Milford chronicle., 1946-08-23

A SF4REWD OBSERVER of American political
trend, Mr.. James A. Farley recently made the om-
observation that II have an uneasy feeling that
the belief is spreading that people capable
of governing themselves; that the problems today
are SO complex that the citizens at large must OF
necessity be detached from their own difficulties
The concept of the political elite is growing"
Why this should be 50 is mystery Not only have
lately the horrible results of the ultimate in
centralized authority, but even in comparatively
small doses government as an all-wise protector is
a demonstrated failure. Here in our own country
local and national governments have long nterfered
with production and distribution of necessities such
as food Dsruptve political actities in retail dis
tributios prior the stand out today nothing
more than ridiculous political meddling which hinder
ed rather than helped the cause of good consumer
service.
1t IS hard to believe now that few short years
ago the efficient elements of the distribution
industry, the chain stores accused in legisla
tive halls of being because of the phloso-
ophy they espoused of high volume sales at mini
mum unit prices 1t is incredible that more than 20
actually passed punitive laws deliberately
aimed Gripping the chains while it was touch
and go issue in Congress- Was this a sample of de
tachng the people from their difficulties when five
years later government is begging for pro
duCtion, distribution, and fighting to hold
the line on prices?
Our present difficulties will multiply hundred
fold if the people don't stop looking to government
for miracles We must not forget that prerogative
of the political elite - suppression of the individual
citizen.
ONCE MORE, WITH little time to lose, the
Senate and House agreed freeze the old age pension
taxes for another year the present two per cent
rate, equally divided between employer and employee
Because the law provides for their automatic
increase, year by year, this furry of Congress over
maintaining existing has become an annua
occurrence, with the result generally in doubt unit
the last minute.
This is the fourth occasion on which Congress
has moved prevent impending increase OF
this Next year it will have to repeat the per
formance or let the levy take its course.
There much talk of enactng general Fedora
tax law that would not require constant tinkerng
but would enable business and individuals to maxi
plans ahead. Why apply this principle to TIL
social security taxes after surveying the funds fu
ture obligations? That would avoid lot of fus
and trouble for Congress and to relieve tn
9ublic's annual period of suspense and anxiety.
1~~e~~.
flNES TN ! ffE UNI ED SlAl rs are nov
taking toll of 10000 lives yearly in the most hor
tible kind of death-burning
The nation will suffer the largest fire loss i
history in 1916, say the President of the Nations
Board of Fire Underwriters, unless united effort
made nationally to check present excessive burnin
which is due largely to careessness
The appalling rate of increase in our nation.
fire losses calls for the attention of everyone inter
ested in the general social and economic welfare @
country. If the present rate goes on throug
1916, the toll of real wealth, much of it pre-
epctive wealth which people can i'll afford
lose today, will surely pass 5000, 100000 That vi
make 1916 the year of reckless burning OF
nation has ever known.
Equally shocking and appalling is loss of lif
A few months ago newspapers and radio news pc
ods had extensive reports of Blazing Sunday
which 20 lives were lost in few spectacular fire
That seemed unusual but it not. An average