The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-04-05

loans. Few persons at that time
thought, however, that the decentral-
ization meant that which ultimately
has taken place, namely, that there
would be established IL regional Of
fees, 81 state offices and 1873 district
offices. This is the more important
when it Is remembered that this enor-
nous payroll and Office expense comes
out Of funds of the federal treasury.
The loan corporation in carrying out
the idea or policy Of decentralization
did some very pc
Peculiar culiar things, accord
Doinps? ing to well anthem
ticated reports. Ac-
tually, 1 am told, some young men with
out previous practical experience or
training were supplied with copies Of
the home loan act, given ticket and
ordered to the .interland to open des-
ignated regional Offices. Shortly there
after out of the thousands of en-
ployees in the home office of the loan
corporation individuals were called
into the Office Of the directing heads
and were ordered to go to one or the
other of the newly opened establish
ments. They were told at the same
time that their salaries would be re-
formed, hundreds of them have -suf-
fered further salary reductions since
they have been on their new jobs.
While all of this has been going on,
the corporation set up board of four
members In the headquarters before
which remaining employees in the
Washington Office have been called for
examination. This board was an
nounced as for the purpose OF deter
mining which of the employees should
be retained They wanted to be fair
about it and wanted to keep on the
payroll such of the employees as were
unable to get along without the jobs
they were holding. 1t seems, however.
that that board has become an in
quisitorial body absolutely without
precedent in the character of examina-
ton to which it subjects the employees.
The result is that few, If any, of the
employees of the loan corporation en-
terrain any belief that they can stay
on their jobs with any feeling of safety.
For example, one mans experience
is quoted. He was asked whether he
had money in the bank, and he had
none. He was asked whether any of
his people were on the relief rolls,
and they were not. Numerous other
questions, such as the rate he paid
for his board and room and the cost
of his laundry were put to him. He
then was asked If he carried life in
surance, and his answer that he did
apparently was wrong. Although he
was not told directly, the inference OF
questions put to him was that he
could live two months If he cashed
in his life insurance policy. At any
rate he was dismissed.
But this is not all. Included in the
bill which increases the amount Of
funds that may be loaned by the cor
poration is a line Of legislation that
will have the effect Of expanding poll
tics in the organization. Written into
that bill are instructions that the cor
poration shall recall to Washington all
of those employees who were dis
patched to new jobs In the regional,
state or district Offices. Of course.
no one can say yet authoritatively that
when these workers are recalled they
will be dismissed here That, however,
obviously Is the result.
Senator Gore of Oklahoma placed
in the Congressional Record recently
telegram he had
Courage received and his re-
Needed ply to 1t that Illus
trates better than
any recent incident how much cour-
age is required by national legisla-
tor to Withstand the pressure from
home. The occasion was consideration
in the senate of the public works
bill The telegram received by the
senator was signed by Joe A. Brown,
the mayor of Hartshorne, Okla, and c.
B. Lindsay, mayor of Haileyville. Okla.
1t follows:
Several thousand Pittsburgh coun-
ty unemployed people assembled in
convention demand you support Presi-
dent Roosevelt's four billion dollar re-
lief measure. If you vote against meas
ure, sentiment is, you stay out of this
county next senatorial race"
The following is the senator's reply:
"This will acknowledge your exceed
ingly diplomatic and hospitable tele-
gram 1t shows how the dole spoils
the soul. Your telegram intimates that
your votes are for sale. Much as |
value votes / am not In the market.
cannot sconsent to buy votes with the
peoples money. / owe debt to the
taxpayer as well as the unemployed
1 shall discharge both. None but the
bully resorts to threats and none
but the coward yields to them"
g. Western Newspaper Union