Evening Star Newspaper, October 15, 1936, Page 38

B—14 ALBERTA GTZENS SGNFOR CEDI Official Estimates 378,248 of 400,000 Eligible | Have Qualified. This is the fourth and final story on Alberta’s social credit ez- periment. BY DE WITT MACKENZIE. EDMONTON, Alberta, October 15 (). ~—Citizens of Alberta have rushed in crowds to stake claims in Premier Wil- liam Aberhart’s social credit venture, which projects a monthly income from the state for every person over 21 years of age. In order to participate in this hitherto untried plan, one has to sign a covenant, undertaking co-operative obligations. The period for registra- tion ended September 30, and will not reopen again until next June. ‘Those who have not covenanted with the government will be out of luck, | or not, according to their view as to whether the yellow metal in Aber- hart’s mine is fool's gold or the real thing. Complete figures for registration have not been compiled, but Pro- vincial Secretary Ernest Mannipg has said he believed they would exceed 878,249—the number of men and wom- en registered at the last election. The potential number of people eligible to sign covenants is estimated at 400,000. Experiment Complicated. Since this is an experiment, and 8 complicated one, exact details of how it will be worked naturally are not available, but here in general is the idea: Every cpvenanter will, if the pro- gram works, receive a monthly in- come, or “basic dividend,” from the state. The figure has not been deter- mined, but it is officially said that the initial dividend may be between 85 and $10. This will be increased as conditions warrant At least $75 is projected ultimately, and some so- cial credit supporters predict it will 80 as high as $250. s The basic dividend will be in the form of credit—not cash. This will be recorded in the name of the indi- vidual in a credit house, which will be a sort of state bank. Each participant will have a pass- book, showing what his credit—that 45, his deposit—amounts to. If he wishes to make a purchase he will write a draft against his credit and give it to his creditor. The creditor, in turn, will deposit this draft mn his own account and draw sgainst 4t for his personal needs. Currency Also Used. But this is not by a long sho all the credit which will be “deposited” 4n the credit house. Here it is neces- sary to interpolate that drafts on credit will not be the only medium | of exchange; ordinary currency will be employed as well, though parti- cipants cannot refuse to accept credit drafts when tendered. will be piled up. With full co-op- eration from all quarters it would mean ultimately that virtually all business within the province would be transacted on the credit basis. But supposing a tradesman wishes to purchase goods outside the prov- ince and hasn't sufficient Canadian currency on hand? Or how about people who wish to make trips out- side the province? In either case an application is made to the credit house to finance the operation. If the government thinks it is legitimate, the money will be forthcoming, but not otherwise. The business man who cannot make his purchase within the province probably will be allowed the cash. ‘The same will be true of people who must make trips for vital reasons. Must Pay in Currency. ‘Where will the government get its cash to finance operations? ‘The government will not accept Al- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., areas. The same will be true of other exports. At least part of the cash received by wage earners from employers out- side the province—the big railroads, for instance—will be turned into credit and the government will pocket the money. The Government income from tax- ation has been about $17,000,000 & year. Aberhart has saved some $3,- 600,000 of that by having the Legis- lature impose a cut of about 50 per cent on the interest on provincial bonds. He has stopped all external borrowing by the State. Further, he has increased income taxes and imposed sales taxes on everything excepting foodstufs and other prime necessities. Price Spread Authorized. ‘The Legislature has already au- thorized a so-called price spread, or processing, tax. It works this way, taking