Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-01
The Political Mill
Larger Deficit Spending
Urged by james Roosevelt


Calls for New Government Outlays
Far Beyond Current Receipts
By Gould Lincoln
James Roosevelt, who recently declared
himself candidate for governor Of Cali
fornia in next years elections, speaks out
for deficit spending" in the December
American Mercury Indeed, he paints such
glowing picture Of large government out
lays-far beyond current government re-
ceipts-def1cit spending becomes a virtue
and balanced budget something to be
avoided.
Deficit spending" Mr.. Roosevelt argues.
"is the taxpayers best guarantee of eco
nomical government" This contention he
bases on a theory that a surplus in the
Treasury would lead to wasteful and ex-
cessive spending. Apparently he overlooks
the fact that surplus under present con-
ditions might lead to a reduction in the
American taxpayers excessively heavy bur-
den. That, however, is something the tax
payers may think about, if Mr.. Roosevelt
continues his campaigning in support of big
deficit spending.
Nor does it appear that this deficit
spending is guarantee of economical
government" In the first session of the 81st
Congress, greater sums were appropriated and
authorized for contraction future spending
than in any peacetime year in the coun-
try's history. The appropriations totalled
$46,475, 957,921, and the contract authorize
tions $4,497 Alb ,298-together more than
$4,000. 100000 or about one fourth Of the
save the mark,
Attack on Republicans.
The everything theme of Mr.. Roosevelt's
article in the Mercury is an attack on the
Republicans who have had the temerity to
make deficit spending a campaign issue.
1t Is he contends, the Republican Old Guard
and big business interests that are clamoring
loudly for a balanced budget. In Mr.
Roosevelts opinion, to reduce government
spending now would be to risk vast world
depression, which would engulf the United
States. He singles out for attack the late
Calvin Coolidge. Mr.. Coolidge's policy Of try
governments pay their war debts to this
country, Mr.. Roosevelt contends, was really
responsible for the rise of Adolf Hitler.
Make no mistake about It," Mr.. Roose-
velt writes I'VE are going to live under
deficit spending for long time, and we
may as well learn to like it, He might just
as well have said: eve are going to live
under backbreaking taxes for a long time
and we may as we'll learn to like It," That.
however, is the kind of thing supporters Of
great deficit spending fail to mention when
they write of the glories of big government
spending.
Further, President Coolidge when the
Treasury turned up with balanced budget
and a surplus of money, some hundreds Of
millions of dollars, used the money to
reduce the national debt. and under the
leadership of the late Andrew Mellon, Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, taxes were reduced.
That sounds more like economical govern
ment than what we have at present.
Backs Truman Program.
Mr.. Roosevelt contends that we must con-
tinue to spend money to help Europe recover
and to spend money for national defense
as a check upon the threat of Communist
Russia and her satellites. OF course. he is
right there. But even for such purposes,
money should be spent economically and not
thrown away. Also. Mr.. Roosevelt in an
nouncing his candidacy for Governor swal-
lowed whole the Truman domestic program
which, ii put into effect, would add $12,-
900 000, 900 to $4,000, 100000 additional Gov
eminent spending per annum. The expected
deficit for the present fiscal year is $5,000,-
1000 to s7ooo,0oo0oo. Mr.. Roosevelt's
support for deficit spending seems at least
logical.
To support his deficit spending thesis, Mr.
Roosevelt points out That the 1ndlVldual
family and the individual business concern
sometimes find 1t necessary to go into the
ireland that by unbalancing their
budgets and spending borrowed money, they
tide over distress periods and are also able
to expand their own interests. This also is
true But the United States now has
national debt exceeding $256 900 900 900.
which is being increased by many millions
each day that passes. Mr.. Roosevelt and the
big spenders are gambling with the economic
stability of the country-and the whole
world-when they propose to 60 right on
increasing expenditures by the Government.