Evening star., 1935-06-01

Marked difference Of opinion over
the pay scale has featured newspaper
comment on the Federal work-relief
program since President Roosevelt an
nounced that the wages would run
from $94 a month down to a mini
mum of $l9 a month.
Some critics fear the effect of such
a low scale on wages generally and
others speak bitterly of the idea that
any family can live on SIG a month.
but there is much support for the
Presidents position on the ground
that, after all, it is temporary emer-
gency relief proposition.
Says the Columbus (ohio) Dis
patch: THE scales announced by the
President are disappointing. The ex-
ception to them voiced by several con-
gressional and labor leaders was in
evitable. If he continues to believe
that SIG to $94 month is adequate
for the maintenance of the average
family in food, clothing and shelter,
this first barrage of criticism is only
the beginning. A great deal more will
follow. A better plan would be to turn
over to local communities and their
willing civic and charitable bodies the
task of providing pure charity and use
the $4,000. .000. 900 for what everyone
believed 1t was to be used for-to find
real jobs for those able to work-and
pay American workmen in keeping
with the dignity of honest labor and
the self-respect of honest laborers."
The scale will breed discomfort and
defeat the very purpose of work-relief,"
in the opinion Of the Albuquerque IN.
Mex) Journal, and the Philadelphia
Record finds that citizens are sad
dened when they contemplate the
scale" The Lincoln (Nebr.) State
Journal charges inconsistency in rela-
ton to Government purposes, and
argues that vast changes must be
made IL any Semblance of fairness in
the national economic set-up is to be
maintained"
THE country probably faces a
fiercer fight over administration of
work-relief than 1t did over Its enact
ment," declares the Wichita (Kans.)
Eagle. while the New York Sun makes
the explanation: I'm the schedule
there are 30 different classifications.
This schedule, moreover. does not cover
members of the Civilian Conservation
Corps, those working under p. w. A.
contracts, workers on highway and
grade crossing elimination projects, or
workers on Federal building construc-
ton. Rates of pay for these classifi-
cations have been otherwise fixed. The
publication of the work-relief schedule
calls attention to certain inconsis-
tencies. Skilled workmen on public
works contract Jobs can earn as much
as $l56 q month. whereas the same
skilled workmen, If put to work in New
York City on work-relief project,
could earn no more than $S5 a month"
If there Is to be restoration of
prosperity" thinks the Philadelphia
inquirer, 1T must come not through
doles and relief. but through the ad-
vance Of private industry" and this
argument In favor of the Presidents
position Is upheld by the Newark IN.
~ Evening News, the Danbury
(Conn.) News Times, the Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin, the Buffalo Evening
News, the Reno New Evening
Gazette, the Nashville Tennessean and
the Rochester Times Union.
"The whole plan" in the judgment
of the New York Times. lis squarely
built on the foundation of full-time
Employment in return for q security
'WsA Of $50. For no other wage can