OCR Text |
Show EVERY DAY By Hodge Marshall Was it not so tragic, it would be amusing the way voters of this country coun-try enthuse over the election of a village vill-age mayor, or the enactment of a town ordinance, but evince not the slightest interest in national legislation on matters mat-ters of finance and economics. No one is consulted but the banking bank-ing interests about policies dealing with monetary matters, and it is hardly possible that what is best for the international inter-national banker, from a standpoint of profit, is always best for the farmer, manufacturer or labor. We are told that there are certain "natural economic laws" that bring about the depression from which we suffer too frequently. That is sacrilegious slam at Nature. Nat-ure. There is nothing natural about any such law. Neither is it economic. It is interference with the functioning of natural laws and causes our finan-' finan-' cial ills. Nature has laws and enforces them, and the fellow who breaks the laws pays the penalty. When we overeat, or otherwise abuse ourselves, Nature reminds us promptly by means of tummy tum-my ache or some other form of die-tress. die-tress. , . . She never punishes Jones with an ache that was caused by the indiscretions indiscre-tions of Smith. With our socalled national economic laws it is different. The fellows who bring about the trouble, suffer least, while the ones who are flot, nor can be responsible, pay the greatest pen- Whether the past sinking spell was caused by over inflation, single gold standard, war debt, of debased currency, curren-cy, the farmer, mechanic and laborer paid in suffering and hardship for the infraction of an economic law by persons per-sons over whom they had no control. That is not Nature's way. The law is not natural but is decidedly artificial, and so are all our economic laws. Is it not time for voters at large to make a atudy of questions relating to finance and economics to the end that they may make their influence felt in framing laws governing them? Is there any more reason for permitting per-mitting those who profit by financial financi-al operations to write regulations covering cov-ering their business than there is for permitting railroads to write the laws governing transportation? Is that not exactly what is being done? I try to be law abiding. Never knowingly do break ' Any legal ordinance of a Country, town or state. While I may not approve of everything Done by our legislature, I abide by the laws that's passed, No matter what their nature, If they have been enacted In the constitutional way By legislature we picked out On our election day. But now they spring laws on me M That I don't understand. And quote one law about supply And another about demand. And while I know that congress , Passes 'all laws for the nation. What legislative body passed The law of gravitation? And who elected those who passed The law of economics That our leaders tell us is The cause of all our panics? Snch a fool law. Why they tell me That all this near starvation On every hand is brought about By the economic situation; That there are certain cycles when The pinch of what is felt. During what time, a poor man has To tighten up his belt. And tbey say we can't avoid this If we ahould try, because, It is all due entirely to Our economic laws. Now, it, is my contention, If it is really true That while we have this blamed fool law There is nothing we can do. That ge all get together And ask these economists To give us a good reason Why such a law exists. And if they are unable Depression cycles to assist, As economists and leaders They retire, at our behest. For, now that self appointed. So called, industrial leaders. Politicians, bankers, Special privilege pleaders. Have clearly demonstrated They don't know what to do. Admit that they have failed ns. It is up to me and you. And every man and woman. To use our voice and pen To prevent such dismal failures Ever running things again. Expenditures for administration, protection, and development in the National forests of Utah for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, was $600, 145.28 according to a report from the Forest Service. The major items of the expenditure include the maintenance mainten-ance and construction of roads, trails, and other improvements amounting to $369, 946.81; activities including fire and insect control planting, and tales work. $58,041.44; range management man-agement activities, $149,356.36: re-creaticmal re-creaticmal management and improvements. improve-ments. $6,086.11; and land uses, $-18,928.39. $-18,928.39. The total amount thus expended by the Federal Government on Forests activities ia Utah was equivalent to 8.31 cents per acre on the 7,497,644 acres of National Forest For-est land in this state. The National Forest receipts for the same period for all uses, including aales of timber, grazing, special uses, water power, etc., amount to $231,-220.67. $231,-220.67. 25 per cent of this amount, or $57,206.17, was appropriated to the state for roads and schools, leaving the net receipts to the National Government Govern-ment $173. 418.50. or equivalent of bout 26 per cent of the amount ex-I paoded, the jeetipta show. I, |