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Show Joseph Kraft Financial World Warv of Nixon WASHINGTON Latest Viet Troop Pullout Schedule Seems Aimed At Moscow, Peking two-mont- min-imum- s, n with its wage and price controls went into effect on Aug. 15. As e result the administration has been unable to build among business confimen, consumers and investors any solid be to is brought inflation dence that going under enduring control. Alain Street, U.S.A. 000-ma- n The Public Forum multi-millio- n Keep Riders Off Tax Bill n D-L- Since Democrats are urgently in need of campaign funds for the fanheoming piesidential race while Republicans are well supplied with cash, the amendment would be of great help to Democrats. For that reason alone the amendment faces a party line fight which could bog the tax bill down for days. It is not the fate of the tax bill that is at stake But if the Bill anjrlin's Orbiting Paragraphs i i The man who dislikes pumpkin pie now freely admits it, since he assumes the FBI or Cl have it listed in his file anyway. The big innkeeping spread out until you can go around the world with the feeling you have nev"r left the same hotel room. If you want to see how quickly a welcome ean be worn out, try a little criticism on the man who says he welcomes the stuff. Footballs challenge to science seems clear: either improxe artificial turf or redesign the hu.en kr.eo. amendment is adopted President Nixon would be almost powerless to veto it because to do so would mean killing the tax bill, a measure loaded with tax reductions for business and individuals. The bill also is a weapon in the administrations battle aganst economic recession. The proposed campaign financing amendment is not without merit. But neither is it without faults which full debate and critical presidential review might remedy. It is unlikely to get either as part of a tax bill. Senate Democrats should bring the Long proposal forth but not as an amendment to the tax bill. veto-pro- of Questions Driving Ability Editor, Tribune: I see where Ted Kennedy has been sounding off in Utah the past week. He should talk about guiding this country, when he couldnt drive safely across a bridge. Is he still denying that he is running for the office of President of the United States? O. V. CONLEY Boise Death of the Prospector Editor, Tribune: Well, time has come for me to turn in my pick, pan. shovel, and burro. Many a big strike weve seen, Comstock lode, Bingham Canyon, Mercur and Park City, just to name a few. Then there was that young feller name of Charlie Steen, hit the big MiVida Mine, caused a mining boom the likes this state has never seen. We made this country rich for near 100 years, but that w'as back in the days when r Public Forum letters must nut be more than 250 words in length, must be submitted exclusively to The Tribune and bear writers full name, signature and address. Names mast be printed on political letters but may be withheld for good reasons on others. Writers are limited to one letter every 10 days. Preference will be given letters permitting use of true name, and to those and short. which are typed (double-space- man had a right to be a man and stake his claim. We fought many a claim jumper in those days, but alas it was finally a friend that jumped our claim. He said our days are the likes of over and used fancy words which Id never heard words like ecology, pollution and protectionism and there was more. Said us miners was bad for the common good, that we fouled the air and dirtied the water and where we had mined, it left a scar that would make you just plain sick. Said vve didnt need mining anymore because Theodore Long The Rich Get Richer in Politics, Too Piesident Nixon, a bold innovator, is not a whit afraid of changing courses in midstieam. frequently to of friends who fear he is sound deserting principles and foes who discover he had appropriated their pet issues His decisions on mainland China and the American economy shook the It President low-inco- No Place to Hide Hardly anyone disputes the need to limit campaign spending, to keep it within the bounds of reason and good government. But recognizing the problem and agreeing on a solution are vastly different matters. Campaign sperding is such a vital part of the political process that any attempt to control it is an attempt to meddle with basic and hallowed tenets. This being the case it is extremely dangerous to attempt to alter the present, albeit imperfect, system without full debate on proposed changes separate and apart from any other pending legislation. Campaign spending is so complicated a subject and so crucial a part of the Ame-icapolitical process that it must not be tinkered with unless full attention can be devoted to the subject. Democrats in the Senate