The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-26
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES -
CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is not only the
~ best but also the most friendly possible
criticism Of the Roosevelt administration.
The most cogent constructive criticism which
can be directed against the administration today
is the reminder that we must get the beam cut
of our own eye before we can proceed far in the
effort to take the mote out of the eye of an
other
The best basis for reforming other people is
the presentation Of a creditable record On our
own part.
From the standpoint of economic morality, by
all odds the weakest spot in the Roosevelt policy
has been that involved in pay cuts and payless
days imposed upon federal employees. Indeed, the
administration policy in this regard is downright
incredible. Following upon the heels of the
Presidents plea to American industry to cut
hours and boost pay came an announcement of
further cuts and economies in the postoffice de-
partment.
The Nation goes to the heart of the matter
in an article quite appropriately entitled Uncle
Sam, Chiseler-in-C Chief" Its comments are as
fair as they are pointed:
THE paradox Of President Roosevelts recov-
cry program is the reactiOnary position of his
own administration Because Uncle Sam is the
biggest employer in the country and yet has
Signauy failed to put into practice his own
chief obstructonist, Stacker, and chiseler in the
United States.
ME federal civil services, which ought to
Il lead in leSsening unemployment by
shortening hours, maintaining pay rates and
adding to their employees, have in fact done
none OF these things. Instead they have stuck
to the Old hours. imposed pay cuts without
diminishing work, reduced the number of their
employees and in general closed the door to new
entrants or promotions within the service
Such course would have brought an ava
lanche Of public protest if it had been followed
by any other great employer of labor, and 1t is
doubly despcable on the part of the federal
government, not alone because the latter should
set good example, but still more because I'M
like private bushes, it does not seek profits and
does not even have to cover expenses.
THE nation protested last spring against the
folly of turning civil service employees out into
the ranks of the unemployed in order to save
money with which to hire other unemployed
for new, unorganized and often useless work
In time this absurdity largely ceased but in
other respects Uncle Sam remains the out
standing figure in the country in opposition to
his own program of industrial recovery.
THE inconsistency of the position has be-
come especially indefenSibe since Mr.. Roose-
velts recent challenge to private industry to
cut working hours to thirty-f1ve week while
increasing hourly rates of pay to such an extent
that the total weekly earnings of regular work.
ers would remain the same. Has the federal
government itself adopted this course? Not in
single one of its departments"
TINE most notorious offenses against logic and
l. sound economics have been those in the
poStoffce department which employs about 48
per cent Of all Of our public servants. It is
stated upon good authority that the economy
policies which have been introduced since
March 1888, deprive postoff1ce employees of over
$100,O0O000 in wages This means reduction
in purchasing power in this amount at the very
moment when the new deal is in desperate
straits because of the lack of mass purchasing
power.
Pay reductions imposed upon the rank and
file Of the postoff1ce employees are particularly
reprehenSible because these persons are among
the most hard-WOrked individuals in either
public or private employ. Indeed, many of our
city mail carriers lead a life which comes very
close to industrial slavery. If, in some cases.
there are more postal employees than are needed
or if there are too many substitutes, let these
defects be dealt with firmly and courageously
But, at the same time, let us give those who
are actually working a square deal.
The government might reply that it has been
forced to take these steps in the interest of
economy. But there is not private employer
in the United States who could not bring up the
same abb and allege that wages must be
reduced IN order to pay decent dividends
Friends and well-wishers of the admnistra-
ton will welcome Postmaster-G General James A.
Farley'S recent announcement that he proposes
to halt these policies which have helped to dis
credit the government as the leader in the eco
nomIc program designed to bring us back to
sanity and prosperity.