The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-11-17
POSTWAR PLANNING SHOULD
BE PRACTICAL

Charting our lives, as we'll as tie
progress of our respective commun-
tiles for the happy days when peace
comes, is such perfect psychology
cal escape from the present with its
worries, sorrows and tragedies that
we are apt to lose sight of realities
in contemplating the fruitful years
ahead.
But when peace comes, it will
bring its problems on the solution of
which may depend the welfare of our
Community, our State, and our Ma
ton. In our planning for the future
we should avoid errors that expert
ence has disclosed to us. We should
be practical; otherwise, our plans
for better future may only serve to
insure the opposite. In planning post
war construction we may do good or
through excess of optimism or pure
carelessness, we may create new
evils.
Many communities have postponed
needed construction. Tkis should be-
started as soon as possible after
peace is secured. However, a careful
appraisal OF what is necessary and
what is not, should be made. The
mre fact that any construction ere.
ates some employment, should not be
deciding factor. Although needed
construction may be justified. publ,
work merely to create local employ
ment is absolute waste and ultimately
tends to restrict employment oppor-
tunities at regular well-paying per-
manent jobs.
Figures released by the U. S. De-
partment of Labor, the Federal
Works Agency and the Public Works
Administration show that, for each
dollar of construction cost, only be-
tween 80 and 35 %, or an average of
3, goes to labor at the place of con-
struction. These figures are based on
1910 levels, and give some idea of
peacetime proportions.
OF course labor is created away
from the site of construction. But
Maryland and it's communities can
hardly be interested in financing la
Dor in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Michi-
gan. In public construction, primar-
lily to make local employment, the
community must be concerned with
the jobs created at home and with
the cost of providing these Jobs.
From Government reports. if an
pears that for every dollar spent for
public construction, only 33 1I3 cents
would go to the worker. If getting
money into the workers pay envelope
is the primary purpose of such con-
struction, it will cost the community
one dollar to pay the worker SO 1l3
cents.
Ii bonds are issued to raise money
for the construction, TIE waste is
even greater. There are many meth
DDS OF financing, but assume that a
20 year serial bond at 20 is issued
In 20 years, each dollar will cost the
community Fl cents in interest. I'm
der these conditions it will cost the
community $1.21 to pay the worker
33 cents.
A grant from the Federal Govern
ment of half the construction cost
does not relieve TIE situation. In
fact, it adds to the cost. The Federal
Government earns no money itself
1t gets money from taxation of citi-
zens in the various states. Naturally
the Weather states contribute more
to the Federal Treasury than do the
less walthy ones. Studies concerning
Maryland's contribution to the funds
from which Federal grants are made.
indicate THAT for every $500 Mary
land receives from Washington, the
Maryland citizens pay back to Wash
lngton approximately $1,000. Reduc-
ed to dollars, this means that for ey-
cry dollar We receive we pay S1.71
IN return. On the basis of a $3.50
Federal grant and construction fnan-
ced by a 20 year 30 local serial bond
1t Will cost the taxpayers STAG to
pay 33 1 3 cents to local worker.
Certainly we should plan for peace,
but we should be practical. Necessary
construction within the means of the
community SHOULD be started as soon
as the war is over. But, we should
guard against local construction
merely to create local employment.
10 spend public money for the pri-
mary purpose of making 81 cents
worth of local employment for each
$1.OO expended, will ultimately in
crease unemployment, destroy the
ability of business and industry to
create real permanent jobs at decent