Milford chronicle., 1958-11-28

Stans as the figures clearly indicate, uttered
a grim truth when he called this all era of
big budgets
SHORT ON SPICE
Quite aside from the usual structures
about the Soviet regime-itS denialS of free
dom, its harsh subjection of individual rights
to the needs of the state-one of the worst
things about life in Russia must surely be
its boredom. The narrowness of choice, not
only in the realm of ideas but in almost ev-
cry other phase of living, must seem dull
even to people who know nothing better.
The Russian who wants something to
read of a long winters night does not find
available the dozen of current magazines
and thousands of books that Americans in
all but the smallest communities have ready
access to. The Russian. has only few mag
azines, only few boOks-all subjected to
the rigorous sterilization of censorship by
the state.
The dazzling variety of foods to be found
in the average u. S. supermarket is entirely
beyond the average Russians ken. The same
point applies to almost any sort of consumer
goods that can be named. Even the rare So
Wet citizen who can hope to acquire car,
say, or a refrigerator or television set, can
not debate the virtues of this or that model
and then choose the one he likes best. His
range of choice is narrowed to a point the
American consumer would find incredible.
Perhaps this sameness does not lead to
boredom perhaps the Russians are content
But we have hunch that the porridge of
living in the Soviet Union tastes rather fiat
though the cooks bill it as the spiciest dish
on the menu.
DON'T INCREASE TAX BURDEN
According to reports from Washington,
0I1fo i11S%
posals to increase the Federal gasoline tax.
Reasons for the proposals is a Treasury
Department statement disclosing that the
Highway Trust Fund, from which the Fed
eral government reimburses the states for 90
per cent of the cost of the huge multi-billion
dollar Interstate System, is operating in the
red.
Speaking editorially, the Scripps- How
ard newspapers, strong advocates of the
highway program, urge that spending be
reduced TO the extent necessary to putting
the Trust Fund on a pay-as-you-go basis
An official of the American Automobile As
SOciatiOn said his organization would fight
any further increase in taxes.
The automobile is certainly not lux
ury in this country. It's a necessity to mil
lions of families and the cost of gasoline is
an important factor in their daily lives
And the gas taxes, states and Federal to-
gether, are a real burden. Actually, the
price of gasoline, before these taxes, is less
than it was 25 years or so ago-something
that can be said of mighty few commodities
The higher price we pay is due to the taxes
which, of course, are totally beyond the oil
industry's control.
It's to be hoped that the reported public
outcries reach very high decibel level. The
gasoline taxes are plenty Durdensome now
@@@@<&
SWEARING THE FRI
At its 10th annual convention last Sep
tember, the American Legion went on rec
ord commencing the FBl and its director, J.
Edgar Hoover, particularly for their work
in protecting the nation from communist
subversion.
Since then the Legion's National Com
mander has been repeatedly asked: "Why
was it necessary to reiterate confidence in
the FBI and Mr.. Hoover shared by every
loyal Americana" Here is his answer -
There are scme individuals in this country
and certain publications determined to dis
credit the FBI and its Director. That
deliberate smear Hoover and the FBT
campaign, similar to the Communist Party's
unsuccessful efforts of 1910, has been
launched is no mere supposition."
He then cited several specific examples
including a publication branded by a Sen
ate subcommittee as the organ of a COM
munist front organization.
The truth is that the FBI, under Mr.
Hoover, has gone to every length to respect
and defend the rights and freedoms laid
down by the Constitution. At the same time,
it has done an absolutely invaluable work
in exposing the communist conspiracy. A
successful smear campaign, which under
mined public faith in this great organiza-
ton, would perform yeoman service for the
Krenolin, is agerts. aid its followers: