Evening star., 1932-04-26
Hodge-Podge Economy.

The much-diScussed omnibus econ
pmy bill, to be taken up tomorrow under
an iron-bound gag rule designed TO
stifie opposition and send 1t rough-shod
through the House, Is a bitter disap-
pointment to those who from the begin
ming of this dismal period of depression
have hoped for sound legislative pro-
posals for the elimination of waste in
the Federal establishment and resultant
saving of money to the taxpayers.
1t is a keen disappointment because
of the confusion and haste that has
marked its drafting by an overworked
committee of the House. 1t is keen
disappointment because of the undue
emphasis it places upon cutting ex-
penses by taking away much from those
who have little, thrusting the lions
share Of the burden We all must bear
upon the little fellows" who make up
the vast majority Of Government per-
Scnrel. 1t is keen disappointment
because of its many inconsistencies in
voked in the name Of economy. 1t is
a keen disappointment because of the
lack of coordination between its harsh
provisions and the equally harsh pro-
visions of other measures that have
been taken through other legislation
under the guise of saving money. And
it is keen disappointment because of
the suspicion of insincerity that 1t in
vites, 1t is no secret in the House that
the bill may be jammed through the
lower chamber in the knowledge and
expectation that the Senate, through
more leisurely consideration, may rectify
some Of the wrongs that it proposes.
Under the rule that has been drafted
as fit companion for this bill the like
hhood Of serious and careful analysis of
its measures by the House is dimmed to
minimum. If provisions of the bill are
defeated; If the measure as a whole Is
emasculated beyond recognition, it will
be through such revolutionary tactics as
showed themselves in defeat of the sales
tax. One may well hope, for the sake
of the hundreds of thousands of low
salaried employees In the Federal estab-
hshment and for the sake of the mil
lions of low-paid wage earners in private
employment who will be affected, that
there will be revolt In the House. and
that those parts of the bill aimed at
soaking the defenseless Government
worker, and through him millions of
others. will be smothered under a rising
tide Of indignant opposition.
No more dificult task was ever as
signed a committee Of Congress than
that which was delegated to the Econo-
my Committee Of the House. Its duty
has been to withdraw patronage and
favors, not to award them. 1t has
been charged with the onerous respon-
sibility Of drafting into legislative form
provisions that confer no tangible bene-
fits on anybody, but which withdraw
from thousands such tangible benefits
as bread and meat. 1t might have ex-
pected little sympathy at the outset,
and its members are not surprised at
the lack Of sympathy with its finished
work.
But such lack of sympathy results
from something more than mere sell
flshness or concern for special groups.
There can be little sympathy with a
bill that SO plainly denotes hysteria and
shortsightedness or which so plainly in
dicates the lack Of cool, consistent
courage expected of those in authority.
The bill is a hodge podge, and there is
little merit in it.