The fable of the little red hen – two versions of it, in fact – occupied center stage during a debate sequence in the Senate prior to the current recess. Sen. William L. Armstrong, R-Colo., a leading proponent in an unsuccessful Republican bid for a 10 percent tax cut, alluded to the little red hen in discussing the effect of tax policy on incentives. “If you’ll remember, the hen baked some bread,” said Armstrong. “no one would help her, but she was forced to share the bread with everybody in the barnyard. “I remind senators that the little red hen was not thereafter disposed to bake any bread. Exactly the same situation is taking place in business . . . with taxes so high, there isn’t sufficient incentive to attract capital.” Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. had a question “I didn’t think the hen shared the concoction she cooked,” he said. “Would the scrnisor just check on that’T” Armstrong said he’d haw the script later in the dm Meantime, Sen. Jniines A. McClure, Rlrlnho interposed: “Xt tiether the little red hen artually shared or not vronld certainly be revised by actions of a Congess ther demands rewards of labor be shared with those who do not labor.” I rider the traditional fahttr version which Byrd ohi. xiusly had in mind, nertner the duck, cat, nor dog would plant, harvest or mill the wheat or bake the bread. All votinteered to eat the bread. but the hen responded: “No, N0! Iwill do that.” And she did. The version Armstrong had in mind, when he introduced it into the senate and The Congessional Re:-ord, turned out to be more recently authored “modern little red hen,” condensed herewith; Scratching in the barnyard. the hen found some grains of wheat which she planted after the cow, duc , pig and goose refused help. The wheat grew tall and ripened. “Who will help me reap it?” asked the hen. “Not I,” said the duck. “out of my classification,” said the pig. “l’d lose my seniority,” said the cow. “I’d lose my unemployment compensation,” said the goose. So the little red hen did the work. Ultimately she also had to bake the bread alone. I-ler neighbors gave these excuses: “That would be overtime,” said the cow. “I’d lose my welfare benefits,” said the duck. “I’m a dropout and never leamed how,” said the pig. “If I’m the only helper, that’s discrimination,” said the goose, the little red hen baked five loaves. The neighh V-rs now demanded a share. ‘ “Excess profits,” cried the cow. “Capitalistic leech!” screamed the duck. “I demand equal rightst yelled the goose. The pic just grunted. They painted “unfair” picket signs and marched, shouting obscenities. When the government agent i-nme. he told the hen; ”Ynu must not be greedy ‘ “Bot I earned the bread. ‘ she responded. ”l-Txzir-tly,” said the agent. ‘That’s the wonderful frce enterprise system. Anyone r-an earn as much as he nants, but under our modern government regulations the productive workers must divide their product with the idle.” All lived happily ever after The little red hen smiled nnd clucked, ”I’m grateful. l’m grateful.” But liter neighbors wondered why she never again baked bread.