnecessary hon-defense
products as the easiest way to raise
money.
Social Security taxes on wages
VIII be another easy way to get
iunds. They are really sales tax
OF the most vicious kind; but the
name and promises which 20 with
them make them very dimcult for
congressman to oppose. Social Sc
curIty is poisonous phi. sugar.
coated. The United States can
easily commit suicide by taking
TOO much Social Security poison.
VI course, one fair way to collect
more money would be Tor Congress
TO put an excess profits tax on
wages identical with the prese..
excess tax on profits. This would
Doth 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 Tor
any price they can get. 1 say
this because of the action Of car.
penters, brick layers, plumbers, and
painters who are fast killing the
geese which lay their golden eggs.
You can no longer afford to MAKE
over large, old house into apart
ments as you once could, Again
| say-try TO get out OF debt during
1912.
There will be fewer strikes In
1912. The strike business has its
ups and downs" like the stock
market. Labor leaders, like Wal
Street bankers, strike while the
iron is hot; they speed up while
the going is good. With both labor
leaders and bankers, their jobs are
purely a business. The business
Of the average labor leader will not
be- SO good in 1912 as in 1871 Az