Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 October 1943 — Page 8

THE MAYOR TAKES THE HELM N assuming direct control over city hall appointments a Mayor Tyndall has taken a step many of his most sincere “well-wishers have long been hoping he would take. It should tend to decrease the confusion and the clash of interests that has been injuring his administration and

doing the city no good. Without the slightest disparagement of the individuals concerned, it is, nevertheless, plain that an outside “patronage committee” was responsible solely to a party organi- = and not all to the voters of this city. The results of ptm have not all been bad, but they have more thin once placed Mayor Tyndall's administration in exceedingly uncomfortable situations, and on at least one occasion they have threatened vital properties and services that belong to the people and not to any party. The mayor always has had to accept responsibility for these appointments which is primarily responsibility to the people of Indianapolis who elected him. In simple justice he also should have the final word in the selection of the men he expects to carry out his policies.

A PAY CUT OR A RAISE? HE war labor board says its formula offers the average coal miner $10 a week more than his old contract gave him. John L. Lewis says the WLB wants to cut the miner's wage 41% cents an hour. Who is right? _Each is, in a sense. The paradox dérives from conflicting views about portal-to-portal time, heretofore not paid for as such, but which would under the proposed new contract become specifically compensable. Lewis takes the position that since portal-to-portal time would now be paid for as such, there should be a'net addition to the daily vage covering that time (45 minutes a day, by WLB rule of thumb). * But the board holds in effett that portal-to-portal time has been paid for right along; that, although pay was ~ technically based only on hours of actual toil, a part of the $l-an-hour basic wage was really assignable to the ‘time spent in going to and from the face of the coal. Hence

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it proposes what amounts to a rate of 95% cents an hour.

covering both productive work and travel. G. 1 . 8 =» ” 0 = 5 JF the proposed new contract involved.nothing but a recognition of portal-to-portal time, undét the WLB decision the miner's pay would remain unchanged. : The proposed contract, however, involves a lengthening of the work day and work week. The old contract called for a 7-hour day. The new agreement proposes an 814hour day (including travel time). Since the old contract permitted time-and-a-half pay after 7 hours’ productive work, the board will accept such premium pay in a new contract—but only for 45 minutes a day, since the other half of the addition to the work day represents merely a formal recognition of portal-to-portal time, and does not mean more work done than formerly, We will spare you further ins and outs of the complicated argument, except to say that the board's position seems to accord with the statutes, exécutive orders and ~ policy directives under which jt functions. ! But even if there are plausible arguments on the other side, surely the estimated average increase of $10 a week for six-day workers—an increase based principally on 41% more hours of productive work a week, at premium pay— is a solid gain for Lewis and his miners, who have already got everything the Little Steel formula allows.

TO PRODUCE MORE PLANES BRITAIN, Russia and the United States dominate the skies on every fighting front, and the best way to ten victory is to increase our airpower superiority. So thing in the whole war effort is of more immediate imnce than to speed up the production of bombers and ating planes, : . Fortunately great strides have been made in the last mth, since inauguration’ of the Byrnes-Baruch plan rai htening out the manpower mess in West t plants. duction is now at the rate of 8000 planes a nth, and Ag—and the planes are Neavier and more efficient. . The essence of the Byrnes-Baruch plan was to place responsibility in the communities where the planes being produced, and to remove the conflicts in Wash1 icies 50 as to give the men on the scene a free

® . um : which has already shown such good was further. implemented this week in the tent of War Mobilizer Byrnes regularizing draftprocedures for West coast aircraft workers—to ) into the armed forces on a basis of planned and permit the industry to maintain pro-

oyers and the responsible army and navy officers have been directed to classify all workers as or “irreplaceable,” and to make out

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which will stick before the |

but it doesn’t seem fit, But I know didn't originate in the syndicate, if the Red Cross means to suggest, T merely complied with Mrs. Roosevelt's wishes. same syndicate handles my copy, Carlin, the manager, would never take i fo suggest that any of his trained seals sh 8 week's or a month's royalties to this or that charity or causes So that part seems to be mere stalling and filling, and absolutely irrelevant. f Vn

‘Does Interest Rate a Bomber?" THE NEXT sentence says “Mrs. Roosevelt has

rooms and frequently offering her advice and commendation on Red Cross activities.” * There are several angles in that one. First, honorary means complimentary, or for free. Mrs. Roose velt is honorary chairman by virtue of the e returns which are strictly political, whereas the Cross is supposed to be strictly nonpolitical, had better be again. “Has always taken a interest.” Does everyone who has always taken a keen interest rate a personal army bomber, with necessary escorts and 40-Some thousand gallons of gasoline? ; “Visiting chapter rooms and frequently offering her advice and commendation.” Was this, then, a reward for past visits to chapter rooms and advice and commendation? It was supposed to be a service mission. What actual service was performed? 3

‘Looks Like Personal Reward’