are considering attaching a campaign spending limitation measure to the pending tax bill. The proposal being reamed as a tax bill amendment would permit each taxpayer to indicate on his income tax return 'Vtmther he wanted SI of his taxes to go into a campaign fund which would be divided evenly between the two major parties in 1D72. It is estimated that $20 million for each patty could be raised in this fashion. The idea is not new, having been advanced five years ago by Finance Committee Chairman Russell B. Long, phys- happens explains how Nixon, whilp doing so well in foreign policy, is now having such heavy going in domestic economic matters. The foreign policy achievements of the Preson new rest ident made being approaches to Russia and China. Mr. Nixon can make these he is a Reapproaches with impunity because the of side political publican from the right no reason to fear almost has He spectrum. the hullabaloo the American right usually raises against detente with the Communist world. But in domestic economic matters the Nixon administration has every reason to groups that fear labor and the have traditionally lined up against the Republicans as the party of economic royalism. Flahnratp catering to these groups has been h 1 that it this nation has reduced its Southeast Asia combat commitment to absolute safe Mr. Nixon would be in a rather favorable posicion to enlist Russian and Chinese efforts to convince Hanoi and the Viet Cong to ease their intransigent attitude at the Paris talks. Mi. Nixon was queried on this point at his Friday press conference when he announced the further troop reductions level by Feb. 1. down 1 a 139,000-maHe said it would not be helpful to link the newest withdrawal schedule with his forthcoming trips. But he didnt completely shut out the possiblity of help from Peking or Moscow. He said, We will, of course, welcome any assistance, but we are not counting on it from either source. It wo lid have been impossible for him to have said anything else because he still must present his case to the Soviets and Chinese. But the point, it is safe to assume, has now been noticed in both Dont working stiffs have enough capitals. worries without some well inteutioned orWith the announcement of the ganization discovering new 139 level, it would appear the health hazards? withdrawal has settled on a momentary No doubt trade union officials and the plateau of sorts. Mr. Nixons latest troop American Cancer Society have the highgoal, down from a wartime high of est motives for launching a 542,000 men, is apt to be maintained at a dollar study of possible cancer causing regrettable constancy for some time. agents in shops, factories and just about The residual force, now called transiwork. But their tional at the White House, must be mainpeople anywhere announcement of the study has us worried tained, if Mr. Nixon is going to continue already. to present any kind of strong hand in the It indicted such commonplace devices Paris talks. So, the new, short run as air conditioners and printers ink as acceleration of troop withdrawals, on one possible cancer inducers. It estimated that hand, seems designed to convince Peking 50 million workers are exposed to jobsite and Moscow of American good intentions to end the war and, on the other, continfumes, vapors, chemicals or radioactive materials all potentially dangerous ued maintenance of a residual force is agents. intended to provide the U.S. with the milWhile we are concerned for the health itary muscle to effectively negotiate with the Viet Cong and Hanoi at Paris. of all other workers, the news about air In all, it is another example of the conditioners is especially distressing. Our clean, air conditioned office has complete frustration evolving from Ameralways seemed like a refuge from the icas most disliked war. Hopefully, the move will result in what Mr. Nixon Now the Cancer Sosmoggy doesnt for now see as likely Peking and ciety suspects that fiber glass particles Moscow using their influences to convince blowing out of air conditioners might workHanoi be well and the Viet Cong to speedily We cause cancer. might as mine. a a in uranium accept negotiated settlement. ing President Nixons announcement of an accelerated Vietnam troop withdrawal rate poses at least this major question. Namely, who is he trying to convince as to the sincerity of his good intentions North Vietnam and the Viet Cong or China and Russia? Timing of the announcement and duration of the withdrawal schedule lead to speculation that its the latter two nations he seeks to persuade that the U.S. is really anxious to end the war. Guessing by informed persons during the past several weeks is that Mr. Nixons announced visits to Peking and Moscow will come sometime in January. If upon his arrival m