Evening star., 1947-04-23


chances to reap a 1948 reward dis
appears.
Thoughtful Republican leaders
are more than little worried about
this. The danger. they say, is so
clear that it should not exist. Yet
1t does. Obviously, the Republicans
cannot embark on great campaign
to end governmental waste and re-
store national solvency, and at the
same time publicly nullify their own
efforts by initiating new ways Of
wasting money and keeping the
budget out of balance This would
be treating the American people as
though they were utterly incapable
of reason or understanding. 1t also
would be convicting themselves of
tdiocy or hypocrisy-or both.
Two Paths to Trap.
1t can be conceded, perhaps, that
the Republicans have too much
sense deliberately to play such a
double game Their danger lies
more in loose leadership and lack
of discipline than in evil intent.
But the effect would be the same.
There are two ways by which they
can slip into this extremely vulner-
able position almost before they
know where they are. One Is
through affirmative action taken
without reckoning the cost; the
other through negative action, with
out being sufficiently awake to the
inevitable result of inexcusable
negligence.
On the affirmative side there is
the tendency of various Republican
leaders in an effort to vaccinate
against being labeled "reactionary''
to develop a social program" of
their own, along housing, health and
educational lines. Also there is the
tendency, under pressure, to extend
additional aid in the shape of
bonuses, ETC., to the veterans. The
costs of these proposals will total
hundreds of millions of dollars. The
point is not raised as to their merits,
though such points could be raised,
Important Points.
The really important points are,
first, whether the Nation, at this
period, can afford such great new
expenditures, thus making it i'm
possible to steady its tottering
financial structure; second, whether,
even If the proposals were all meri-
torious, they should not be post
poned until fiscal stability had been
reasonably regained; third, whether
the Republican party can support
such proposals at this time without
indefensible inconsistency.
On the negative side, it seems
equally culpable for the Republicans
to refrain from action that would
wipe out large departmental deficits
as to further plans for creating new
deficits. The shining opportunity to
do the first is presented by the Post
Office Department, again confronted
by large deficit and again asking
to be put on a ~self-sustaining basis.
AS was pointed out, in this place
some weeks ago. the Post Office De-
partment deficit next year will run
between $287 100000 and S34O,0OO,-
uOu' iIllo 10 dIIilOoG dS lIluCil IllOIlGy
as President Truman is asking for
the support of Greece and Turkey,
and which both parties are ready
to unite in providing.
Easy to Solve.
There are three obvious reasons
the Republicans should meet ade-
quately this Post Office situation.
One is that it is so easy to do. It
can be done without really hurting
any one. All that is needed is to
continue the 3-cent rate for first
class mail and at the same time
raise the rates on second, third and
fourth class mail.
- Not only can this be done without
hardship, but as matter of Justice
1t should have been done long ago.
1t would end an unjuStifiable sub
sidy to newspapers and magazines
which nearly every postmaster gen.
eral for so years has denounced. A
second reason the Republicans can
take this action easily is because it
Is recommended by the Democratic
administration. There would really
be no one to object-except the
usual lobby.
Manifestly, the arguments for
putting the Post Office Department
in position where it can operate
without debt merely by ceasing to