Evening star., 1961-01-08
Voice in the Wilderness

4AC4CS . OIlC CIlulS 0GIlaVOT nell
nedy Is not short Of these days-advice
on what to do about the recession, the
economic slump, the rolling readjust-
ment, or whatever one chooses to call it.
Within the span Of "a hours he has
received suggestions from at least five
different sources. The most prominent,
or at least one that Senator Kennedy
had asked for, came from group
headed by. DR.. Paul A. Samuelson,
professor OF economics at the MasSa-
chusetts Institute Of Technology. In
addition, the AFL-CIO put forward q
20-point program featuring a cut in
individual income taxes If unemploy-
ment continues to rise. Another set Of
recommendation came from the
National Planning Association, q non
political organization. David Mcdonald,
president Of the United Steelworkers
Of America, whose members have been
, hit hard by unemployment, called for
a Federal pump priming" operation.
And then there was the voice Of r.
Conrad Cooper, executive vice president
OF the United States Steel Corporation.
Mr.. Cooper thought something should
be done about our "antiquated" tax
structure, but his was almost as q
voice crying in the wilderness.
The Samuelson report, since 1t was
prepared at Mr.. Kennedy's request,
naturally has attracted most attention.
1t makes interesting reading, and pro-
poses, as "frst line Of Defense" an
imposing array Of Federally financed
projects estimated to cost from 50 to IS
billion additional in flscal 1862. Some
what Unexpectedly, this report takes
strong stand against any massive
program Of hastily devised public works
whose primary purpose is merely that
Of making jobs and getting money
pumped into the economy" Instead, the
emphasis Is on a selective program of
Federal projects designed to stimulate
the economy and provide Jobs for the
unemployed as well as for the million
or more new job-seekers who emerge
each year. ....
This report, however, makes but
passing reference to tax reform, and
suggests 1t only in small way In event
the recession gets worse. Mr.. Kennedy
can read 1t from beginning to end, and
he will find nothing which reflects or
even mentions the thinking of those
who are primarily concerned, In q free
enterprise system, with the business of
creating new and more job oppor-
tunities.
These are the people who have in
vested the capital and taken the risks
upon which our industrial system has
been built, and who, given the oppor-
tunity, would continue to build. They
cannot do this, however, under hodge
podge Of wartime tax rates which
gravely hamper the accumulation of
needed investment capital and which
seriously tend to destroy individual in
eentive. Very few people would question
the need for Federal action and Federal
spending at this time in certain limited
areas. But this can never be the whole
answer, or even a large part Of 1t. If
America is to grow, If the required Jobs
are to be forthcoming. these things
must come from the venturesome
initiative Of millions Of Americans
acting in private capacity. Before
closing the book on his study Of the
problem, Mr.. Kennedy, we think, would
do well to solicit the views of those who
are willing and competent to speak for
e, this bedrock of our economy.