these largest of Communist nations he were able to demonstrate that In politics as in ics, there is a law of opposite reactions. are launched. s appear and fade away. And months before the national nominating conventions are scheduled to begin, Sen. A., Gcv. B., and Rep. C. have dropped so many hints as to their availability that the formal announcement of candidacy has all the impact of the fiftieth rerun of "I Love Lucy. Salesmen Taking Over These Front-runner- are fairly fluid operations. The pattern varies fiom month to month. So does the intensity. But the politicians remain in world. Now he is reported considering a fairshift which ly minor could have a profound effect on the practice of politics. The Republicans are expected to spend as much as SIS million on getting Mr. Nixon reelected next year. And, since pait of this money will go to advertising agencies, there is talk of selling up a White House agency to do the job. One source quoted by the Los Angeles Times foreias's a $2 million saving, a pleasant piospcet for any political candidate. Rut the plan wouldn't cut the eost of campaigning. It would simply make the money go farther at the expense of the ad agencies, those dedicated exponents of the profit system. charge. If the political ad agency were to catch on, however, the salesmen might take over and the campaign would become institutionalized, with men and issues being treated as marketable commodities. Maybe thats inevitable. Maybe its already happened, as snmp aspects of Mr. Nixon's 1968 campaign seem to indicate, though even in that campaign, it should be remembered, issues were considered more important than the sales pitch. The party in power, whose candidate is already established, can set up a captivp arenev whenever it pleases But the party out of power must wait until its candidate is nominated, and by that time the actual campaign has only a few weeks to run. Rolling in Money If this were a Democratic project, it wouldnt be nearly as surprising. The Demo-erat- s are usually short of funds and are still -- eeply in debt for the 1968 campaign. But the Republicans are figuratively rolling in money and certainly don't need to cut corners or use gimmicks to scrounge a few moie bucks. No sooner are the votes counted in one 'lection, than politicking begins for the next one. The victors are determined to hold on to what they have won. The shattered losers play the g me of miqhi have-hern, begin hunting for new champions, and hopefully follow the. pimlic opinion polls Trial balloons Here, as elsewhere in politics, the game is weighted in favor of the ins. The rich get richer (granting $2 million can really be saved) while the poor have to scramble. So far, of course, the captive" agency is no more than a gleam in a politician's eye. It is an interesting idea, but it doesnt get to the heart of the problem, and it could have serious side effects. When millions of dollars ar poured into a single campaign, and the contest for the presidency becomes a battle between big bankrolls, what good does it do democracy 1o spend the money more efficient-lv- ? The solution lies in a form of disarmament, not in improved weaponry. The Rich Get Richer we had prosperity, recreation and tourism. Then he said we had to get rid of the 1872 mining law because it was old and worse than prohibition. We tried to tell him that the Constitution w'as a lot older, but he said it wasnt much good either. It was hard to believe, I tell ya, to find out that what I did was wrong like creating new jobs and putting new' money Into the country. Well sir, he showed me the errors of my ways, because he is my friend and the Congress of these United States and knows whats good for everyone. Oh well, maybe I can get some of those fancy welfare checks that you get when you dont have nothing to do. RAY ALBRECHTSEN A Western Prospector Ban Those Guns Example of Process A good example of the process was the establishment of guidelines for annual wage increases during the Phase 2 period of the new economic policy. The Pay Board picked a fig5.5 percent that was finely calibrature the most of allow ed to major wage contracts already negotiated by big labor. In particular, it was made clear that there would be no conflict with the 6 percent rise the auto workers will be getting. Moreover, any fear that even healthier increases would be cut back was promptly dispelled. The day after the 5.5 percent ruling was announced, Pay Board members let it be known in a background press conference that they were prepared to be flexible. That can only mean that the board will accept at least some raises of over 6 percent. The same pattern has prevailed in the puce field. The ideal was enunciated to the Senate Banking Committee the other day by David Ginsburg, a prominent