Montana labor news., 1935-08-15
ABOUT FIREMEN
And POLICEMEN

] am beginning to get a little sick Of
a certain standing headline in news
papers OF New York. It reads, Bank
ers demand economy in the city gov
eminent"
Nobody can deny that there has been
graft, waste and Encouragement in
city government. 1t would be foolish
to make any attempt to talk away the
fact that municipal finances are in a
sorry state. Present facts must be met,
and money which has gone over the
dam cannot be sluiced back.
But | am resentful Of the fact that
the burden Of responsibility is to fall
so largely on the shoulders of those
who have worked hard and faithfully
and for wages which always have been
insufficient. I can't quiet see why
teachers and policemen and firemen
should be locked to make good the
sins Of stupid politicians.
| would even go further and suggest
that some Of the bankers who are rails
ing their hand in horror at civic ex-
travagance might very appropriately
look in their own palms and consider
the question Of whether a little local
s%crubbine might not be indicated.
Personally | rate bankers several cuts
above politicians in the matter of in
tegrity and intelligence, but it would
be idle to argue that certain Of our fl
|nancial giants have not nodded in the
last few years.
And so | think that if a cooperative
effort is to be made to lift the city out
Of its present difficulties these same
bankers might properly dedicate them
selves a little more fully to that same
economy which they are urging on civil
servants.
Indeed, I believe that if the cry Of
economy is not more carefully scru-
tinted we are going to skimp and save
in fields where cuts will actually draw
blood. I do not think there is any true
saving in cheap teachers, policemen
firemen or other technical workers.
| would have the city spend more
rather than less upon its hospitals
which are beginning to be seriously
undermined. And surely direct relic
for the unemployed demands a larger
budget and not a smaller
Graft has never yet been pinched on.
by squeezing in the wrong places.
And what is true of city government
is also valid in regard to national gov.
eminent. We are not going to lift
ourselves out of a depression by The
simple and cruel device Of cutting pay
OF Federal Employees,
I don't like to pay income taxes
Who Does? But I don't think any.
body should be spared at the price o
having overworked postmen sweated
little harder. We cannot expect any
fairness OF treatment from employer!
until Uncle Sam himself leads the way
and sets an example in decent condi
tons, pay and hours.
There has been altogether too mucl
bunk about both economy, share til,
work and voluntary relief. Again anc
again we have been told that America
must never have a dole because it i
degrading to those who receive and
tyrannical compulsory burden upon TIL
taxpayers who are forced to give. Blu
a very considerable proportion of vol
untary relief is not voluntary at all
Many concerns have been rather to,
candid in intimating to their employee
that it would be a good idea for then
to contribute some regular portion o
their salaries.
Whether it is true or not, man,
workers have come to believe that thei
only choice was to give or get Out
And | think that some Of them woul,
/ feel that there was a greater amount 0
rugged individualism" in giving it Il
/ the tax collectors themselves rattle
, than turning back some part OF thei
wages to the cashier of the conceri
which employees them.
Too often this sort OF voluntary re
lief has merely manufactured NOR
needy cases. The man or woman lv
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