The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-06-01
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
. EXCEPTION TO
PROCEDURE
. FORM OF AUTOCRACY
. DANGEROUS DOINGS
. STUDY THE TREND

Exposure of citizens private finan-
cial affairs without the chance to re-
sist in the courts is the basis of pro-
test to President Roosevelt against
an executive order making income tax
returns available to the Dies commit
tee investigating un-American Activi-
ties.
In letter to the President, the
American Civil Liberties Union says
that the proper method of Congress-
ional committee to get information is
by the issuance of subpoenas.
"The courts would then determine,
the submission of income tax returns
in particular cases is proper" the let
ter said.
Exception is also taken to the ex-
ecutive order on the ground that the
Dies investigation has been prejudiced
and lacking in judicial character.
x X X
| The protest seems we'll taken, EX-
posing citizens private affairs with
out giving him a chance to have a
court review of the need of such ex-
posure, smacks too much of the kind
of things that goes on under dicta-
torial government in Europe. 1t is
akin to bureaucratic practices, of
which have experienced much in recent
years.
The struggle for power takes vary
ing forms and always goes on.
Democracy came to people who had
the power and the nerve to take it
| from autocrats.
Autocrats haven't finished fighting
for power, nor are they today with
out good deal of it.
Moral sense has something to do
with how much power some kinds of
people will take, even if they have the
power, but mostly those who have
power use it to keep what they have
and to get more.
Bureaucracy is modified form of
autocracy. Of bureaucracy we have
much and the cry is always for more.
Boards and commissions are getting
more power and are multiplying in
number.
Delegated power at the outset usual
ly has string tied to it, SO that those
who use the power may be checked
or reversed.
But little by little the string gets
worn and after time it tends to dis
appear.
x X X
In every Federal and state board
and commission there are either bu-
reaus or subordinates who make great
numbers Of rules, orders and regula-
| tions.
Mostly the affected individual citizen
has a remedy in court, if he can get
to court, which involves money as the
first consideration.
But cases develop where the affected
citizen has no recourse to court, as in
executive orders giving the Dies COM
mittee look at citizens income tax
return. THAT is DANGEROUS.
Not only that, but in the whole field
of bureaucratic power we approach
the thin edge where popular control
over the acts of officials fades out of
the picture through lack of use and
the petty bureau official is left in
seemingly untouchable grandeur upon
his pedestal. He may mean well and
he may even do well, which is not the
point. He does what he wants to do
AND THAT is THE POINT.
x X X
If the American people want bu-
reaucracy and decide, after careful
consideration, that it's the thing for
them, then they are entitled to it.
But if they do not want bureaucracy,
then will do well to study the trend,
keep careful watch over it and know
exactly what is going on. Such things
can come against the wishes of the
people, after which it takes mighty
effort to dislodge the incubus.