The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-05-13

WaSnlnRLOn. --l MS talk ABOUT cut
ting federal expenditures ten per
cent in order to balance the budget
is just eyewash. as most folks who
know what is going on around Wash
ington will tell you. When first stated
it sounds fine, but it doesn't sound
so convincing after you begin study
ing the figures.
In the first place, considerable
part of the total federal expendi-
lures is in the untouchable" class,
to borrow word from India. For
example, the interest on the fed
eral debt. Then there are the pay
ments to veterans, and the pay
ments to farmers, which of course
technically do not belong there, but
actually can you imagine a
majority of both house and senate
voting to curtail payments to farm
ers?
And any one who thinks that, after
all the talk in the last campaign
about the government using the
money collected in pay roll deduc-
tions for old age pensions and I'M
employment insurance, for ordinary
governmental expenditures, con-
gress is going to vote anything like
that-so soon--is just ignorant of
the ordinary political mental proc
esses. .
1t finally gets down to the federal
pay roll, about 81 500. 900, 900 a year.
| Ten per cent of that would be $780,
900 600 a year. That would be inn
portant money to any other person
or agency than the United States
government. But it is less than one
months relief bill, at the rate OF
spending for this year-meaning the
year ending June 80 next.
1t is perfectly true that the gov
eminent cut all federal salaries al
most fifteen per cent back in 1888,
and that the country generally
| thought it was a pretty good idea.
But things were different then. In
the first place, most folks outside
the government service had been
taking cuts, some OF them much
more drastic than fifteen per cent.
More important, people working I'M
der private employers had been SUBJ
| feet to drastic wedding out proc
esses-the fellow or girl who had
kept his job being more or less
lucky.
Piteous Walls
So the public attitude was that
the government employees, who UP
to that act OF 1888 had not suffered
from the 1929 debacle, were particu-
IArly favored and privileged class
| of workers. So when they were sub
| jected to a fifteen per cent cut,
though the walls in Washing ION and
some other places were piteous.
there was very little public SYM
patty.
But nowl Actually the workers
outside, in a considerable percent
age il not a majority of cases, have
been the benefciaries of salary and
wage boosts, bonuses, and general
advancement, not to mention reduc-
| ton of hours. So that the govern
ment clerks are no longer privileged
class. II anything, the contrary.
There is another point, which in
sheer logic has nothing to do with
the case, but in the human equation
figures Importantly. AT the same
time that this salary cut was voted
by congress, the compensations and
Whatnots of the veterans we're also
cut. Senator'S and representatives
have never been permitted to forget
that, nor to cease regretting it. 1t
gave them plenty Of trouble at the
ensuing election.
Also, at the same time, congress
cut the salaries of its own mem
bers. Mrs. Senator and Mrs. Rep
resentative have not forgotten thatl
To be perfectly frank, it is rather
unpopular topic. Up on Capitol Hill
the subjects are more or less as
ISOLATED in the collective memory,
so to speak.
Which brings us back rather forci-
bly, to the idea that II there is going
to be economy ii is going to come
out of relief. But that is another
storyl