Evening star., 1945-01-15

read 1t and are supposed to under
stand. One thing about which they
appear to agree is that the message
was prepared by half a dozen or
more individuals who lacked CO.
ordination both as to thought and
facts.
Another thing that seems clear is
that Mr.. Roosevelt was not among
these individuals.
There are two reasons for think
Ing so. The first is the well-known
fact that figures give Mr.. Roose-
welt a headache. Matters which
deal with them are always delegated
to his subordinates. They bore and
tire him. All he wants is to see
the finished product-for which few
can blame him.
The second reason is the ex-
traordinary inconsistency of the po-
sitions in which the budget declara-
tions place him.
1t is hard to conceive that man
would place himself in such po-
sition. 1t can be best accounted
for on the theory that the work
Of the preparatory group was not
carefully reviewed and that these
gentlemen did not labor very closely
together.
Vast Postwar New Deal.
For example, large portion of
the message deals with postwar ex-
penditures. In practically all nom
a., n
largely increased Government
spending.
Mr.. Roosevelt seems to visualize a
vastly expanded postwar New Deal
in which, besides the great expend-
itures for veterans and postwar aid
to other nations, there will be ex-
pansion and greater spending by
numerous Federal agencies-such as
the Commodity Credit Corporation
and the Export-Import Bank; in
creased subsidies for agriculture;
permanently increased salaries for
Federal employees; a vast public
works and highway program; an ex-
panded system Of Federal loans and
guarantees, etc., etc.
The budget does not touch upon
how the money for these things Is to
be obtained. Apparently, the Presi-
dent is not troubled by that detail.
Apparently, the money is to be the
result of postwar deficit financing
and increased debt. There is no
other suggestion.
On the other hand, a distinct
aversion to imposing further taxes
upon the masses of consumer"
is expressed, which means, if it
means anything, that any increased
taxes will be upon the investor
class.
Yet, knowledge that taxes on this
class already have reached a con-
fiscatory stage, makes it clear that
the additional revenue thus gained
would be trivial and that additional
burdens would rob private enter
prise OF It's power to supply jobs
through expansion and expenditure.
So, obviously, the President must
contemplate financing this great
governmental postwar program by
further borrowings and further in
creasing the national debt, which
he guesses will be $292 ,000, 900 900
by June 80, 1916. But, elsewhere in
the budget, Mr.. Roosevelt declares
that "I favor a policy of orderly but
steady debt reduction, consistent
with the objective of long-run eco
nomic policy"
Now, the same man who wrote
that sentence could hardly have
written those outlining this great
program of governmental spending
or those proposing decrease in the
taxes on "the masses of consumers. :"
These things just cannot be recon-
ciled.
Teamwork Lacking.
To do even part Of what Mr..
Roosevelt suggests as the govern
mental postwar program precludes
any reduction in debt, orderly,
steady or otherwise. To advocate
both indicates that there was no
teamwork in writing the message.
No effort to reconcile these things
has ben made.
Nor has there been any explana-
ton of what the President means
when he says: THE mistakes in
debt management and tax policy
after the last war must not be re-
peated." AS the chief feature after
the last war was a steady reduction
OF debt (at the rate of S845 900 900