The Redwood gazette., 1935-02-28
TIE REDWOOD GAZETTE. REDWOOD PALS, MrsNRsorA

Frequent investigation of government
al departments spending vast sums Of
money tends to keep officials alert to the
fully as they might their own and not only
discourages fraud but frequently locates it
before the taxpayer has been badly robbed.
But the public's sympathy swings to
the side of the official being Investigated
when much adieu is made about minor in
fractions and the investigation takes on the
appearance of political persecution.
Investigators with sincere interest in
finding the facts rather than painting some
one with dark colors will be careful that the
official in question gets fair hearing and
that the investigation does not become a
sort of one ring circus with wild charges
getting wide publicity before their accuracy
has been established.
The decision of drouth stricken farmers
of Big Stone county to descend on the legis-
lature with demands that something be done
at once to relieve suffering is not strange
in view of conditions but it is doubtful if
anything of material benefit will be accom-
plished by the excursion.
When the federal government said any
amount appropriated by the state would be
sofa, it took over the matter as far as the
legislature is concerned. Blame for the de-
Law then belongs at Washington where the
question is whether the government shall
compete with private industry by paying
going wages or make relief work less attrac-
tive to those who might find other work by
paying an existance wage of $50 per month,
as President Roosevelt insists would be a
better policy.
The motor vehicle license fee question
is still a red hot issue that legislators dis
like to handle There is much sentiment
against boosting the rates on old cars on
the supposition that their owners cannot
afford to pay more. There is less sympathy
for owners of cars purchased in the last
three years. At the same time legislators
will be criticised if they turn down the fed
eral governments offer to spend considerable
in the state if the state matches it's appro-
priation. Country representatives will bear
in mind that city drivers pay the bulk of the
license fees while rural roads get the bulk
of the work.
One week under the present system OF
computing time includes seven days of "a
hours each, total of 168 hours. Of this
time eight hours per day is supposed to be
spent in sleep leaving a balance of liz
hours. Most people don't work on Sunday
leaving 88 hours Two hours per day is de-
voted to eating, leaving "a hours. Now if q
| 80 hour work week were adopted, as some
are recommending, there would be "A hours
left over, more than seven hours per day
If one were allowed to hold two jobs, h
would still have ID hours of leisure. Il
doesn't quite make sense.
The legislature, congress and conditions
in general will take backseat for fev
weeks now while hundreds of growing boy
fight for victories in the annual Marcl
basketball Journeys. These tournament
are great thing for the fans and players
craftsmanship, the ability to win or los
graciously, the training which allows
team to shift it's style of play to meet nev
situation or to rally when less brave team
might give up hope, all add to the color an
merit of such matches.
We have transient camps, relief wor
and direct relief but panhandling is still
popular way of making living for goo
many men who drift through at the rate 9
several per day. 1t makes one feel hare
hearted to refuse these sad-faced drifter
with their often-repeated hard luck storie
but it is strange that they do not ava
: themselves of the opportunities to earn q
least a meager living if they are reall
worthy of help.
$9.1O hogs two years ago would hav
been regarded as the definite and complet
end of the depression.