Smyrna times., 1950-01-12
MESSAGE BY
SENATOR FREAR
Congress Should Keep Hands
Off Social and Economic
Problems
LET STATES DECIDE

United states Senator j. Allen
Frear, Jr., said Monday that Con-
gress should keep hands off the
social and economic problems
which rightfully are matters for
the various states to decide. In his
second weekly report to the people
of Delaware on current Congress
sional matters, broadcast over
Radio Station WDEL, Senator
Frear declared that there is dang
er lest the federal government
grow so large that it will obliter-
ate the functions of state and mu-
nicipal governments.
The Delaware senator pointeC
out that certain matters such as
national defense and foreign policy
are logically the responsibility of
the President and Congress, but he
indicated that a number of domes-
tic issues could not be adequately
legislated at the national level. In
stead he declared that the individ-
ual states themselves are in bet
ter position to determine the best
course of action.
AS an example, Senator Frear
pointed out that regulations COW
ering the marketing of oleomar-
garine could possibly be solved by
the various states once Congress
has removed the federal excise
taxes.
Mr.. Frear also stated he would
ultimately like to see taxation set
up on a basis whereby the states
would act as sole collecting agen-
cies and forward necessary sums
to the federal treasury.
"Our great American union was
built state by state" said Mr..
Frear, "and its heritage from the
time of the original colonies has
been one based on individual eff
fort and elf-achievement. The
strength of our democracy lies in
the power of the states to govern
themselves"
/ wonder sometimes if Congress,
in legislating for the needs of the
American people on a national
scale, gives sufficient reflection to
the fact that many of the problems
which we seek to solve, can prob
ably be worked out much better
within the states themselves.
For over a year now I have
watched and taken part in debates
and discussions on large number
of important domestic issues af-
fecting the lives of almost every
person in the United States. And
it has occurred to me frequently
that the best answer to a number
of these problems is to be found
not in the halls of Congress but in
the state and municipal govern
ments which are closest to the peo-
pie themselves, and which in most
instances are in a better position
to reflect the desires of the individ-
ua1 citizen.
Throughout recent years, our
government operations here in
washington have grown enormous
ly and have concentrated tremend-
GUS power in themselves. In some
instances this has been necessary
to meet the challenge of our times
In the early thirties swift and bolc
action by the national government
unquestionably brought surge Of
hope to a nation shattered by
economic depression. The coming
of war meant a continuance anC
even an increase of authority ovel
the nation by the President anC
Congress. 1t is true that many o.
our great social and economic re
form measures have originated il
the national government, and gen
orally the application of these law
has worked out we'll for the Amer
ican people. But at the same tim,
there is a growing danger that tn
function of the individual state ant
the inherent responsibilities it ha
to it's citizens will become obliter
ated if the federal government be
comes too large. This same princi
pie can, of course, be applied Il
private business. If an organiza
ton, in growing and expanding
chokes off competition and monop
olizes an entire industry or indus
tries, the result will, in the lon
run, probably work adversely O.
the public at large for price settlnI
and other undesirable maneuver
would no doubt come about.
Our great American union wa
built state by state and its heritag
from the time of the original col
onies has been one based on ind
,id,ioI effort and se1f-achievennen-