The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-01-17
WHAT 100000 900 MEANS

Representative Gallivan, democrat
OF Massachusetts, presented a bill t
congress asking for the appropriation
of 500, 900, 900 to enforce the prohi-
bition law. The house very promptly
voted it down.
1t seems hat men are going daft
over this prohibition matter. When
economy is demanded in every depart
manding that appropriations and ex-
penses be cut down, a member of the
lower house of congress, supposed to
contain the bright minds of the ma
ton, asks for an appropriation OF
500. 0OO, 900 o flight tn demon rum
after a constitutional amendment pro-
hibiting it had been carried in the
United States.
LIE us stop and study what $780,
000, 900 means. What could be done
with 500, O00, 900? All of the starving
children of Europe could be fed and
clothed until the next harvest, with
that vast sum. According to the
claims of those at the head of this re-
lief work, it would feed $1,000. 900 of
these children, and it is claimed there
are but $500, 900 of them and efforts
are being made to raise $35, 600 900 to
carry them through another year,
& Would any Christian. any sane
American citizen, any n but a hope
less fanatic want to take three times
as much as it would cost to feed these
$500, 900 children and %squander it In
making criminals of American citizens
who stewed a few raisins or let a few
gallons of cider grow hard" in their
homes?
The sum of 500, 600 900 would pay
ell of the taxes and all of the cost OF
government of all of the states west of
the Rocky mountains and have a
healthy surplus left. Yet the Ameri-
can people are asked to give that sum
to prosecute Illicit dealers in liquor
or brewers of 'home brew" When
we supported prohibition we were old
that it would bring relief from taxes.
That the cost of keeping up jails and
penitentiaries would be cut down to
almost nothing. How many jails and
penitentiaries and courts could be
supported, along with the aims
houses and poor farms we were told
went with the liquor traffic, with much
less than the 500, 0OO, 900 asked by the
prohibition enforcement forces? This
is fanaticism run mad.
- =
ANITHER SALARY GRAB.
We are in receipt of a circular let
ter, accompanying about two columns
of propaganda from the National
Federal Employees in which the
secretary offers to furnish a weekly
news letter without charge and
asks the publication of the Two
columns Of propaganda for increased
wages for federal employees.
De declined the offer. We are in
favor OF reducing the pay of federal
until federal positions
cease to be so attractive that a good
of the population is scheming
10 got ION the payroll" A recent
census shows that there are now in
he national capital $4,000 federal en-
oIoves. i
The propaganda accompanying the
circular letter is in favor of the
4ehlbach reclassification bill, which
would increase the pay of all federal
employees. We are in favor of all
hose who are not satisfied with the :
ederal salaries now paid, rendering ,
heir designations and getting other
The circular states that I
lear 25 per cen of the federal meat :
Inspectors have resigned during the
,ast two years and intimates that the
DIV salaries are responsible. It
would increase the pay Of meat in 7.
pectors and veterinarians to a maxi Z
of $5,400 per year. The bill =
vould increase the pay of animal j
usbandman to a maximum of IS, 400 j
annum and would raise the :,
laximum pay for clerks in the ami \
lal h%usbandry department to 1920 J
er year. J
If we find there is anything like a J
unanimous demand among the tax =
ayers for these salary increases we 3
Ill support the bill. But until the J.
eople who pay the taxes which pay G
lie salaries, ask for the increase we q
Ill decline to interfere with the gov -
'nment's p~erogative to fix saIaries' b,