Milford chronicle., 1948-03-19

have any direct or
indirectnational sig
nificance. They are
local in character and should not
call for expenditure Of federal gov
ernment funds. On what equitable
grounds can the people Of New Eng
land be taxed to pay for the irriga-
ton of California farms? Why should
the people Of New York be forced to
pay for plants that supply light and
power for the people Of Tennessee
and Georgia? Why should the peo-
pie of Texas have to provide a plant
that can serve only a few towns in
Nebraska?
In past years such expendi-
lures were known by the smelly
name Of "pOrk. "POrk" repre-
sents the ability of the senator
or representative to bring home
the bacon for his state or his
district. It buys votes. Expense
items Of such character are to
be found in every budget and the
appropriation bills passed by
every congress. No one such
item calls for billions, but many
of them call for millions, and the
total Of all such is a consider
able sum.
An item that does represent bill
lions of possible savings is the army
Of bureaucratS still employed in
wartime emergency bureaus. Dis
pensing with such bureaus or reduc-
ing the number of needless en-
ployees by several hundred thou
sand could mean a saving up in the
billions.
There are some comparatively
small items Of waste connected with
the armed services. The essentials
of these services - the army, navy
and air - are too real to permit
spending money on non-essentials.
Congress should turn the expendi-
lures for non-essentials into essen
tial channels.
Yes, there are billions that can
come out of those budgeted expense
items without injury to the mass Of
the American people; expense items
that would be beneficial in each case
to only a small minority. Such items
are but vote buyers.
There is one place where we
cannot afford to have congress
assume niggardly attitude. That
is the research work Of all the
armed services. The tools with
which we won the last war are
obsolete and worthless today.
The gadgets and appliances that
represent war technology today
will be obsolete tomorrow. We
must keep everlastingly at the
job Of preparing to defend our
freedom, our way Of life, until
such time as the world is will
ing to disarm.
The research work Of the army.
navy and air service have kept US
abreast, or ahead, Of those who
might threaten our liberties. The
bluster and bluff Of Russia and her
satellites will not change to attack
so long as we maintain our position
in war technology. Our armed
forces will maintain that position so
long as congress provides the funds
needed for continuous research.
Such funds are a real necessity if
we-all Of us-are to continue to en-
joy the freedoms we all appre eciate
and value.
Let us save in those things VIE can
do without and not seriously miss:
in those things that are Of conse.
quence only to minority groups; on
those things that are of benefit to
only small sections and have n b real
claim to national appropriations.
Let us not be niggardly in providing
for the research work Of the armed
services that we may continue to
keep abreast OF the times in the tech
nology Of war.
1t is proposed to build another
canal connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific. Another canal nav
be needed, but il was the nom
ChalanCe with which the pro.
pOsal to spend a billion or more
was made, that gripes US. Such
easy, uncOnsidered spending
has been typical Of congress for
ali too many years.
No threat Of war would hang over
the establishment Of European refu-
gee Jews in Italian Somaliland.
It is today a no mans land, but has
greater agricultural possibilities
than has Palestine, and is inhabited
by only a scattering Of native
Africans.
Dreams Of affluence do not
help in filling an empty stOm-
ach.