Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-01

very engines which have lifted
them 10 unjust dominion.
This executive order is a blow
at the private enterprise system
which is the foundation of our
constitutional liberties. Our high
production. high wages, leisure
and national well being are the
result of invention. machinery,
age rial organization. all
products of individual men
AS these leaders served con-
sumers, giving more or less. they
made profits which supplied and
attracted capital that makes
possible private enterprise. A
S25 900 ceiling and equalitarian
viewpoint prompting it will, if
not rejected. soon paralyze these
very forces which have served as
the handspring of our progress.
TT is the duty Of Statesman-
ship TO uphold this fundamen-
tai principle of the American
way of life. Karl Marx said that
he would found his movement on
a more dynamic force. namely,
class antagoniSm instead Of
human brotherhood which was
tried for lS centuries and failed"
He was wrong. as are allradical
and CollectiviSt agitatorS who
cater TO envy and jealousy 10
build their own power. " is
disService to wage earnerS 10 put
into effect such policy, even
though called for by misguided
leaders.
What diSturbS most is not the
amount of revenue that may be
lost. nor the waste of manpower
in policing salary payments. nor
the effect of injuStices on war;
time morale. nor even the policy
of the order which parallels the
folly of eating the seed corn" of
our economic system. These con-
siderations all should have the
attention Of Congress.
The most disturbing factor is
that by this flouting of the de-
clared will of Congress the
precedent is being set for the
destruction Of the legislative
branch of our government and
further invasion Of the law
making field by DEGREES of the
executive branch. One such in
vasion tolerated inevitably leads
to another.
THE New York Times editorial
i of October u summarized
the history:
THE idea OF n $4,000 ceiling
on salaries was first advanced by
the Go, later taken up by Mrs.
Roosevelt and finally by the
President. The new ruling repre-
sents a clear example of admin
istrative action to Circumvent
the will Of Congress.
THE President I'm two mes
sages to Congress specifically
asked for legislation to accom-
plish this end. The treasury
placed before both tax commit
tees Of Congress proposals for
accomplishing this end.
Both committees 81 Congress,
after due consideration. declined
to accept the proposal. In pass
ing the Act OF Oct. 2. 1912. Con-
gress plainly did not have In
mind the grant ~ any such
power. Yet the objective which
Congress refused to sanction is
now sought by means Of regu-
Iation issued under the authority
Of the President -.
1T Is utilizing the war emer-
gency To put into effect an eco
homie doctrine not held by Con-
gress -. : II this judgment Is
accepted. why stop at S25.000e
Why not equal pay for every
one:
There Is involved here n
sharp change In our traditional
American concepts. II has been
the basic philosophy 81 the land
OF opportunity that every man.
no matter how humble his
origins, has the right 90 acquire
wealth. " his talents and serv-
Ices to the community enabled
him 10 attain a large income.
Now the philosophy seems To
he that We must level down
from fbs to0 hv pushin~ sty