Evening star., 1945-05-16

cure-far from it. 1t does mean
that, unless those whose Judg-
ment seems most worthwhile are
wholly wrong, there is not going to
be in this country, following the
end of hostilities. any long period
of economic sickness, or even a
short pertod-quite the contrary.
Yet, that IS the assumption upon
which the radical elements here and
In New York have been proceeding
Upon this theory and the further
sumption that private industry
will be wholly inadequate to meet
the situation, they have been con-
ducting a campaign for what is
known as the Murray bill, as an
inspired instrument with which the
Government can bring about full
employment. -
Employment Budget"
The Murray bill was introduced
bv the ultra Liberal millionaire, Sen
ater Murray, Democrat, OF Montana
and is enthusiastically supported by
Secretary of Commerce Wallace,
Sidney Hillman of the C1O, Sen-
ator Wagner Democrat, OF New
York: Senator Thomas, Democrat
of Utah, and an, almost solid group
of radical publications and assocla-
tions. 1t embodies the new EN-
plovment budget" idea and opens
wide the door for vast governmental
expenditures and increased govern
mental mana cement, not to say
domination1 AS one observer says
AFT is a definite move toward greater
Federal control of the Nations eco
nomic system"
AS things have developed. there
are three pretty strong reasons 1or
believing that, despite the noise
and energy of it's supporters, this
measure will not get far beyond lts
present committee stage.
The first of these is that Its sup
mort comes almost wholly from the
ieft-wing radicals and its -perilous
tnpracticability is becoming more
apparent the more it is studleo.
Tie second reason is that it lacks
t1e backing of the President, ana
without that backing there is slight
chance of it's making much headWay.
Truman Hasn't Read Bill.
At his second press conference
Mr.. Truman was asked point-blank
if he we're for the Murray employ
ment ,ill. Without hesitation, he
replied that. of course, he was for
full employment" but he had not
read the Murray bill and, therefore,
had noting to say about it. This
left the 'eft-wingers feeling pretty
low in lrfr rnindsf though 1t did
not diminish their determination to
push theirpet plan.
The rthir% reason is the most CO.
gent of all--to wit. that for a long
time after tie war there will be no
real unemployment in this country.
Consequently there win be no need
for the creatbn of 10000 or even
$4,000 jobs. This is the. view held
by B. NJ. Barch and other expert
enced nonpoltical, t1onjobholding
and nonjobseding students and
economists. Intheir opinion, there
will be for the lext few years Give
to seven anywaysthey say, and un-
less we are very tupid much longer
than that more jobs than there
are men to fill then.
Those who hold this view make a
convincing argument to sustain their
statement. They point out that,
following the war, The demand for
all sorts of civilian goods will be far
in excess of the supply; that private
industry will be push,d to its utmost
to meet the demand; that it will
absorb all available men willing to
work, and its great ploblem will be
to find enough of then.
No Prolonged Unemployment.
There will be much Shifting, some
confusion and temporary local un-
employment, but no general or pro-
longed unemployment period CALI
ing for legislation or big govern
mental spending. The building in
dustry alone is so far behind as to
insure. a period of property If
there were nothing else. But every
industry is in the same condition
railroads, mines, farms, facories of
all kinds are waiting for the release
of men from the Army and war pro-
duction plantsyto start ahead at full
speed not only to build houses
equip railroads, telephone COM
panies and other utilities, but to
supply the hundreds of thousands
Of small Iuxuries and near ntcessi-
ties which a population of 13S,000,-
900 have been denied for sthree
years. .'..-=t !',.'
1t is pointed out also that, onithe
average, these 1876 100000 now have
more money laid away in banks and
bureau drawers to buy these things
than they ever dreamed of having
before.
No one can look these facts in the
face and believe that a period of
unemployment will follow the end Of