Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1936 — Page 10

PAGE 10

AA 0 I 4 SS

The Indianapolis Times “

(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

EARL D. BAKER Business Manager

ROY W. HOWARD

President

LUDWELL DENNY Editor

Owned and published daily (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Co, 214 W. Maryland-st.

Price in Marion County, 3 cents a copy; delivered by carrier, 12 cents a week.

Mail subscription rates in Indiana, $3 a year; outside of Indiana, 65 cents a month,

5 RIley 5551

Give Light and the Pcople Will Find Their Own Way

Member of United Press, Scripps - Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit Bureau of Circulations,

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1036

PERSONNEL SYSTEM GROWS JNDIANA will begin the New Year with a blow at the costly and antiquated spoils system in state government, An order signed hy Gov. McNutt and approved by Gov-ernor-elect Townsend, transferring 21 state penal and benevolent imstitutions from the Executive Department to the State Public Welfare Department, becomes effective tomorrow, Employes of the institutions automatically come under the Welfare Department merit system, Wayne Coy, welfare director, explains. As the first step toward getting the system into operation, he plans a job analysis and then a study of the specifications and classification of jobs. The recent adoption of uniform personnel classification and compensation plans by the Public Welfare and Unemployment Compensation Departments will aid in the extension of the merit system. The setup in these two agencies now covers about 500 employes. And it is described by Donald C. Stone, director of the Public Administration Service, as “one of the most complete public personnel systems found anywhere in the country.” This national expert says the unique feature of Indiana’s merit program is “the voluntary action by two separate state agencies in establishing a joint personnel system, administered by a joint bureau of personnel.” The bureau is made up of a policy-forming joint committee on personnel administration, which includes the two department directors and an outside chairman named by these two and approved by both boards. Under an appointed personnel director is a staff of examiners and personnel technicians. Eventually, nearly 3000 jobs in the 21 institutions will he added to those being filled on a basis of merit. The outgoing McNutt administration and the incoming Townsend regime deserve praise for taking a step that will not be popular with professional politicians who have previously considered these jobs as patronage.

GOVERNMENT BY CHISELERS AS the saying goes, there's at least one in every party. In the international as well as the national sense, it’s

the chiseler who causes the damage. His latest appearance

is in the airplane shipping incident. Many previous applications for licensing of arms shipments had been received at the State Department since the Spanish trouble started, but in each case, upon request of the government, the applications had been withdrawn. Those exporters, said the President in a press conference, represented the 90 per cent of business which was ethically honest and of which he was proud. Then came one man who refused to comply, who insisted on doing what the President described as a perfectly legal but thoroughly unpatriotic thing. Hence, the embarrassment for our nation at a time when keeping out of the Spanish affair is the immediate key to our continued peace with this unpeaceful world. And on the same day, in the same conference, the President dealt with the devastating effect of chiseling in the domestic scene. He described how wages had slumped and hours had lengthened since NRA was knocked out. The hreakdown has been constant and is increasing, he said. And he promised that something would be done about it. That 10 per cent which won't “go along”—or whatever the exact percentage is—acts as the rotten apple acts in a barrel of sound apples. Unless the chiselers ean be handled, all of the good intentions of the majority amount to little or nothing. Domestically; the manufacturer of shirts who wants to pay good wages finds himself up against the one who underpays, and competition does the rest. Eventually he is driven down to the lower scale, if he is to survive. And the same as to hours; and so with other industries. Therefore arises the necessity for what has been called the Marquis of Queensberry rules for industry. We had them for a short time; rules fixing maximum hours, minimum wages, eliminating child labor. They were knocked out by a Supreme Court decision, Since then the disintegration

has set in.

What to do? The problem can not be solved by states. |

For there are chiseling states as well as chiseling individuals, and low-wage states compete with high-wage states, with the same rotten-apple result. The problem is distinctly a national one. And that means—do something about the Constitution or the Supreme Court, or both. Otherwise, in our economic life, we have government by chiselers.

GIVING MIDDLE-AGE A CHANCE T Toledo, O., the City Civil Service Commission has acted to remove the maximum age limit on persons who may apply for jobs in municipal service. Except in {he fire and police departments, future examinations will be open to all above the age of 25, instead of being restricted to applicants between 25 and 45. That, it seems to us, is a move in a very right direction. Men above 45 have the greatest difficulty in finding private employment. Among the unemployed, their group presents the most perplexing problem. Youth gets the first call. Yet many men of 45 and 50 and older are at the height of their mental powers. They have the merit of experince and steadiness. And it is upon those of middle age that family requirements, including the education of their children, are likely to be heaviest. The new Toledo ruling does not mean that youngsters are to be replaced by elders in city jobs. It means, simply, that years alone will no longer be a bar to persons able to do the work required. Other governmental agencies might well do what the Toledo Civil Service Commission has done.

