Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-23

eminent the size and cost of which
are out of all reason.
This combination creates situa-
ton too grave to exaggerate. Yet 1t
is conceded that with determine
ton and sense 1t can be successfully
dealt with. Unhappily, it seems
clear that these qualities are not
going to be used by those clothed
with power and responsibility. On
the contrary, their course promises
to continue lacking in candor, In
courage and In reason.
The best evidence of this is the
reception accorded the recent rec
concentrations Of Bernard M.
Baruch. Asked for his advice by the
Senate committee, and favoring the
Marshall Plan, Mr.. Baruch laid down
a program to check imitation, reduce
the debt and recapture control Of
our fiscal affairs. He recalled that in
f1ation started in the country when
back in 1912 the OPA, disregarding
his warning, attempted to control
prices without controlling wages-a
manifest impossibility.
Did Not Recall WPB Advice.
He did not recall-though he had
every right to do so-the undeniable
fact that If his advice for a single
directing head of the War Produc-
ton Board had been taken when
given instead of delaying ID
months until the silly Roosevelt
scheme of a dual head-Knutson
and Hillman-had begged down-we
would have had a shorter war and
saved lives as well as millions.
Among other things, Mr.. Baruch
urged that through legislation, di-
rection and voluntary self-disci-
pine farmers be induced to accept
reduction in food prices in exchange
for the guarantee Of an assured
price for their crops for the next
three years; that In return for this
food price rollback labor abandon
all strikes and wage demands and
accept sterilization of wages for
three years; that industry accept
so per cent restoration Of the ex-
cess profits tax, with wartime
amortization for new plants and ex-
pansion; that all tax reduction be
postponed two years, after which
five-year orderly reduction, coupled
with substantial lowering of the ma
tional debt, which is a terrible
threat to our security" be effected;
that all unessential Federal, State
and municipal works be postponed.
There, of course, was more to the
Baruch recommendations than this.
But the ones above suggested are
the principal proposals for rescuing
this Nation from its concededly per-
ilous position, giving 1t the strength
needed to extend adequate aid to
Europe without wrecking ourselves.
Privately, almost every candid man
in Washington agrees they are not
only. practical but necessary. There
is nothing new nor startling about
them. So far as taxes are concerned,
Mr.. Baruch merely repeats what he
said two years ago when. despite
warning, the Truman administra-
ton entirely wiped out the excess
profits tax, which not only cut
hugely into revenue which could
have been used to reduce the debt
but started the first wave of wage
demands that sent prices spiraling
again.
Record of Being Right.
Even if these suggestions had not
been made by man with an i'm
pressive record for being right and
who obviously has no personal ak
to grind, their essential soundness
ought to be enough to insure action
in face Of the crisis. However, there
will be no action. Mr.. Baruch's pro-
gram not only win not 60 through