The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-02-24
SEEN
HEARD
around the
NATIONAL
CAPITAL
u.
By Carter Field -

Washington.-A horde of medic
ere, irresponsible, yet well-dresset
and SNUG people is an unnatura
sight to behold. For. outside o
Washington, men and women arr
known by their looks. The stamin;
OF the laborer is written in hi:
weathered face and on his hare
hands. How the banker gets his
living shows IN his prudent eye
The store girls ability to endure
monotony and an ill-mannered pub.
lie Is told by her weary smile. The
preacher, the ticker lounge gam
bier, the petty thief, the college pro-
fessor-all look their ability to make
their way.
But IN Washington, as nowhere
else, you see the dull, unworried tax
leeches by tens of thousands, SNUG
III futile security. From half past
three on, just as the workers in
competitive life are buckling down
TO make hay of the days effort, the
capital crowd swarms out of its mar
Die palaces, gaily iamming the poky
street cars and two-bit taxis. head
ing for cocktail lounges or more
hours of Incidence at home. If it's
winter they're muffled up in WOOL
ems and furs. In summer they're
arrayed in white linens, marred
only on the seats by chair varnish
melted IN the capitals steamy heat.
Massed faces show not trace of
the alert concern that marks men
and women who sail under their
own steam.
Along miles of corridors in the
Departments of Commerce, Agricul-
fure, Interior. Post Office, YOU see
them going through the motions of
work earlier in the day. But much
OF the work is mere motion, for by
gesture and voice the worker re-
veals that it doesn't matter much
whether the task turns out good or
bad. Many don't even make mo-
tons; they lean back in swivel
chairs, powder their noses, or sit
staring at the electric clock. When
the gong rings they spill out of the
buildings like gravel from a dump
truck.
Not All Are Drones
How many of these jobs are nee
essary to the nations welfare no
body knows. Probably more than
halt are justifable, maybe three
quarters. But generally speaking
two out OF three of the Jobs could
be held down by any bright person
who wanted to try. The workers
are not sought for the Jobs; the
JOBS are piled up for the workers. |
Every five or six people must sup
port one for government. Nothing T
viii be done about it.
But there are happy exceptions
IN this city of drones- Most con-
gressmen, doubt it or not, are fairly
devoted to toll. The post Office sl-
perintendent of air mail. for exam
pie, works like musher dog. The
chairman OF the maritime commits
SION is demon for labor and he
keeps the whole outfit on its toes. A
young fellow in the machinery di-
vision OF commerce drives ahead
Just as ne would in a private firm
or get fired. The young woman as
sistant to one ambitious brass-hat
goes home too late and tired to eat
dinner five nights a week.
There must be thousands who do
their honest best. A big order from
the chief IN the White House
vsrberates along the Ionic colon
hades and thousands must Law to.
whether they like it or not. Some.
lines ambitious effort gets govern
nent workers ahead. But not often $
md they know it. They can see :
NANNY enough that even many of :
ne leaders OF government are not :
hosen on merit. p
Wants Labor Law =
One of President Roosevelt,s Il
reatest ambitions, labor stand ,
rds law to give the unorganized mil :
ons OF workers minimum wage
I about 40 cents an hour and q c
maximum work week of 40 hours. n
as gotten exactly nowhere in a b
battle of words. . v
The Presidents total program d. n
ides the United States into three a
ig groups. They are industry. Ia b
or and agriculture. That includes O
1e bulk of the population. He be- Il
ewes that industry exploits and op- b.
resses labor and agriculture &c
hereby causing most of the conn
Us ills. So he started out TO pet m
TVS to regulate the country's indus m
les, and laws to assist labor and IN
griculture. tn
How far has he gotten with bis IA
rogram? Pretty far. 10 cite > few G,
samples, the securities exchange or
W put a severe snaffie bit in wall ar
reefs mouth. The labor relations 81
t forbids business to interfere witb @
e formation and functions of a. ic'
" unions. His bill TO liberalize WI
e Supreme court was beaten b,t GU
G battle changed the make-un of VIC
G court. The social security act mi
an overwhelming victory for ~ Ge