“SHE HAS also done personal service through knitting sweaters for sevice men and garments for relief through the Red Cross.” . That also is past performance and its mention further suggests that this trip was a personal reward, but furthermore any knitting factory could duplicate these sweaters and garments for foreign relief in five minutes. How much Knitting must a girl do to rate a 26,000-mile trip in a private bomber? Count up, girls, : - “During her visit to Great Britain last year” which also consumed ‘a vast amount of fuel for planes and automobiles, Mrs. Roosevelt “surveyed virtually every Red Cross club and many aero clubs,” and “brought back to Chairman Davis many sound Jecommendations for which he and other officials of the Red Cross were grateful” ' No doubt; no doubt. But doesn't the Red Cross have regular, full-time operatives in the field who could do that visiting, and make equally sound recommendations? If not, what ails the Red Cross, anyway? Fortunately, nothing ails the Red Cross that couldn't be cured by a little integrity and independence of politics in the Washington headquarters, For the first time it has been exploited for political and personal intentions, but the people won't take their resentment out on the Red Cross and those whom it exists to serve,

We the People By Ruth Millett

WHEN I wrote about grand- % mothers being needed in industry * 1 received a number of letters from older women saying they had tried repeatedly to get jobs—but without success. The letters all had one thing In common. They said they knew there were jobs they could do and do well. If they'll just hold on to that belief in themselves and in their own ability, they'll get Jobs eventually. And If they need some encouragement in the meantime, they can remind themselves of the experience of James Rhodes, 62, of Des Moines, Iowa.

Can't Be Choosy

MR. RHODES said that when the United States employment service classed him as “unemployable” he didn't believe it, and so went out and got himself two jobs, and is now buying a war bond every month. However, there was another thing in most of those letters that wasn't so encouraging. They said, “Of course, I could probably get a job doing this or that—but I want something better.” An older person who badly needs a job can no more afford to take that attitude than can a young person. When you're looking for work you can't always

get what you want, or what you think your brains.

and experience entitle you to. You often have to. what you can get. “The man who got two jobs affer being classified as “unemployable” probably didn't get the kind of jobs he started out looking for. But he is employed, and well enough employed so that he can lend Uncle Sam a little bit every month,

To the Point— gu SES Tr LY

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+ (Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because of the volume received, letters should be limited to 250 words, Letters must be signed, Opinions set forth here are those otf the writers, and publication in no w

“NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HOLDING PAY” By OC. Martin, Indianapolis Industry is working an extreme hardship on the working class by holding back two to three weeks pay on new employees. For example, «4 neighbor of mine with a large family was forced to quit his job because of ill health. Later he took a job in a defense plant. Due to the policy of that company of holding back two week's pay, it was a month before this man received another pay. I know for a fact there was very little food in this man’s home during this period. This raises the question of the fairness of this policy. I can see no Justification in the industry holding and using money that rightfully belongs to their employees. Obviously when this holding back policy was adopted the employees’ welfare was not considered. According to the modern speed-up method of making out payroll checks and the surplus of office help in the factory offices, thousands of checks can be made out in a few hours. To my estimation if the employer had hig. employees’ good at heart, three days should be ample time for this holding back.

sw » “ALL THIS LEGAL ANARCHY IN OUR OWN STATE” By Guy D. Salles, 5801 Woodside dr.

Enlightenment and intelligent action will come from The Times’ exposure on {illegal arrests. Noble Reed's article and the editorials are very interesting and throw the spot light on the performance of people whose actions and conduct in public places are similar to questionablé characters. This issue reminds me of what the late Supreme Court Justice Louis D., Brandeis, recorded in one of his books, “we live in a state of legal anarchy.” He was a good lawyer and capablé jurist of the highest repute. At gud I gleaned this information. e state board of health was the first board that could issue a decree that had the power”of law, and then enforce the decree by their own ‘police powers. The supreme court upheld their au-

Side Glances=By Galbraith |

opinions by The Times. Times assumes no responsibility for the return of madus scripts and cannot enter. correspondence regarding them.)

thority, because of public health and safety. Today we have the alcoholic beverage commission following suit,

automobile owners’ insurance law which confers police powers, right to prosecute, judicial and legislative authority upon one man who is appointed by the governor, the commissioner of public safety. Under this law, he has the authority to

state, ’ cited into a J. P.. court—it mandatory upon the

which you hold three years residence. 4 In Indiana it is not criminal to

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he Hoosier Forum 1 wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

no law. He told me 1 women can do more armed forces in this post than)’

gear which made

safe landing of our airplanes on the decks of mod

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The latter was “presented to the government-—-nos sold to the government.”

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| Built on Cost Basis

THE LETTER explained that the 14%.acre Ine dianapolis plant was built on a cost basis without fee and operated at the start without profit. It alse cited Barnor Farms, opposite the plant site, as ane other employee welfare activity, : That many cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts do contain “bugs” has been pointed out by Rep. Louis Ludlow Indianapolis Democrat, who has introduced a bill ban them in the future. Mr. Ludlow cited the case of $391.86 charged the government by the Brecon Loading Co, Talladega, Ala, for a barbecue for employees. He cited what Comptroller General Lindsay Warren | to say about that, ; : Disallowing the payment, Mr. Warren declared: uise Spa “This office is not unmindful of the lc : An ‘impro the existerice of harmonious relations between ¢ |. fireplace. Lar contractor and its employees and of the connection ~ earmations, vic and antique 1 ~*~ .The bride . orchids and n "halo in her h | 8 taupe hat a ~ cattylea orchic ” ~~ Attending Pantaer, Robe! shaus and Duc + Schneider and ec The recept . Mrs. Gallahue her wedding tr brown orchid

THE 1} . PATRICK 1 noon, of the . to Edward Dr. F.

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In. Washington

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30.

-| Advertising to Tell Story

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