The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1943-10-28
POSTWAR
HAGERSTOWN
"a SECOND EDTTORIAL)

In last weeks editorial we ex-
pressed the opinion that, from a
long range viewpoint, HagerstOwn's
postwar position would be an ex-
ceptionalIy strong one, but that, for
several months after the war there
would be period of unemployment,
its seriousness depending on three
factOrs-whether or not there will
be a prolonged war with Japan af-
ter Germany is knocked out of the
picture; how long it will take in
dustry to revert back to peacetime
production; what plans the Federal
government make for the return of
the members of our Armed Forces
TO civilian life.
No one can predict when the war
will end. We have heard response
BILE men express the opinion that by
this time next year IL will all be
over, while others, just as RESPONSE
BILE, are firmly convinced that there
is little chance of bringing the war
to close before the end of I945 at
least, and frankly, much as we hate
the idea, we are inclined to agree
with the latter group.
But whether il ends in "a or as,
we believe that IL is time, right now,
to be laying plans to meet whatever
unemployment problem the coming
of peace may bring about.
After the last war the most com
monty heard expression of the UNI
employed was, "IE l had only saved
some of that big money l made, l
wouldn't be in this fix now"
II seems logical therefore that the
first step in combating possible
postwar unemployment situation
should be taken by those who would
be first affected the employees
themselves.
The man or woman with a com
Portable reserve fund has little to
fear from an unemployment period,
unless il should take on the pro-
portions of depression, and we
certainly do. not feel that Hagers-
tOwn-iirnly established as solid
community before the war-faces
anything like that.
So, as we see it, step number one
is more and more employees saw
ings, through the continued and in
creased buying of War Savings
Bonds and the steady building up of
savings accounts.
Step number two, we believe.
should be well planned public
works program that would provide
unemployment, at prevailing wages,
during the readjustment period.
By public works program we do
not mean some sort of Federal prof.
ect, such as the WPA, for we firmly
believe that the sooner city, county
and state governments are released
from Federal control, the better off
they will be. What we mean is a
city and county program, financed
with city and county funds.
Our city administration, as point
ed out by Mayor Sweeney in the
first of the Globe independents
"HagerstOwn After the War" arti-
cles, is building up a postwar con-
structiOn project fund that has al
ready passed the quarter mil
lion mark, and we feel that our
county administration should con-
slider action along the same lines.
The cOunty'S bonded Indebtedness
is remarkably lOw-abOut one per
cent of the taxable basis, if our fig
ures are cOrrect-s0 the question of
an unbalanced Indebtedness does not
have to be considered.
We suggest, therefore, that the
county administration consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of preparin plans for
a bond issue, earmarke for post
war construction work, and to be
fioated only if and when it is need
ed. 1t is true, of course, that such
an issue would require legislative
approval and that the legislature
does not meet again until 1945, but
if plans are completed now, every
thing will be in readiness for action
when the legislature recOnvenes.
The third and final step, in our
opinion, should be cOOrdinated ac-
ton ON the part of city, county, in
dustry and labor.
Continued on Page 81