Vag.bond Editorials

(Continued from Page 7) money in helpful ways, and let the guy with money who could help but won't, t. tt;" t t**

Suppose a man has a million dollars in idle money today, and wonders how best to put it to work. On the one hand he can invest it in a business enterprise, where it wiU create employment for many men; where it will create business, and commerce, and transportation, and put money into needed circulation. On the other hand he can play safe. He can buy government securities; or ho can put it into savings and draw interest. Neither of the latter courses are the least bit helpful. The first is extremely so.

If he decides to take the first course and invest the money in business enterprises, he immediately finds himself hedged about with all sorts of rules and restrictions that scare the life out of him. We tell him just how he can, and how he cannot run his business. We tax hirn every time he turns his head. And, finally if he overcomes all the obstacles that beset the path of business today, and makes some moneyr w€ take most of it away from him.

WE PUT PENALTIES ON HELPFULNESS.

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And, we absolutely encourage the investment of money in scared, lazy, idle directions. The country is being throttled by money-paralysis and credit-scarcity. On every hand men are liquidating business loans and investments and running for cover. Dollars are being taken from places where they HIRE PEOPLE and put where they HIRE NOBODY. ***

So THIS is my "silly symphony." Let's lighten the burdens on ACTIVE money that is employing men and helping everybody, and put the thumb-screws on all safe, dead, idle investments. Let JOBS be the measuring stick. Let's penalize the money-owner who keeps his cash in close captivity, and furnish direct and pointed relief to helpful investors. Put LIGHT taxes on active riloD€/r and HEAVY taxes on idle money. Fix it so that idle money will be glad to go to work-in self defense. Every dollar taken from a bank and invested in a new building mortgage, puts men to work.

Ifnconstitutional? Well, what isn't? We've trampled on most other preconceived notions of personal rights and liberties. Why not make the money-hoarder carry his share of the burden of recovery? Our entire hope of salvation lies in getting scared and idle money back into circulation where it wiU put people to work. Every time a dollar is taken from business and invested in government securities, or stuck away in a bank or in a lock-box-this depression is prolonged. All right, then let's gnake 'em work or pay. Maybe this doesnlt sound logical. But what does?

Money invested in government securities is NOT going to put our millions back to work. It furnishes.the sinews of war for the temporary and artificial help the government is rendering, 'tis true, and vital is that work, I'll admit. But sometime, somehorv, we're going to have to take the permanent route and find those people genuine jobs. And, if we could do sornething to make the dead money of the country get out and go to work in active business-jobs would take care of themselves. ***

Perhaps this can't be done. But we're engaged in doing so many things today that in prospect seemed impossible, that I'm not so sure. It may be as impractical as the guy who wanted to legislate to compel people with bow-leis to marry people with knock-knees-so as to get things straightened out in this country; or the fellow who wanted the United States to trade the Philippines for Ireland-so we could raise our o*" "lnr; *

"Codes," said Justin McAghon, testifying before the National Recovery Administration the other day, "should be made for MEN, not for PRODUCTS." And THAT, rny friends, is by far the best thing that has been said on that subject since NRA was born. It ought to be the text of every code discussion.

Elected President

George A. Pope was recently elected president of Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Company, San Francisco. The other officers are C. E. Helms, first vice-president; Charles L. Wheeler, vice-president, and Jas. S. Brown, secretary and treasurer.

H. B. Wiscomb Goes to Chicago

H. B. Wiscomb, of Los Angeles, Southern California representative of Harbor Plywood Co., Hoquiam, \Mash., was transferred January 1 to the Chicago office of the company, where he will be in charge of Eastern sales.

C. W. Buckner of San Francisco, Northern California representative, is making frequent trips to Los Angeles to look after business in the southern part of the state.