Evening star., 1949-08-13
The Political Mill
Administration Would
Iqnore Hoover Warning
Government Spending Has Fastened
Itself on People, Too
By Gould Lincoln


Herbert Hoover, former President Of the
United States. great humanitarian, re-
ceived the acclaim of the country on his
18th birthday anniversary, but the warn
ing lie delivered against huge Government
spending and it's handmaiden, "collectivism'
will be ignored If the Truman administra-
ton has its way.
The former President pictured the Amer
lean people blissfully driving down the back
road to colectivism-and added. I'VE are
on the last mile" So Mr.. Hoover joins an
eminent Democrat, former associate justice
of the Supreme Court and former Secretary
of State, James F. Byrnes, in denunciation
of the measures, leading to the Socialist
state, which the Fair Dealers" under Mr..
Truman are now demanding Of Congress.
Take look, for example. at the twin
measures on the Truman program which
will extend Government control Of the lives
of the citizens and dip to the largest extent
into their pockets. These are the Truman
national health insurance program-more
commonly known as socialized medicine
and the Brannan plan, which miraculously
is expected to keep the prices OF food stuffs
high to the farmer and low to the indus
trial workers.
Would Cost Billions.
The health programs cost, If put into
effect and eventually expanded as all gov
ernment projects expand, will run into the
billions of dollars - estimated at from
$4,000 100000 to $1,000, 100000 annually.
Secretary of Agriculture Brannan SO far
has not produced an estimate of the cost OF
his farm program; but that it, too, will be
many billions is predicted by others
Mr.. Brannan appearing before congress
sional committee frankly admitted that the
cost of the farm plan. with its production
of% fov
pockets. The cost of the national health
program will be met also. first from pay
roll taxes and when those are not sufficient.
from the general funds of the government.
received from the collection of taxes.
These are only two of the new ways which
the administration proposes to expand gov
ernment and increase government spending.
The ordinary working citizens of the country
and that means all those who work-will
have to foot the tax bill to the extent of one
weeks salary out Of every month, Mr..
Hoover pointed out. Already the burden is
81 days earnings out of 235 working days
in the year.
Much of the blame for constantly in
creased government spending Mr.. Hoover
placed on the large number of pressure
groups, who demand appropriation OF gov
ernment funds for many different kinds OF
projects. These groups run from farm organ
ization demanding subsidies for farmers
and labor organizations demanding laws
which will enable labor to seek impossible
wage levels to chambers of commerce which
demand the construction Of all kinds of
costly government projects-not to mention
the Socialist-minded who want the govern
ment to increase its agencies and run every
thing.
Too Often Successful.
These groups. by threats against members
of Congress, too often meet success. They
serve their own selfish interests without re-
gard to the effect on the whole people. At
present, however. even the farmers have yet
to be convinced that the Brannan plan for.
agriculture should be put into operation,
majority of the members of Congress stand
not only against the farm program but also
against the socialized medicine program. How
long that situation will continue, however, is
doubtful unless more and more people pay at,
tertion to the warnings of Mr.. Hoover, Mr..
Byrnes Senator Byrd of Virginia and others.
who have lifted up their voices against the
onward march toward the collectivist state.
The system of government spending, how
ever. has fastened itself strongly on many
people. It may be too late.
Increasing unemployment in some parts OF
the country are bringing demands for fur
ther government spending-deficit spending
at that. The price and wage structures have
reached levels so high that purchasing has
fallen off. The savings of many persons have
been exhausted. Two major strikes, with in
creasing unemployment in their wake If they
happen, are threatened-in the steel and
automobile industries. AS Mr.. Hoover re-
marked. it is time for the American people
to think things over.