“I Ain’t Never going to Introduce That Fool Bill”

Via Bernhard

[US Congressman] Robert L. Daughton [of Allegheny County, known as “Farmer Bob”] possessed an understanding of economics of far more value than the theoretical knowledge of the professional economists who undertake to advise federal officials. Acting at the suggestion of his professional economists, who believed high income taxes to be an antidote for inflation, the secretary of the Treasury sent a proposed revenue bill making drastic increases in federal income taxes to Farmer Bob, with the request that he introduce it in the House with his blessing as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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When he heard nothing from Congressman Doughton concerning the bill, the secretary called him by telephone and asked him when he was going to introduce the bill. “I ain’t never going to introduce that fool bill,” Farmer Bob responded. Don’t your economist have enough sense to know that you can shear a sheep every fall, but you can’t skin him but once?”

I share Farmer Bob’s misgiving in respect to high taxes as an antidote to inflation, I suspect they are rather a stimulant for that economic ailment. I am tempted to believe, therefore, that the United States government might be operated with more wisdom if it were more economical in taking advice from professional economists.”

(Humor of a NC County Lawyer, Sam J. Ervin, Jr.)