The Omaha guide., 1934-03-03
CRACKING DOWN" ON PAYROLLS

Albert Johnson, publisher Of Grays Harbor Wash
ingtonian, Hoquiam, Washington, established in 1889,
makes editorial New Years observations worth reading.
After pointing out that his paper has been pleased
to receive advertisements from various public service cor
%porations in the regular course OF business, just as it ac-
copied any other advertising, and after remarking that
corporations are hard pressed for money for capital IN
vestments today, Editor Johnson says:
W are moved to these few remarks by the action
of this states (Washington) Department of Public Works,
which has ordered the public service corporations to cut
their advertising appropriations drastically, and has or
dered book accounts Of such expenditures opened for ex-
animation.
"The first thing we know these corporations will be
forbidden to advertise at all, and then it will be too late for
us to kick"
Speaking of the telephone advertising in his paper,
Editor Johnson said, we are glad to take the "companys
money, right over our counter, over which many thou
sands Of dollars pass every single month, and are paid out
to men, women and boys who get out this sheet, and do fine
commercial printing as a side line.
BY the way, we are in cOrpOrated, and 1t IS not
pleasant for us to see all the other corporations that do
business around here cracked down on to the breaking
point. When they are done to death, we will 60 broke; so
will you. And this little city is likely to fade from the map.
GAS long as the state takes their tax money and our
tax money, -. we hope to see a Square Deal, which IS just
as important as a New DEAL.
"The public, through its governmental agencies can
crack down 50 hard on those who make the wheels go
round, that the public may get an awful crack itself.
what we are trying to say is that business begets
business. We, all Of us, live with, by and for each other M.
"HoW many people realize that the pendulum OF hue
and cry is swinging very hard just now against the cor
porations? N. Those who lead the hue and cry forget that
these corporations pay salaries, provide payrolls, keep up
the steam and art the sole excuse for the existence Of more
than one city and town.
"These corporations. are loaded with general ana
special taxes, fees and federal and state regulations Whlch
are costly and often necessary 49,.
"To make matters still worse, the state governments
and the United States government are going still more IN
10 business in opposition to corporations. Our state leglsla
at this very minute, is putting the state INTO the Pc
business without the slightest regard as TO- VINO VIII
care of the inevitable smash-up. Y
owe would not be surprised at all to see the govern
ment in the newspaper business. 1t is already in the print h
mo business and the news bulletin business ... Y
Believe it or not, we lie awake nights wondering II Il
he people Of the United States realize that they are really b
or sleepily standing by and permitting a situation
o arise where the state will have to do it all-run every N
from railroads to weekly newspapers. Then, a lot OF &C
s who are either owners, salaried people, or persons on *
he payrols, will learn something" "