It be not only a measure of justice to a great froup |

What

1

A

oo. THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES etter New Year Resolution?—By Talburt

STRICT NEUTRALITY

LAW,

Fair Enough

By Westbrook Pegler

Mrs. Roosevelt Had Chance to Benefit Every One Concerned by Proving Newspaper Item False.

EW YORK, Dec. 31.—Mrs. Roosevelt, in her column, has pointed a wavering finger at the morning papers of Boston with a general accusation of fakery which thus amounts to mere scandal. “It is becoming more and more a mystery how newspapers acquire nonexistent news,” she writes under a Boston date line, referring to some report

on the condition of her son, Franklin, which she ap-

parently holds to have been exaggerated or manufactured. Here, for once, was a chance for a prominent person to check and prove up on a particular instance but, unfortunately, Mrs. Roosevelt changed the subject just when there was reason to expect her to cite the false item, name the paper in which she read it and demons strate that it was not true. Not to be wide-eyed about the problem of careless and wishful reporting and downright fakery in the newspaper business, I submit that the publishers, the reporters and the schools of journalism are generally against that sort of work, and admit that detailed criticism is good for every one in the business. There are some old-style incorrigibles still in action, and some shops are run in the old, careless tradition which condones the use of a little imagination to adorn a tale. And, sometimes, a reporter who isn’t well trained will exaggerate a piece in order to impress the desk.

Mr, Pegler

2 = 2 UT even 20 years ago when the business was much less careful than at present, we generally tried to get the facts and stuck to them, although the effort toward picturesque or literary writing sometimes produced distorted effects. We are much more conscientious—even self-con= scious—today. This was a case in which Mrs. Roosevelt had a chance to go to town. The story about her son was either false or true. There was no reason to conceal the name of the paper which used it and, by holding back, she encourages the sort of thing of which she complains. 5 & & T= story could be traced right back down the line and that process would do good, because it is a conspicuous instance which would have received thorough publicity in all the papers. If Mrs. Roose velt should prove up, the experience would be of bene= fit to all concerned. Of course, the reporter might have taken refuge in the old plea of “confidence,” but in that case what would a President's wife do? Presidents often give information to reporters for publication, but without permission to reveal the source, and a reporter who blabs, even under pressure, is held to be untrustworthy.

‘War of Machines’

By Seripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance

yy Asmioion Dec. 31.=Maj. John K. Christmas, United States Army tank authority, contends that the future “war of machines” will be less costly in both dives and money. “Mechanization is labor-saving machine to one of the oldest professions, fighting, It ied ting the same result by using fewer men and more machines, with a resultant lower cost of production, just as in industry,” he said.

g |_By Herblock

y SEAN ¥y. = — SLT RE IN a »ei, i - 4

ARN > «

$F ALT it

DON'T TELL Mg

TO SCRAM

YOUNG FELLER!

I ABDIcATE !

The Hoosier Forum

I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it—Voltaire.

UNQUALIFIED DRIVERS HIT BY WRITER By M. E, Jones

While there is so much fuss about a safety drive and the ruthless massacre of our citizens, I wish to state that the real cause of our trouble is the great army of unqualified drivers running wild over our streets and highways. People are driving and are licensed to drive automobiles with every disease on earth and every physical handicap known to medical science —one-eyed, one-armed and onelegged people are licensed to drive in this state. A man must train most of his life in order to qualify to drive a locomotive, and at that, has nothing to do with the steering. But any one can buy a license, even cripples who are unable to visit the Statehouse for the license can get one. The state is responsible. A nervous man or women should never get on the street with an automobile, nor should a mentally unbal-

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your létter short, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld on request.)

enjoying tax exemptions which, if done away with, would be suicidal to the best interests of the state itself. It behooves the new state administration, therefore, to exercise great caution in using its pruning knife at the mere request of those who have failed to see the picture in full. Let us take two examples of institutions to which disallowance of tax exemption would be the rankest kind of injustice. And should these institutions cease their activities the state and all of its taxpayers would be compelled to pay almost a one hundredfold in actual money more than these institutions are being allowed for the small exemptions that they now en-

anced individual get on the street | Joy

with a vehicle (and people who drink are mentally unbalanced or criminally insane). All the police in the world will never correct this great injustice as long as this wild-eyed outfit is permitted by the state to go out after its kill.

