The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-25
Michigan in
WASHINGTON
BY ESTHER V. w. TUFTY

~ 80 AAA~aN v We = a
Washington correspondents know
they must get out OF Washington to
know what's going on. Most Wash
ington writer's agree that the best
place TO feel the pulse OF the coun-
try-to find out what the people are
really concerned about-is in the
Middle West.
One OF those things | discovered
recently in Gary, Ind. After my
lecture, a nice, modest man hest.
family came up to ask question.
He told me: II am a mail carrier
and hay> been for % years. Do
you think we'll get our raise.
we haven't had one in IS years.
What he didn't say was that ne
could have made three times rs
much money in any one of a dozen
war'booming industries in Gary.
When | said so, he responded with
simple dignity, 1T was important
that the mail be delivered, too"
Vaguely, remembered that the
Post Office and Post Roads Com.
mittee OF the House had been
kicking such bill around for some
time. | promised to give my new
Gary friend the low down.
Here 1t is, as told TO me by
Congressman George A. Dondero, OF
Royal Oak, who had been button
holed by many mail-carrier in
his district while he was campaign
ir5, On his return he had a pile Of
letters two feet high urging the
/ sage OF House bill HATS.
The Royal Oak Republican testi-
fed at a hearing this week II do
not think these people have a wage
in line with cost OF living or any
industrial wage scale. They are
entitled TO some equalizlng."
With the Cons-essman's permits
sion, | read some OF the letters.
One Royal Oak carrier wrote in
part: 81 am a postal clerk employ
ed in the Royal Oak Post Office
and have a wife and two children
dependent on me from the salary
received there. Have not received
basic raise in wages In 20 years
and living costs have steadily risen.
Political employees are required TO
work long and irregular hours and
still we stay on the Job and never
even consider striking for bigger
wages
A Ferndale wife OF mall carrier
wrote. Il shall not annoy you with
a prolonged list Of meanings and
groanings. my husband cannot re-
tire with such inadequate retire
ment pay. Wish we did not havo
to rent a room to strangers to make
things 30 better"
The bill would provide for a
permanent salary boost of $400
annually.
More and more Japenese-Amer-
lean evacuees are relocating in
more widespread distribution Now
relocated families are reported in
II OF the As states, the War Relo-
cation Authority Of the Depart;
ment Of Interior reports.
Michigan Is fifth on the list NJ
states with n total of 2,l2l with
some $40 living In Detroit. Illinois
tops the list with more than 5000
resettled among its 7,S97000 rest
dents. Colorado, Ohio and Utah
hold second. third and fourth place.
The ALAG Americans OF JapaneSe
ancestry who left relocation CEN
tiers to enter the Army as volun-
teers and inductees are not includ-
ed in tire report. because they arc
at military camps or on the fighting
fronts.
Some more food processing ma
chinery for civilian use will he
available as cut.backs in military
orders increase WPB officials pre-
dict more production of tobacco,
beverages and confectionery. On
the advisory committee OF manufac.
turers is Claud Rryson, Saginaw.
An invitation for bids on eight
average Great Lakes steamers has
been announced by the L. S. Mari
time Commission: 4. W. Osborne,
Alex r. Uhrig, Alexander McDou.
gall, Kickapoo. Mariposa, Mariana,
and Wilbert =. Smith.