Milford chronicle., 1958-03-28

Florence dangerous waSteland, with many
dying, and many mOrtally wounded moving
about on the streets and in the debris. If
that had happened, by accident, it would
have been a peace-time tragedy without par
allel. Such possible tragedy is worth the
consideration of both military and civilian
authorities.
THE GREAT THAW
The great thaw seems to have arrived in
Washington. The White House and Con-
gress are beginning to send out flood of
anti-receSsion measures calculated to rein
vigorate stagnating economic waters.
1t remains to be seen how effective these
measures are, and whether others will be
taken in time to bring maximum results, but
on the whole this is most welcome news. The
actions now under way will do much more
good than all the statements we have been
hearing to the effect that the American
economy was basically sound and healthy.
Though such talk always seems encouraging,
what it means is open to question. A healthy
body might not remain healthy if nothing
were done to promote and preserve health.
We have not only rising population, but
an increase in the number of on-prOduc-
tive citizens at both ends of the age range.
There are more children and more of the
aging in our population than there used to
be. They are consumers who do not pro-
duce. Also, the consumption needs and wants
of the American people as a whole have in
creased.
The nation can now produce more than
it needs, mainly because of greater efficiency
and advances in technology. Services must
be expanded, and provision must be made for
the future needs of a growing population.
This meanG more schools, hospitals and Ii
brarieS, constant improvement of airpOrtS
and roads. Government, from the local to
f014 lOxyA
How can government spend constructive
ly? This is a major question in our economy
today 1t is one of the questions which must
be answered by positive action if the Ameri-
can economy is to remain sound and healthy.
rSo%S
STRAW IN AN ILL WIND
If bill now proposed in the Congress
becomes law, the present system of unem-
ployment compensation will be almost COM
pletely federalized.
The mechanics and mathematics involved
are somewhat complicated. But the prin-
ciple at stake is simple enough. Arbitrary
federal standards would be imposed on the
state unemployment compensation laws. And
the states would be forced to pay far greater
unemployment benefits, and for a longer
period of time.
One result of that would be to add more
fuel to the fires of infation-at time when
Tie COSI-Ol-llVlHS lHueX lids UeeH SIodUliy
going up despite a decline in general buSi-
ness activity. For example, under the ex-
listing system, retailers and certain other
businesses commonly enjoy low unemploy-
ment tax rates, for the reason that they
stabilize their own employment. The heavy
drain the proposed new law would impose
ON state unemployment compensation funds
would mean the end of such favorable ex-
perience ratings. Inevitably, the higher cost
would be paid by consumers.
In the view of spokesman for the Am
erican Retail Federation, this represents a
deliberate attempt to increase the power of
the Federal Government over the state un-
employment compensation laws" Dollars
and-cents considerations to one side, the
growth of federal power at the expense of
the rights and obligations of the states has
become one of the most critical problems the
nation faces The proposed new law is one
more straw in an i'll wind.
5000