Democratic attorney who was general counsel in the Office of Price Administration during World War II. There is no reason, Mr. Ginsburg said, to control any price that does not affect the cost of living or where competition is operating. Wide areas of the economy should be exempt, otherwise this is certain to break down. Rent Control Problem Editor, Tribune: In response to Katharyn Rees question (Forum, Nov. 6), Why the recent outcries in the news against deer hunting? I havent heard all that many outcries recently but I can tell you why I am opposed to hunting and in favor of gun control. I am greatly concerned about the violence in the world and particularly in our country, and I believe that continued involvement in the sport of hunting makes man more comfortable with or accepting of the use of a gun or other violent instrument. It stands to reason that if man can easily kill an animal he can more easily kill his fellow man. One can say that it is man that is violent, not the gun, but what is the purpose of a gun if not to destroy life? The statistics that I have read show that the vast majority of murders committed in this country are not committed by the criminal but by the avindividual who loses his (or her) erage temper, has a gun handy, shoots and kills a friend or loved one. One can also say that man is no more violent today than in past generations. Perhaps this is true but vve can hope and pray for progress for mankind, not stagnation. ROBERT J. WEAVER Clearfield Pick Right Target Editor, Tribune: (Re: Sherman Armur Beutlei, Forum, Nov. 9L Mr. Beutler states that, an attack on capitalism or free enterprise is not synonymous with an attack on freedom itself. Freedom, thus defined, then becomes the abiect subjugation of the individual by some higher power; m this case by the state. So defined, then, freedom and subjugation become the same. The freedom and the advancement of mankind can come only through the interplay of a competitive market ; less governmental restriction, if you will. Attack pollution, if you please, but dont attack free enterprise. I understand that the Soviets pollution problem is a bad or worse than ours. Mr. Rentier's allusion to the need of a eompninMistio economic svstem is as unbelievable as it is ludicrous. noted Frenchman once stated in regard to the idea of ron.mu-nalisit is the exploitation of the strong by the weak. Inequality springs from placing mediocrity on a level with excellence. TED DOUGLAS SMITH Rajv Pension Plan Editor, Tribune: I am flabbergasted at the proposal of the UEA that the school district provide 100 percent of the contributions to the retirement program. As a municipal employe I would also come under this program. Personally, I would like o think that I am sel. sufficient and enterprising enough to set aside something for my retirement without asking the taxpayers to font the hill I am sick of thp give-m- e attitude cf the American people. I say, stand on your own two feet and provide for yourselves. MURJAL E. ANDERSEN ' West Jordan -- One area that fits exactly those specifications for exemption is household rent. Rents are almost impossible to control because there are so many and because services can be easily and almost invisibly adjusted up or down. They count for very little perhaps 5 g percent in the total national figues. Except when there is rent control, competition tends to be effective, and experience with rent controls shows that it actually promotes Back in housing shortages. September the Pay Board took a tentative decision to exclude all rents from control during Phase 2. But as the country goes into Phase 2, rent is under control. Why? Because rent figures importantly in the budgets of families. The administration felt sure that excluding rent from controls would lead to outraged cries of economic royalism from the unions, the consumer spokesmen and the Democrats. So rent stayed under control. This extreme caution is achieving the immediate result tne administration seeks. the better There have been growls by labor to increase bargaining leverage. But there has been no break from the process of participation in the new economic policy. Moreover, general economic conditions, while a good deal less than brilliant, give little immediate cause for concern. low-inco- Lacks Serious Approach The rub comes in the mng run. The basic fart is that the Nixon administration is chick- en about making a serious approach to the problem of inflation. That fact is perceived by consumers and businessmen and investors. Consumer saving continues at an extremely high rate, and industrialists all complain of uncertainty. It is no accident that the stock market is in the doldrums, and that big losses s averduring the week caused the age to hit a new low for the year. Dow-Jone- |
