Vagabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

They say polite folks in washington never say ,,Thanks a Million" any more. They say "Thanks a BILLION." Just keeping up with the spirit of the times.

**<*

The Congress that just adjo,urned appropriated about nine and a quarter billions of do,llars. But why should we care ? All we've got to do is to pay it.

Reminds me of the colored boy u"hetting his knife on the sole of his shoe, while a big catfish flopped at the end o,f a string. The boy said, "Whatsa matter Mistuh Catfish? Whut you foppin' fo'? I ain't gwine to do nuthin' to ye-jest gut ye."

*:F*

Anyway, the wage and hour bill did not pass, even if the huge appropriations bills did. But it will be back. So will the government reorganization proposition, and the Supreme Court bulge, and all the others. They'll be back. Don't let anyone fool you about that.

There are thousands upon thousands of small and financially weak enterprises and businesses that heave a sigh of relief, however, even if it IS only temporary. Many small lines of business are forced by sheer necessity to pay lower wages and work longer hours than their more fortunate competitors.. How would it help to drive them out of business ? *lr*

And countless thousands of workers who belong for various physical and other reasons to'the "weak sister" class, likewise feel a great sense of relief. The first thing an employer does who is forced to pay more money for help, is to weed out the weaker and poo,rer help, and pack his payroll with the best and most productive men. And what becomes of those others? **rt

What will the lumber business be this fall? That question they are asking everywhere. The definite summer slump that reached from ocean to ocean has put a sharp edge on curiosity with regard to the immediate future. It