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each reasonably within the mental grasp of human beings. In Italy,though, there was only a single parliament. It worked well enoughwhile the population was small and life simple. But as Italy grew andthe social structure became more complex, every province and communepressed its problems upon the parliament. In time it attemptedto legislate upon an array of subjects utterly beyond its capacity.Thus the parliament was forced to abdicate many of its powers infavor of commissioners, bureaus, and bureaucrats who assumedthe role of legislators and executives. The bureaucratic state beganto proliferate. And as power grows by what it feeds on, the centralgovernment reached out for ever more power. Dr. Salvemini saysone of the worst stains of the old pre-fascist government was theHome Office control over local affairs. Mayors were elected. But theHome Secretary put a "prefect" into each province who could dismissmayors and disband town councils. "Thus the prefect was in aposition to put pressure to bear upon the mayor and town councilors,especially in the backward sections of the country," saysDr. Salvemini. "The mayors and town councilors who used theirinfluence in favor of the government's candidates during electionprograms remained in office, even if they were the worst rascals.Those who supported the opposition . . . were replaced by 'commissioners.'Thus slowly power was drawn toward the center—power which exceeded the ability and grasp of the central governmentto administer intelligently." 5IV · Tax and Borrow and SpendWE ARE NOW ABLE to see that this Italian society had set in motioncertain streams of thought. We will see still others come intobeing. First we see the conviction of the people that there wereeconomic and social problems affecting them that ought to besolved, that foremost among these problems were those of poverty*Wbat to Do with Italy, by Gaetano Salvemini and George La Piana, Duell, Sloan &t*earce, New York, 1943.II