4 4 # THINKS GOVERNMENT ECONOMY IMPROBABLE

By B. C. Dispatches from Washington say that the Administration is going ahead with its plans for reorganization of the executive departments of the government on a more efficient basis. Needed economies will result, if such a plan is pushed through; but it would probably be unwise to expect too much of them. For the principal reason these departments spend so much money is not that they are wasteful, inefficient, and overlapping in their spheres of action, but simply that the Federal government has a tremendous number of things to do and neetls a great many employes to do them. No really substantial cuts in administrative expenses can be mada unless or until the government gives up some of its activities. Reor« ganization may help the government to get more for its money, but it won't bring a really substantial slash in the total that has to be spent.

” ” 2 URGES TAX EXEMPTION FOR CHURCHES BE RETAINED

By Henry L. Davis, executive secretary, Reserve Pension Fund and Preachers’ ps Beerety, Northwest Indiana Cone

Much pressure is being put upon incoming members of the State Senate and House of the incoming administration on the tax question. From all sources demands are being made to end tax exemptions on all properties and securities. No doubt an ending of tax exemptions on some institutions is to be desired. But there are other institutions now

General Hugh Johnson Says—

If We Can Get Japan to Guarantee Independence of Philippines and

oy: 1. The State of Indiana and the Federal government have, or are providing for, old age pensions. However, said pensions are only for certain groups. No provision is being made for preachers, domestics, farm employes et al. Now, churches of every denomination are trying to care for aged ministers, ministers’ widows and ministers’ orphans. To do this suc cessfully, the churches have set up endowments invested largely in real estate and mortgages. Mark you, this has cost the state nothing—it has rather relieved the state of the obligation of caring for these groups. It is now being proposed to tax these endowments. If this is done, they will become imperiled to the point that there will be little income from them. Suppose that the churches now

BEREFT BY HARRIETT SCOTT OLINICK

Bereft of peace or joy or love T stand alone beneath sharp stars, While bitterness like spreading flame Rides through my heart, leaving pale scars.

There is no urge to seek revenge, Only this weariness with pain; No tears to fall upon my cheeks, Like somber, healing autumn rain,

1 stand alone, asking of life No gift, no longing to embrace. 1 stand alone with wind’s soft hands In velvet gloves about my face.

DAILY THOUGHT

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.—Deuteronomy 15:1.

Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities, we gain only as we give. ~Simms.

Agree Not to Fortify East of Carolines, It Would Be Peace Victory. "

JOBCAW, 8. C, Dee. 31<If Japan wants to talk about a compromise in the Pacific—we ought to listen without too much squeamishness about bilateral or multilateral conversations. The thought that Japan would certainly, and in all circumstances, respect some convention neutralizing the Philippines is somewhat like the idea that a cat would respect a convention to neutralize mice. But we have got to get our fingers out of that tates wringer and Japan is just now in a tight

# & 8 HETHER alone or with other countries, if

we could get her u vocally to guarantee the independence of the Philippine Islands

this reason:

rangement, for she Sas sesgous

the duty the independence make it good.

1f we do undertake bility of alone underthe Philippines, we can’t

just applying the

refuse to make these gifts. Suppose that these aged ministers, widows and orphans become a burden of the state. Have the state's legislators acted in the best interest of the taxpayers. 2. The second group now enjoying tax exemption that we would mention is the educational group. It is being proposed to wipe out this exemption. To my mind this would be rank injustice, All believe in higher education. We are now spending millions in taxes to maintain Indiana, Purdue and State Normal colleges. There is scarcely a legislature that is not asked to appropriate from tens of thousands to a million dollars. Of this we make no criticism. Yet, some of the men who vote these appropriations for higher education now propose to refuse tax exemptions to those church=controlled schools which, without a dollar of expense to Indiana taxpayers (except that paid by exemption) are furnishing just as high-grade curriculums as are to be had at the state institutions. ... My conclusion, therefore, is that though the canceling of exemption of taxes may be proposed and even violently urged by some folks, and may be demanded by even a few of our present legislators, the rank and file of our Indiana taxpayers and the majority of our incoming House and Senate, as well as our new Governor, are too sane not to see that granting exemption to the above institutions and others similar thereto is sound business sense. . . .

»y nn» SPAIN IS CITED TO CRITICS OF RUSSIA

By L. L. Those who criticize Soviet Russia’s revolutionaries for killing off, and driving out their dukes, lords and noblemen should take a look at the experience of Spain. The peasant revolt in Spain had much the same origin as the peasant revolt in Russia. It was a struggle of the masses to {ree themselves from a feudalism centuries old. But there was a difference. After the Spanish masses had won their freedom and had duly elected a government, they not only pardoned the defeated nobility, but attempted to repatriate them by giving them positions of trust within the government. What was the result of this generous gesture on the part of the peasants? Within two years, the trusted noblemen, such as General Franco, had used their positions of trust to conspire with foreign nations. Thousands of barbarian Moors and ruffian foreign legionnaires were imported by these noblemen to kill Spanish citizens. Hundreds of foreign planes were imported to bomb the homes and possessions of Spanish citizens, Parts of the nation itself were parceled off and given to foreign powers to be exchanged for their help in putting the old dictators back in power. In view of what has happened in Spain, it seems to me that we Americans should form a more liberal view.

