The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-05
Mr.. lckes and His Work Funds
(Chicago Tribune)


Secretary Ickes is also one OF secre-
tary Wallace,s major prophets, al
though Mr.. Wallace has as yet men,
toned only Senator Norris in the
notable company of worthy warriors
Tor the right (on the Left. The secre-
tary OF the interior raises his voice
against conditions In the PWA and
the CWA and warns all that misdeeds
VIII bring wrath and punishment up
on mlscreants and rascals. Mr.. Ickes
means It and within his power he will
make good his word. Within his power
must be stipulated as the condition.
First 1t must be noticed that Mr.,
lckes walks one side of the street ar !
most OF the administrators are on the
other. The secretary of the interior
Will have no collision on bids for
contracts or materials and no lodges
to eliminate competition. On the
other side OF the street the admins
traitors by code and otherwise plan for
monopolistic collision, and when they
suspect the possibility of competition
to benefit the buyer act to suppress it.
Mr.. lckes, spending public money
thinks he should get the lowest price
ne can and that contractors should
DID against each other in honest COM
petition. There is here a heretica]
touch of the old deal which is reject
Cd by the other administrators. They
ceal with codes suspending the anti
rust law and encouraging or forcing
the pooling of interests for high price
fixing. The New Dealers are commit
ted to the program OF restoring trade
and industry by sticking up the prices
beyond the consumers reach and al
the same time attacking his purchas-
Ing power by beating down the value
OF his dollar. Secretary Wallace gave
a trial to the idea that If the price Of
milk was raised the people would buy
more OF 1t. He discovered that Il
wouldn't work, but other administra.
tors believe 1t will.
Mr.. Ickes as a New Dealer should
welcome combinations in restraint Of
competition, collision to raise prices
and make the buyer pay them. but a:
administrator OF the civil works anc
public works funds he wants hi:
moneys worth in free and competi.
tive market. II he gets it he will gel
what the government does not Intend
the general public shall have. Many
things in Washington are difficult t
understand. This is one of them.
It IS an infamy that gross fraud.
should be committed against public
funds devoted to the relief Of INDECENT
people. but it would only add a mis-
take to others to expect that where
there Is opportunity there will not bt
fraud. The philosophy In Washing.
ton Is that the money must be spent
It IS not an essential that the thine
procured be needed. The emergencS
does not require the thing. it require.
the spending Of the money. The idea
Is to take it from one pocket and pu1
It In another. It d loose money, and
loose money Is inherently demoraliz.
Ing It gets out Of the realm Of con.
science. It gets into the realm o.
politics, where conscience Is generally
amenable.
Even when the rule which Mr.. Icke,
tries to enforce was the general rul,
government spending was seldom fire,
from percentage politics. Fraud
waste, and special privilege and profit
were common. What would have beer
known as waste year ago has nov
acquired virtue. TO guard It agains
scandal will require . miracle. MI
1ekes viii try to produce one. He col
Be given credit for that, but he Is on
man against . system which know
all the tricks and which never belor,
had such opportunity.