The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-16

BOake Carter
Peddling Sucker Lists
Congress Abets It
Shopping by the Curious

ing that know Of.
The mailman dropped a long
envelope on this desk today with
a Washington postmark. Inside
I found a mimeographed high
pressure sales letter.
1t recorded that the writer had
been able to get the latest Treas
ury list of corporations, names
of officers and employees receiv-
ing incomes in excess of $4,000,
the lists available at the offices
of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee.
With almost gleeful enthusi-
asn the sales letter insisted that
salaries were not only listed, but
all bonus and commission pay
ments we're recorded.
No guarantee was offered that
the list was complete, but at
least it was the best possible one
available. Speed was urged in
taking advantage Of this oppor.
tunity, for it was noted that
pressure was being brought to
bear to stop this sort of back
door peddling of lists.
Single lists we're offered for
$3.50, a complete list Of all
States of more than 1000 pages
for $50 cash or a down payment
anc the balance on delivery.
And to top insolent offering a
bank was given as reference.
Now, back in 1884, when 1t
was considered a crime for
any man, no matter what his
efficiency or worth to his COM
pany. to draw more than SIS.
900 per annum, it was the
august judgment Of the Con-
gress-many Of whose men,
bers have a pleasant little
racket Of drawing full-mileage
pay allowances, even though
they travel but few times and
short distances-that the pub
lie interest would be well
served by publicizing all those
predatory citizens who drew
down $4,000 per, or more.
There was absolutely nothing
in Section 143D- OF the 1884
revenue act, which forbade
any one from copying the list
and peddling it for whatever
they could get. A number Of
smart guys, whose credo is
Anything for a dollar" rushed
up, copied the lists and then
hawked them around, with a
smirk and a handrub of an
ticipation.
And. Of course. they found
plenty OF tai ers.
The protests began to fly
around, and in due course the
Congress realized that some
thing would have to be done
to prevent this high-class little
exploitation racket which it
had encouraged.
To that end, Representative
Bob Doughton, chairman Of
the House Ways and Means
Committee, pushed forward q
bill this session to repeal Sec.
ton 148D.
It passed the House In
April. The Senate's Finance
Committee gave the measure
it's kisses and well wishes and
showed it onto the Senate
calendar.
Every time 1t has been called
up. however, some one has OBJ
jected. On what grounds no
one seems to be ever able to
find out.
The Government depiores
crime and pays millions to put
down rackets, but one or two
Senators encourage more racketS
under the guiSe Of patriotism.
What matter that little incon-
sistepcy?
It's a pretty example Of the
cockeyed craze Of intimating q
man must be something little
short Of crook because he gets
$4,000 a year or more. And
the funny part about it is that
you can go into any office on
pay day and watch how carefully
the $25,a-week clerk will take
care to turn his check face down
SO that his pal at the next desk
doesn't catch a glimpse of the
amount of his salary.
The employer who dared to
paste on the bulletin board the
list of salaries and wages Of
every man in his employ would