The Washington Merry-Go-Round

jd»

—~ *

It Seems to Me

By Heywood Broun

The Christmas Spirit Goes Jusk So Far and No Farther With 'Poker Bill,’ Florida Gambler,

(CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 31.—“Good on the horses and bad on the dogs,” said Poker Bill. I had just asked him the routine Miami question, “How are you doing?” “When did you come down?” I continued,

“Before Christmas,” he answered. “The fourteenth to be exact—the day that Tropical Park opened.” “I shouldn't think Florida would be any good fog

Christmas. I like it' cold, with snow and holly.” “I like it hot or cold,” said Bill. “You wouldn't understand. My mother was Dutch, and we made a lot of Christmas. “Yes,” continued Poker Bill, “you can make Christmas a good day no matter where you are if you have something of that old give-it-to-them spirit. But, of course, it does help to have kids around. That's why it was swell on the beach this year, Al Frusala has the cutest boy and girl you ever saw-—about 8 or 9, I guess. We rigged up a tree for them, and all the mob bought stuff for it. We didn’t have glass balls or tinsel, but Pete Rosenberg had a bunch of losing tote tickets from the Hollywood dog track. They're bright red, and we used them to dress the tree. If looked pretty festive. “The funny part of it was I never had so much luck in my life. I got back almost all the junk I'd bought. I finish up with four neckties, a camera, a kewpie doll and five pounds of assorted chocolates, and, believe it or not, when we're down to playing for oranges and candy canes Benny the Bum deals me a pat royal flush in hearts. It's the second one. I ever held in my life. The last time was in Shang=

o T0EN

a

Mr. Broun

hai, 20 years ago, and I won five G's and lost &

beautiful friendship. ® n =n

“ BOUT 2 in the morning Al says it's time to put the kids to bed, and he goes into the next room. I was almost thinking of turning in myself, but there are the cards on the table, and before you know it we've started a game. It's six-handed table stakes, and we're all friends except one young fellow named Charlie.

“Well, we play along for an hour or so and nobody's

hurt bad, and then, just clowning like, I opened blind

under the gun for $100. This young fellow Charlie | is sitting next to me, and he studies his hand a long «'

time. Too much acting, you know, and then he says, ‘I'll tap you,” and shoves $700 into the pot. made up my mind to call him if I have so much as a pair of treys. I picked up my hand, so help me, I've got four aces,

n # ”

“y WAS just going to take him when I remember that straight flush in Shanghai and how good old Charlie Blake—God rest his soul!—never forgave me for playing a sure thing against him. And as I look down I notice this necktie and I remember it’s Christe mas and four drunks out on the golf course are singing ‘Silent Night.’ And so I said to myself, ‘What the hell, Bill? It only comes once a year’ And I

Well, I've

Bluff is written all over it, but when i

dropped my hand and told the young fellow, ‘You

win.! Of course, he was a fool to rub it in by crows

ing and showing all the crowd that he’s got a busted |

flush.”

‘to do, Bill,” I said. “Being generous never costs anybody anything*

“I think that was a very generous thing for you i

he replied. “We played again two days later, and this

Charlie tries the same thing, but this time he bets

a grand and I've got a full house and it isn't Christe

mas any more. It's Dec. 27.”

—

oa

Administration's Gold 'Sterilization' Move Was Step Toward Keeping

U. S. Out of War as Well as Brake on Stock Market Speculation. |

By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen

ASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—~There was more to the Administration’s gold “sterilization” move than

brakes to stock market speculation.

That was the primary aim. But also playing a big

writer once had something to do with A of possible Japanese landing places In

part in the maneuver was the idea that the $7,000,000,000 of foreign money invested in the United States is a serious threat to the nation’s neutrality, in the event of a European conflagration. / In view of the present powder-keg state of affairs

precautionary measure to avoid United States en-

tangliement explosion occur. e powers would do

resist efforts to curb this war trade and its profits. The combatants, shrewdly playing on economic forces, would offer more tempting in exchange for credits and loans.

= - ” VETERAN members of the Capitol Police force chuckling over a hazing they gave a gul recruit. The rookie was taking his job of protec the Capitol Building very seriously. He was espec concerned over the erection of the elaborate inau tion grandstand in front of the building. He was watching trucks unload great pi lumber one morning when an older member ¢ force approached him. ; “Have you measured this lumber yet, buddy

“Measured it? No. Am I supposed to me: “You better not let the lieutenant know

#2