◆ SpookStack

LEN ee YE eee a ee ee ee It is well to remember that numbers in the armed forces are being reduced whether we have disarmament or not, because of the development of higher- powered weapons and military machinery, requiring relatively less manpower. After every war, plans have had to be made for veterans. There have been pensions and bonuses, loans for housing and business, and various kinds of educational aid. If such costs can be met now as part of the price of abolishing war, a real social saving will result. Indeed it would be far less costly to pension each present soldier than to continue the present military establishment throughout his lifetime. A needless extreme, perhaps—but not so extreme as the “World War III” which stares us in the face every day! Wha = an) > bet = (G to i io to yl ef " 1 on @ io im se ‘o —_ The Employment Act of 1946 proclaimed a national policy of promoting maximum production and employment. It also set up machinery to help realize this aim, including (1) the Congressional Joint Committee on the Economic Report and (2) the President’s Council of Economie Advisers. The Act calls for an Annual Economic Report from the President and fre- quent recommendations from the Joint Committee. There is doubt as to whether the government’s obligations under this law are being met. Amend- ments are needed, with authority to carry out its good purposes. The Area Redevelopment Bill passed by Congress in 1958, but vetoed by the President, would have provided special aid to regions facing special problems. Such special aids could wel! be applied in areas affected by defense cutbacks, to assist communities in their plans for disarmament. The Trade Adjustments Bill which was introduced but not acted upon by Congress provided for a five-member Trade Adjustments Board which would hold hearings, secure information from public agencies, and certify for aid those communities, industries and employees adversely affected by changes in trade policy. Changes in defense policy could justify similar measures. . U. S. Government agencies such as the Reconstruciion Finance Corpora- tion, the Federal Housing Administration, various veterans’ programs and the work of the Office of Defense Mobilization should provide helpful clues -12-