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Editorial
April 8, 1933
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes government bureaus for perpetually seeking more funds, predicting bureaucratic expansion and bloated payrolls. Mocks the Woman's Bureau's proposed studies on women's employment issues as frivolous, warning of increased laws and taxpayer burden.
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THE HUNGRY BUREAUS
It is a chronic condition that the work of government and state departments, bureaus, commissions, boards and what not are "hampered for lack of sufficient funds," according to their reports.
We wonder what would happen if each of these innumerable tax-spending agencies were given "sufficient funds," according to the ideas of the bureaucrats in charge of them. Our guess is that half of the population would be on federal, state and local payrolls within a year. One person out of every ten is on such a pay-roll now.
One needs only to read one or two of the current bureau reports which clamor for more funds to get an idea of the crazy research fads which are sought to be promoted and extended. For example, the Woman's Bureau lists a few of the "most important" subjects which a waiting world is dying to have investigated, as follows:
Surveys, studies and information concerning the employment of married women; employment in plants using poisonous substances; investigation of the piecework system; a study of posture while sitting at work; a study of women in professional and semi-professional pursuits; the effect of fatigue on production and on the worker; and, of course, an elaborate preliminary investigation of the best methods of making these investigations. These, the bureau says, are only a few of the great, vital problems. Dozens of others should have prompt attention if funds were available.
Then the results would be printed in great volume perhaps, and that would be the end of them. Of course, congressmen might read them in order to get ideas for a lot of new laws, requiring still more thousands of public officials and employees.
It seems that no bureaucrat ever investigates the effect of all this on the taxpayer's pocketbook.
It is a chronic condition that the work of government and state departments, bureaus, commissions, boards and what not are "hampered for lack of sufficient funds," according to their reports.
We wonder what would happen if each of these innumerable tax-spending agencies were given "sufficient funds," according to the ideas of the bureaucrats in charge of them. Our guess is that half of the population would be on federal, state and local payrolls within a year. One person out of every ten is on such a pay-roll now.
One needs only to read one or two of the current bureau reports which clamor for more funds to get an idea of the crazy research fads which are sought to be promoted and extended. For example, the Woman's Bureau lists a few of the "most important" subjects which a waiting world is dying to have investigated, as follows:
Surveys, studies and information concerning the employment of married women; employment in plants using poisonous substances; investigation of the piecework system; a study of posture while sitting at work; a study of women in professional and semi-professional pursuits; the effect of fatigue on production and on the worker; and, of course, an elaborate preliminary investigation of the best methods of making these investigations. These, the bureau says, are only a few of the great, vital problems. Dozens of others should have prompt attention if funds were available.
Then the results would be printed in great volume perhaps, and that would be the end of them. Of course, congressmen might read them in order to get ideas for a lot of new laws, requiring still more thousands of public officials and employees.
It seems that no bureaucrat ever investigates the effect of all this on the taxpayer's pocketbook.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
Government Bureaus
Bureaucratic Spending
Woman's Bureau
Taxpayer Burden
Research Fads
Public Payrolls
What entities or persons were involved?
Woman's Bureau
Bureaucrats
Congressmen
Taxpayers
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Bureaucratic Spending And Expansion
Stance / Tone
Satirical Criticism Of Government Waste
Key Figures
Woman's Bureau
Bureaucrats
Congressmen
Taxpayers
Key Arguments
Government Bureaus Chronically Claim Insufficient Funds To Hamper Their Work.
Providing Sufficient Funds Would Lead To Half The Population On Public Payrolls Within A Year.
Current Bureau Reports Promote 'Crazy Research Fads' Like Studies On Women's Employment And Posture.
Woman's Bureau Proposes Investigations Into Married Women Employment, Poisonous Substances, Piecework, Posture, Professional Pursuits, Fatigue Effects, And Methods Of Investigation.
Such Studies Result In Voluminous Reports That Inspire New Laws And More Public Employees.
Bureaucrats Ignore The Impact On Taxpayers' Pocketbooks.