the wheat farmer for example berta credit, but only Canadian cur-| again rency, in payment of taxes until such time as it shall be able to do s0. The covenanter is to maks no demand at any time for payment in Canadian currency of Alberta credit held by him. Under the wheat growers’ coven- ant, for example, a minimum of one- half the cash received for his ex- ported wheat will come into govern- ment coffers, and Alberta is one of the world’s great wheat-producing The farmer pays a tax on each bushel of wheat he sells; the miller pays another tax; the baker another, and the retailer another. The sum total is that a bushel of wheat will produce more in taxation than the farmer receives for its sale. The same scheme would apply to other process- ing operations. Won't this increase the cost to the consumer? : ‘Theoretically, no. The Government PEG, THESE ARE THE BEST BROWNIES | EVER ATE I'LL GIVE YOU My RECIP TO USE BUT BE SURE PrY. . IT BLENDS IN HALF THE TIME. MAKES THINGS DOUBLY DELICIOUS Women thrilled by new cooking secre PEG'S BROWNIES 3 miillion Spry users in a few short months HRILLED—no wonder! Imagine get- ting lighter, more delicate cakes i half the mixing time. Flakier pie crust—crisper, tastier fried foods that are as digestible as if baked. Spry is ALL-vegetable, purer, whiter, smooth as satin. It’s triple-creamed, blends twice as fast. Try this amazing new shortening today. ‘The new, purer ALL.vegetable shortening—TRIPLE-CREAMED 1 eup nuts, coarsely eut Melt Spry and chocolate together over hot water. Cool. Sift flour with bak- ing powder and salt. Beat eggs until light, add sugar, then chocolate will fix what it considers a just price for the consumer, and this must be adhered to. It is the social credit thesis that if the scheme is to work there must be an exact balance between production, consumption and the amount of credit in circulation. If there is not enough credit available, it can be increased. If there is more credit than consump- tion, credit will be killed off in the books of the credit houses, so the writer was authoritatively informed. This cancellation, it was stated, would take the form of a levy against the big balances. In other words, it would apply to the accumulations of the wealthy. There may be still another control of the amount of credit. Aberhart stated in his social credit manual in 1935 that “all basic divi- dend credit and all salaries, or wages, or incomes from whatever source, must be expended by the end of the year following the receipt of the same.” He added that “surplus credit may be used to purchase government. bonds"” to provide for the future. He stated, however, that his manual was not a detailed plan, and exact specifications ‘would have to be worked out as soclal credit was being made operative. Can social credit succeed, with its unorthodox economic ideas? John Blue, manager secretary o the Ed- monton Chamber of Commerce, who hotly condemns the scheme, summed up much of the opposition view for the writer thus: i “Social credit of this kind will work it the real producers love Aberhart STHURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1936. and the Lord strong enough o make such a free contribution of their wealth.” And what of those who refuse to co-operate? So long as he continues to have his legislature almost solidly behind him, Aberhart can pursue at least two. courses: He can pass legis- lation which will compel a certain measure.of co-operation; the govern- ment can establish factories or stores in an attempt to put non-co-operators out of business. Slum Invasion Fought. Dublin, Irish Free State, is trying to stop the influx of destitute families, who occupy houses already condemned and from which tenants have removed to newly-built areas. BIG PROJECT LAUNCHED Cornerstone Laid in Gotham for $12,783,000 Housing Group. NEW YORK, October 15 (#).