The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-03-14
COInnlent
WORTHWHILE AND OTHERWISE,
ON MATTERS IMPORTANT AND
UNIMPORTANT.

While any chance for the enactment
of the Townsend old-age pension plan
by this session of congress has been
killed, yet it still engages the interest
of millions Of people. 1t is therefore
pertinent to remark that one slight
consideration that apparently does not
trouble the Townsendites is that the
money will have to come out OF some
body's pocket. The natural assumption
on all such schemes is that it would be
somebody else who pays. Read this
comment on old age pension conditions
in Michigan and then ponder about
who pays:
AT the present time nearly 3 mil
lon Michigan citizens are technically
liable to arrest because they failed to
pay So head-tax to provide for old
age pensions. Out of 2,939,000 taxpayers
in the state, only $4,000 paid their
head-tax before March 1st when it was
due The legislators at Lansing are now
trying to find a painless substitute
though without success Meanwhile
only 10 per cent of those applying for
pensions are being given pensions and
these receive only about one-third of
the amount provided by law. 1t appears
that when the citizens themselves have
to cough up, pension enthusiasm does
the disappearing act
That comment recalls a discussion
we overheard the past week between
an advocate and an opponent of the
Townsend pension plan The advocate
was old enough to benefit from such
legislation, the opponent was young and
would have to help pay for the pen
sions. The older man asked the younger
one why he was opposed to the plan
and the younger one replied with
spirit Just because we younger peo-
pie of the nation can see no justice
in being taxed on everything we buy
in order to support lot Of old people
in idleness."
Out Of the average American dollar,
% cents are spent for luxuries, 24.5
cents for necessities, 8.5 cents for crime
and Is cents on education, And yet we
kick on the high cost Of education.
What a comment on our civilization
=
The latest figures show that persons
on government pRSrolls together with
those drawing money from the FERA,
AAA, or PWA, now exceed 17600,000,
more than ever before since the de-
preston started. One commentator
says, This time the line forms on MIR.
Roosevelts Left
And he adds this pertinent remark:
With 100000 on the payroll in
various forms and with 20000.000 on
relief, we may vision a day when every
worker will support not merely his
own family but two other families as
Well--one on charity and one whose
bread-Winner is engaged in collecting
or distributing that charity"
The fallacy of the 80 hour week at
this particular time is briefly set forth
by l. c. Paddock, editor Of the Boulder,
Colo, daily Camera. THE 30-hour week
with 40-hour a week pay will add only
trifle of 80 1-3 per cent to the labor
cost Of mine, store, factory, or, now
2 that we think Of it, printing office,
comments Editor Paddock Labor says
it is needed to end unemployment
Well, it would end employment all
right
Announcement of the ten best
dressed men in America aroused the
editorial ire Of Berry Holden, editor
Of the Charlton Qa) Herald Patriot
The finest character we ever knew
was housed Ill a blue chambray shirf
and trousers that never saw a pressing
machine" says Editor Holden There
was no crease in his trousers, neither
was there a crease in his heart nor hi.
soul Regardless Of the clothe.
that a man wears, give us the bird with
the blue chambray shirt and the hear
Of gold"
True, every word Of it, and yet tner,
is no reason why the heart Of goh
cannot also be, found under the stylish
well laundered shirt Clothes do no
make man.