The Redwood gazette., 1933-08-10
Editorial

Falls for $4,000 from the public
works funds with the estimates Of
needs made by other cities, one must
conclude that we have been modest,
unselfsh and unassuming in our de-
mands.
Rochester, we note, requests cool
million for various projects although
that city has already made large ex-
penditures for improvement in these
depression years. If the money is
to be divided with any reference to
population and Redwood's bid is TAX
en- as a criterion, Rochester-which
is about eight times the size of Red
wood-will get $160,000 or about
one-sixth of what it hopes to get.
Hibbing, with the range town flare
for spending, asks $1,500,000 while
among cities nearer the 5000 class,
Blue Earth wants 100000, Alexan-
dria wants $105,OO0, Granite Falls
asks $4,000, Worthington, $4,000
and the tiny Harmony community
wants $4,000.
The works plan offers splendid
opportunity for cities actually in
need of improvements to make them
at a minimum of cost, but it does
not warrant spending orgies, especial
ly by cities and towns already deeply
in debt. A bargain always is a doubt
full one if the purchase is not actual
ly needed. This is doubly true when
it is bought on long term credit.
Redwood Falls needs sewage dis
posal plant beyond all doubt. This
is the ideal method of obtaining it
and the council will show good judg-
ment in going ahead. There are doz-
ems of other projects which would be
''nice" and by some stretch of the
imagination may be "badly needed"
but coming generations might class
them as doubtful bargains if they
were undertaken now.
The same is true of several pro-
jects in the elaborate state program
presented this week. AS we prepare
to spend we must also prepare to pay
back. The greatest possible respect
and consideration should be given
that reckoning day.
exit the Chiseler." This is the
heading of a page advertisement by
one of the greater manufacturers.
The theme of the advertisement is
that the whole business picture has
because the public has
started in not only to buy, but to buy
selectively-to seek out not merely
low price, but sound substantial
value as well. Discussing "Chisel-
ling William Feather in well
known trade magazine has the fol-
lowing to say: "Why isn't this as
good time as any to stop the prac-
tice of beating the profit out of every
estimate before an order is placed
We can't have prosperity if current
practices are continued. Bankruptcy
for American business will be the
consequence. The publisher of 'Con-
struction Methods suggests that all
business suspend for a period Of SIX
months the practice of buying at the
lowest bid, and place orders with
those bidders whose prices most
nearly meet the average of all the
bids submitted. We need, he says
'chiselling holiday If each of us
waits for the other fellow to conduct
his business fairly before we quit
bluffing and brow-beating our sup
pliers, we will never correct the vici
Gus system of price slashing. Like
all other reforms, the reform mus
begin at home. 1t ought to begin to-
day. Chronicle, Toledo, Iowa.
Senator Schall has just sent VI
some information on the "jokers il
the new DEAL" It's bit late in ar
irving but of course the senator miss
ed most of the last session of con
gress and had to get caught up OF
his reading.
4 y +
Maybe 20 or more members OF tn
state highway patrol deserved to b
fired for "the good of the service
but the ones we have come in con
tact with seemed to be efficient ant
Industrious, even though they wer'
Brown-trained.
= =
A writer named Doolittle doesn'
like the presidents program ant
thinks the MIRA will be about a!
successful as the farm board. Ap
parently there is nothing in name
when it comes to criticising.
Even during "buy now" cam
pagin there is no rule against paying