—The cornerstone of the largest slum clear- ance projec yet financed with Fed- eral Government funds was laid yes- terday—the construction of houses on a 25-acre tract in the Willlamsburg section of Brooklyn to be tenanted by 5,000 persons. Senator Robert Wagner spoke and Mayor La Guardia laid the corner- stone for the buildings which, in all, will cost $12,783,000. The 18 build- ings are intended ‘o house 1,463 fami- | lies. Then don't nelect it. but use Nature's way—herbs and flowers, That' you'll find in LAXA-TRATE and in the morning you'll sppreeiated fts Semtle non-griping ful "action. & le r Tonisht “Use Laxa-trate; ¢ ‘ried > In the big 3% oz. Jumbos size. A real $1.00 value. Introductory price, 49¢ FOR SALE AT INC VITA HEALTH FOOD CO., 3 3040 14tk St. N.W. 1228 H 8¢, N.W. ne 2980 CONSTIPATED? * * * * 000000000000 000000 P § g 0000000 Youre Missing Something Y ou \re Not Among the First (o EnterOQurDoors EVERY MORNING Remember, it is impossible to display our entire stock at one time. Floor space limits the number of items presented. But, as soon as one item is sold out . . . an equally as good value is chosen from our overcrowded storeroom to fill its place. Every day the bargains seem greater. ' mixture and blend. Add flour, vanilla, and nuts and mix well. Pour batter into 8x8-inch pan greased with Spry. Bake in mod- eérate oven (350° F.) 85 minutes. Cut into squares before removing from pan. Makes 16. People earning wages or salaries, farmers, producers, manufacturers and retailers agree to turn as much of their incomes as possible into social credit. That is not the technical language of the covenants, but it is What it amounts to. In the case of wheat farmers, for example, & minimum of 50 per cent 48 set. Thus s huge amount of credit WOODWARD & LOTHROP 10T 11™F AND G STREETS Prong DIsrexr 5300 gma/nfié. CHINA and GLASSWARE Reduced 14 or More China Noritake China—Anemone, Hertha and Chablis patterns at close-out re- ductions of our open stock. A large number of pieces in each pattern. Make up a set or add to your pres- ent set at these prices. A thrilling wind-up after 77 years of prosperous business. The same KING’S Palace fame« ily-management will conduet this SALE ... WE WANT YOU, OUR LOYAL FRIENDS AND :IIIIUSTOMERS to get BARGAINS and we're sticking until the end to assure that you do get em. 30-Day Lay-A-Ways Naturally we cannot offer budget or charge accounts but you can use a convenient lay-away plan that will permit you to buy ALL YOUR NEEDS at sacrifice prices with reasonable time in which to pay. o Mail or Phone Orders . Accepted: All Sales Final. No Charge or Budget Accounts. Nothing Reserved! Every dollar’s worth of merchan- dise must he sold before we close our doors. EXTRA Trained Salespeople Dinner Sets, Alberta pattern, 53 pieces. Were $23.50. Now__$12.50 Noritake China Dinner Set, Ane- mone pattern. 63 pieces. Was $29.50. Dinner Sets, Meadowbrook pattern, 54 pieces. Were $20. Now____$12.50 Dinner Sets in Queen Anne plain ivory design, 53 pieces. Were $15. English Earthenware Service Plates. 22, were $2. Now. DESIRABLE SEASONABLE 14, were $3. Now. 6 White Metal Corner Stands English Earthenware Dinner Sets with glass shelves. Were $12.50. in three attractively colored band decorations. 54 pieces each. Were 6 White Metal Corner Stands with i glass shelves. Were $12.50. Now $6.95 Glassware 278 pieces Fine Rock Crystal Stem- ware in Adam pattern. Goblets, high and low sherbet. 3, 10 and 14 ounce straight tumblers, finger bowls, finger bowl plates and six styles of beverage glasses. Were 70c to $1. - 218 pieces Lido pattern Rock Crystal Glasses. High and low sherbets, three style beverage glasses, 5, 10 and 14 ounce tumblers, 3, 5, 9 and 12 ounce footed glasses, finger bowls and finger bowl plates. Were 70c to $1.75. Now. 50c to $1.45 Unexpected decision to sell out found every depart- ment loaded and our storeroom packed with a com- plete line of new Fall and Winter merchandise. Our regular patrons know what to expect whem we say that our regular low {IrTiees have been drastically slashed for this GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE! FREE PARKING -1,000 pieces Clear Crystal Footed - - Tumblers and Stem Sherbets with colored bases in orange, amber, light g'reen and blue. 5, 9 and 12 ounce ooted tumblers and low stem sher- bets. Were 40c. Now. 2 ' Cmn avp Guasswars, Pz FLook Wrapping Booths 160 Beverage Glasses with enameled Floor Spaee novel design. Were 50c. Now._35¢ Cash Registers Delivery Serviee to Customers Eye St. at 7th ) \