Montana labor news., 1947-02-20

they had produced more than the eX-
would let them buy back.
A balancing device was put in the
law for our economy. unstable at best
for long periods. To avoid the evils Of
a surplus product the congress wisely
provided that if the masters worked
the men longer than needed to pro-
luce enough under then-eXisting liv
ing standards, the masters should re-
turn to the workers one and one-half
wages for overtime, and penalty of
another one and one-half, so that the
surplus product would not pile up,
but be consumed as made, and there
by the standard Of living would rise
The Bridge Of Ounces
There is a problem in geometry
called the Bridge of Ounces No Ounce
can get any further. To any one who
can pass that problem mentally it is
quite simple that to make the masters
pay every claim for overtime quickly
in cash to the workers, would put
more money in the merchants hands,
take more goods from the factories,
lift more oil and metals from wells
and mines, saw more timber IN the
forests. move more wheat and meat
from the farms, prolong the coming
of the evil day of panic, postpone
what is everywhere prophesized, the
most severe industrial depression we
have ever gone thru-One so squalid
as to drive millions and millions of
our voters to embrace the only other
system now outstanding in the world
-communism-rather than starva-
ton. There are some in congress who
cannot pass the bridge of ounces In
economies. They proclaim their stu
pidity. They say that forced payment
of these mounts from the unprece-
denied hoard of war profits would de-
stroy our system. The fact is, it would
give it more enduring health.
C~anceling of orders has begun al
ready. Forced and proper release OF
a million surplus government EN-
ployes will soon add to vagrancy. The
banks are loaded with money that re-
sponsible people will not borrow. The
flood behind our weak dam against
surplus products is ~rising-just these
ounces in congress would like to raise
the flash boards on top Of the dam
and increase the weight OF water,
rather than open the gates. let some
water out for generating power and IT.
rigation, and save the dam. What
fools these mortals be-"
They say that payment by the mas
tiers will be reflected in federal taxes
by an increase. A horse can pull only
so much. A working man, or n small
business man, or professional man,
can pay only so much taxes. We are
at the limit of endurance already. A
depression would break us down on
our taxes; might bring the govern
ment income down to near the debt
service. AS a Democrat | hope if 1t
comes at all, it comes under a Re-
publican president, because when
: tho public income gets close to the
debt service. the currency fails to
3 function. Then a sack Of potatoes
may bring a sack of hundred dollar
> bills.
But they say the payment of these
} legal claims will delay the retirement
{ OF our national debt. There is really
some argument there. At the esti-
mates rate of retirement for this year.
200 million dollars, one billion will
be paid in five years, 260 billion will
be paid in 1880 years. Aside: The only
way the debt will ever be paid is by
n capital levy-say 10 per cent per
year on all the property of all the
multi-millionaires. But they say that
is c~ommunistic. II probably is for all
know. But that would clear the debt
e in 26 years.
There Is No Way Out But
Payment
Crooner O'Daniels says TAX the re-
coveries in these cases 100 per cent
Well, suppose that was tried by con
gress. There are wise heads in con-
gress who know that if that were
started and succeeded, which it can.
= NV, SOilt OtlVI tOliSIcSS IIIlSIt I'll
the DuPonts 100 per cent of their
. vested properties-without due proc.
ess of law. However, taxation must
be equal and uniform. Pappy is just
a buffoon, and without sense enough
- to keep his mouth shut.
While congress cannot modify OF
rule out these vested rights that have
in already accrued, the Republican ma
O. jority Joined by the far south pseudo
t. Democrats will change the law as tC
st the future. That cannot affect pend
a ing cases. Most lawyers realize this
I'd Many large employers have been Sc
ut advised. This has caused them t.
IN negotiate fair settlements. and law
a yers for the men have not been in
n. ~sistent on a pound of flesh.
Of A ship building concern recent,
IN settled under court order with its mel
for two million dollars. Dow Chem
IL ical Company settled for four millio,
,e dollars. Swift and Company hay,
settled.
is Most of the suits in Montana ar,
I'd against the Anaconda company. Iowa.
rs Mrs. Sullivan lost five gallant boy.
W on one battleship during the war il
re the Pacific. but the Anaconda emerged
O. from the war with some phony wir'
IT. rejected to an affiliate, but with
IS reserve estimated at one hundred thil
IS, ~ty-seven million dollars
s. The simpletons in our midst ar,
e, business men and stockgrowers VIII
r. think that they would be hurt by
he few millions removed from the BAN
vaults of Amsterdam and put in tn,