The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-17
THE DEVIOUS WAYS OF THE
BUREAUCRATS nj.

The way the totaltarian State, federal
RECOMMENDATION, bureaucracy, or whatever
one pleases to call it, pans out, is impress
sively illustrated by Henderson county's
experience in getting superintendent of
welfare administration appointed. ,...
A county board composed of three good
citizens-men of common sense, and bust
ness experience-acting with the County
Commissioners, appointed well known
and trusted citizen of the county to the po-
sition of superintendent. ...
The State board notified the local board
that j. F. Brooks could not serve in this
position because he is not college gradu-
ate and has never had college course in
sociology. ,..3.
At the same time the State board sup
piled the information that this requirement
is one established by the federal govern
ment. 1t is a ruling sent down from bu-
reaucratic headquarters in Washington,
because the new deal is the daddy OF the
so-called social security and welfare pro-
gram, the federal government is furnish
ing some of the money, and proposes to
have much to say about how the outfit
shall be run. Sass
A superintendent of welfare work in
Henderson county must have college de-
gree and must have had college course
in sociology, rs.
How much more of this sort of thing will
develop as the days go by and the social
security plunderbupd in Washington gets
the wheels oiled and the machine to work
ing smoothly, nobody is able. to predict;
but this experience recalls statements made
by The Times-News from time to time in
the past, that whenever the gang in Wash
ington appropriates the money OF the Peo-
pie and distributes it among the States, 1t
proposes to also provide the rules for
spending and affix some extra regulations
just to indicate that it is the supreme au-
thority. S4 - "a
The fact that the regulations may be
absurd, may be the silliest nonsense IN es-
sence and application, does not invalidate
them from the standpoint of the bureau
Gratis. Nonsense and absurdity are bureau
cratic characteristics, next to downright
stupidity.
Nothing in this article, of course, is to
be construed as criticism of Prof. A. G.
Randolph, who has accepted the position
of welfare superintendent. Prof. Randolph
is unquestionably one of the county's best
citizens. He is a carefully trained college
graduate, teacher with many years ex
perience; and, as far as The Times-News
is concerned, he does not need three
months schooling in the brand of sociology
popular at the University to qualify hin
for welfare superintendent, or to get thi:
newspapers approval for his appointment
to any service he is willing to undertake
for his fellow citizens. .rrr
What this newspaper is stressing is the
arbitrary, unreasonable regulation govern
ing in this appointment, made in Washing
ton and sent down to the county commits
sioners and local board composed O.
Henderson county citizens. The Times
News does not believe the central govern
ment has legal right or moral right t.
interfere in this way in the local affairs O
the people of Henderson county. ns,.,
This arbitrary ruling by the central gov
eminent makes it impossible for any per
son. who is not college graduate and ha
NOT had a course in sociology to hold tn
nosition of welfare superintendent in an.
county in the United States. Therefore, tn
effect of, the regulation is to make thes
two points the sole qualifications for mel mel
and women for appointment to these pos
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