ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 343 



be worked out by financiers and economists. The second might 

 be accomplished by a nation-wide campaign for thrift and 

 economy; and the third would be greatly aided by cooperative 

 study and scientific and technical research on a comprehensive 

 scale. 



THE GOVERNMENT AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY 



3. There is a shortage of labor in the country, and a tendency 

 to shorten rather than to lengthen the hours of labor. If, there- 

 fore, production is to be increased without increased labor, it is 

 necessary to increase the productivity of labor. To economize 

 in the use of staple commodities and luxuries, to reduce the waste 

 of raw materials, to make use of cheaper materials, to increase 

 the efficiency of men, of machines and of processes, on a nation- 

 wide scale and at an early date will call for intelligent and ener- 

 getic efi"ort, comparable in difficulty and importance with the 

 task before the country in 191 7 when we entered the World War. 

 It is not merely in order to reduce the cost of living to those 

 millions whose incomes have not increased in proportion to the 

 rise in prices, and who in many cases are suffering hardship and 

 distress ; but it is to allay industrial discontent and forestall 

 economic and political disturbance or even disaster. The con- 

 fusion and inequity that have resulted from the rise of prices 

 threaten the stability of society. The governments of the world 

 are face to face w4th the problem of improving conditions and 

 allaying discontent. To hold that governments cannot or should 

 not deal constructively with the most serious problems of society, 

 but that such matters should be left to chance, without organized 

 effort or leadership, is not a satisfactory- position to take after 

 the successful experience with government leadership in the war. 

 The old idea that the less government we have the better, no 

 longer applies, if it ever did. Society is made up in part of a 

 multitude of groups, some of which are highly organized, and 

 many are seeking the advantage of the group rather than of 

 society as a whole. The government represents the interests of 

 society as a whole, and its problems and responsibilities have 

 increased enormously in recent years. 



