The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-19
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OCTOPUS ksINt

W zee y
In The Charlotte Observer Frank Kent
sums up the cost of the central government
octopus. The story is based on figures and
information compiled by Senator Byrd of
Virginia While Senator Byrd is fighting
the octopus, there is no reason whatever
to suppose that he has overdrawn this pic
ture of conditions. In fact, it is not neces-
Sary to add color or horrors to the picture.
Ii it is presented in the best possible light
it is sufficiently appalling to stagger the
courage and faith of any citizen competent
to be permitted to reside outside lunatic
asylum. =" '."
So, today, The Times-News devotes some
space in these columns to the story OF the
octopus. Read it, friends, and give the in
formation time to soak into your minds.
Here it is: . . .. .. i.'r
In Washington alone there now are $4,000
federal employees more than at any other time
even at the peak of the World war. In four years
we have added 10000 employees in Washington
alone. ..'',"
If we add to the 824 ,259 persons on the federal
departmental payroll, the number in the regular
judicial branches and then the 10000 members
of the Civilian Conservation Corps, now made per-
manent by yenate, we have grand total of regu-
lar federal employees of 1,466,26S. Now add to
this number the S32,24S federal pensioners (not
including od-age pensions) and then add in the
$500 900 on federal relief, and you have the as
sonishing total of 1900 900 people regularly living
on federal funds. When you add in their depend
entS it is discovered that not one out of eighty but
out of eight of the whole population Is thus
supported out of the federal treasury.
Here are some more facts: There are in Wash
ington so federal agency legal divisions, "a agen-
cies concerned with government bonds, three agen-
cieS insuring deposits and loans 81 agencies con-
cerned with the acquisition of land, 10 agencies
dealing with wild life preservation ten dealing with
government construction, nine with credit and
finance and ~ concerned with "home and COM
munity planning" The Resettlement administra-
ton has 10 separate Washington addresses. Forty
six federal personnel offices" listed at Wash
ington. In 1880 the federal government paid in
Washington alone for l7,l42 telephones; it now
pays for 32,ss2. The annual federal bill for rent
is $4,000, 900. More new federal jobs have been
created since 1913 than in the first century of the
nations existence, and are adding to them now
ut the rate of one hundred day.
In addition to the Washington departments, in
the last four years we have set up 48 miniature
federal governments, one in each state. The evil
dence of this is the fact that on March l, 1888,
the federali government leased 6084 buildings or
parts of buildings outside Of Washington. Between
that date and July 1, 1886, the government built
664 new holdings outside of Washington at cost
of S237, 900 600. Yet, on July l, 1886, notwith-
standings the buildings constructed, had leased
1ls42 buildings outside Washington = twice as
many - and today the number is greater still.
The floor space of leased and owned government
buildngs-eutside of Washnigton-is 103,319, 1919
square feet-twice what it was four years ago.
The magnitude of the expansion is illustrated by
the fact that-outside Westinghouse lease or
own space equivalent to so Empire State buildings
for each state. ,... @" B..
The impression that the expansion of govern
mental activities in the past four years has &C.
CURED mainly in Washington is not true. In each
state the government has established numerous
federal bureaus and agencies. In Virginia, for ex-
ample, there are rs federal branch bureaus and
agencies occupy rented space equivalent to an En-
pire State building. These do not include the coun-
ty agricultural agents and numerous other federal
employees, but only separate bureaus directly re-
sponsible to Washington. A few facts concerning
expenditures are not without interest For four
years the federal government has spent $4,000
every minute of every day including Sundays. 1t
has added-and still is adding-to the national
debt at the rate of $1,000 minute.
1t has been spending SO for every 81 of income
and still is. For recovery and relief in four years
the total expenditures amount to $137S0,0QO 900,
and the total debt is above $35, 900 900 900
and growing all the time. Though it IS estimated
that there are at least 100000 less unemployed