The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-01-19

MANUFACTURERS OF WASTE PA
per baskets must have made material con-
tribution to unemployment under the New
Deal, for certainly this essential item of Of
flee equipment has found greater demand
since dozens of new government depart
ments have been pouring forth publicity
most of it piffle.
Nor are the departments at all econom-
ical about paper, envelopes and the effort it
takes to prepare releases. Last week, In one
mall The Gazette received five identical
copies of a bulletin" sent out by one of the
loaning and spending agencies. Some of
them were addressed to such department
heads as news editor" managing editor
and just plain editor" but they all arrived
at the same desk and landed in the same
over-stuffed basket.
A trivial thing to complain about per-
haps but multiply this waste by the thous-
ands of newspapers in the nation and con-
slider that we are only one small part of the
mailing list of many departments and the
matter loses it's insignifcance.
Consider also that this mail is handled
free by the postoffce department. Mem
bers of congress are saved $750,000 per year
by their use of the Thanking privilege, ac-
cording to good estimates There are some
single government departments which inn
equal amount, if not several, and no branch
fully neglects>the opportunity given it to
abuse this privilege.
Congressman no doubt look kindly upon
the Thanking practice and defend it with the
claim that taxpayers would still pay the cost
If each department were required to budget
its postage as well as other items. At least
in the latter case expenses of departments
would be properly listed and certainly some
of them would be less copious with their
mailings if sent at three cents each.
We have lots of new congressman, each
anxious to get into the limelight. One of
them might make it by advancing repeal of
franking rights.
THAT ONE GOVERNMENT HAND
may not know or care what another is doing
is long established fact. New lands. for
example have been reclaimed for cultivation
while farmers are paid not to farm others.
1t is also true that sometimes the various
fingers of a federal hand do not fiex in uni
son.
The postoffce department is dead set
against lotteries in any form. The simple
mention "bank night" in a newspaper ad is
sufficient reason for banning that issue from
the mails. Even the quilt rattle or fish pond
at the sedate Ladies Aid benefit cannot be
mentioned either before or after in news col
umns without risk of censure.
In contrast with this, our Chicago pa
per, which Uncle Sam carries in his mail
bags, contains complete horse racing news
with the odds and best guesses of sports
writers and none of the large dailies fail to
mention the betting odds on fights, other
sports events and even elections.
This is inconsistency within depart
ment but considering government as unit,
compare these restrictions with the brand of
promotion allowed over the radio. Consider
the horse race betting permitted in some
states and open betting on other things en-
tirely outside federal government control,
apparently, and the picture is even more
inconsistent.
1t may or may not be good public policy
to frown on lotteries in all forms but at least
consistent policy is warranted.
BY CONTRIBUTING IN THE MARCH
of Dimes, or better still by attendance at the
Presidents Birthday Ball in your communi-
ty, help with the raising of funds with which
10 e,rL% .,,f, -,