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THE INDEX, Saturday, January 28, 1928
F R O M T H E E D I T O R ' S W I N D O W
All liberally inclined persons will hail with satisfaction
the Allegheny County Court decision that a
symphony concert on Sunday does not violate public
decency and does not shatter the spirit of those who
a century ago inflicted us with so-called
Sunday Blue Laws, which politicians for generations
since have not dared to modernize.
It is a miserable minority in the community which
could take exception to a splendidly arranged musical
offering. It does not disturb church meetings
or draw from their attendance. It may, however,
help to build among the people a love for the refined
and make less popular the haunts which gather so
many on Sundays. One pathetic thing in Pittsburgh
is the absence of amusements and orderly entertainments
which will give the working classes real recreation.
There is nothing for the workman to do but
loaf. Speakeasies thrive and are alluring. Blue
laws long have stood as a bar to the working classes.
Nothing is more dreaded by many than a Sunday in
Pittsburgh. Happily, and we fear temporarily, this
situation has been solved so far as orchestral concerts
are concerned. The danger is that an effort
will be to go much farther and make Sunday just
like any other day in the week. We would regret to
see that. Six days are hard enough without adding
a seventh just like them. When the organ concerts
in Allegheny and Schenley music halls were started
there was a howl of dismay from some who felt mat
drawn shades in the homes, cold meals, terrible music
in the churches and all of the gloomy characteristcs
of Puritanism should be the Sunday lot of Pittsburghers.
The organ recitals did no harm. Nor did
the art galleries, museum and lectures. The radio
has modernized the community somewhat and ministers
of the gospel have not been loth to use it. If we
are just a bit conservative in breaking down the
things which our mothers believed to be eminently
correct we will be all right.
Airports which will encourage commercial aviation
on an adequate scale are so badly needed in Pittsburgh
that we cannot too forcibly urge action. The
topography of the district is such that fields of sufficient
extent to permit safe landings are
Airports hard to find. Important mail and commercial
air routes depend upon the
facilities provided. The longer we delay coming to
a decision the more we lose in the establishment of
vital cross country lines. We have bemoaned our
lack of vision with respect to the automobile and we
regret that we did not become the center of manufacturing
for this important form of transportation.
We are now face> to face with a similar situation.
The airplane will take its place as a fast growingmeans
of transit just as did the automobile. We
should be an airplane manufacturing center as we
now are a liberal provider of the component parts
of the best machines. We make the aluminum for
the bodies and the propellers. Our only hope in
attracting and retaining such an industry is to place
at the disposal of aviators and airplane builders
great air fields with sufficient room for the necessary
hangars and machine shops. It may . shock
many if some of our public parks are used for such
purposes but we can conceive of no better use. The
force economies in permanent payrolls. Efficiency is
not one of the besetting sins in public life. The
great opportunity for waste lies where expensive improvements
are projected. It is easy to spend money
^^ of Pittsburgh Life
freely when ample bond issues provide the funds.
The temper of the community is not for any extra­
Published Every Saturdaxj B1
ordinary expenditures at this time. The people of
THE INDEX PUBLISHING COMPANY
Hardu & Hayes Bldg. 233 Oliver Ave.
Allegheny County and Pittsburgh have been unusually
libera] during the last few years and to the cred:t
of the public officials outlining and conducting the
Pittsburgh, Pa.
improvements the money has been expended care­
Established 1895 Telephone Atlantic 5323
CATHERINE M. PATTERSON, Editor
fully in most instances. The city and county . dly
needed some of the public works projected and completed.
As a matter of fact it was a pity that the
WILLIAM J. HATTON, Business Manager awakening of public interest in itself did not lake
place years before when the cost would have been
II a subscriber wishes paper discontinued at the expira­
much less. It is time now, however, to take a bieath
tion ol subscription, notice to that effect should be sent. and go slow. Property values have been raised
Otherwise it is assumed that a continuance ol the sub­ arbitrarily and as a result taxes are on the ascent.
scription is desired.
As fast as Federal taxes go down through the
Subscription price $3.00 the near. Single copies ten brilliant financing of the Secretary of the Treasury
cents. In sending notice or change or address, please and the rigid economy enforced by the Coolidge ad­
send previous address as well-
ministration local taxes have gone up. We must not
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Ollice ol stop in our public improvements but we must go slow
Pittsburgh, Pa.
or we will find that we are unduly burdening ourselves.
We have become extravagant in our desires
Vol. LVII. January 28, 1928 No. 4 for the finest boulevards and the shortest cut? by
way of bridges and tunnels and like the improvident
person we are enthusiastic in our outlay until the
bills come in and the day of settlement arrives. That
day is coming and we might just as well figure out
now when we are thinking of spending so r:"uch
money how our ability to easily pay will be when the
bills come in.
old Allegheny Park would make an admirable .spot
with the adjoining residence districts available for
machine shops and hangars. It may be a foolish
suggestion from a technical standpoint but lc is
worth considering and the public should brace itself
for some such use. Schenley oval has also been
suggested. If it could be used for landing and
launching, why not. We need an airport close to
the business section and we should provide it. Pittsburgh
has a splendid committee working on the problem
and we believe its members are impressed with
the importance of speed in selection as well as wisdom.
The main thing is to establish an airport for
Pittsburgh that will be recognized by aviators,
postal, military and commercial, as adequate, safe
and convenient.
Taxpayers of Allegheny County are torn between
conflicting emotions. They are groaning under increasing
taxes and yet they feel that long delayed
public improvements to give the community ample
opportunity to expand should be made. It
Taxes requires great discretion on the part of
public officials to strike that happy medium
which will permit the city and county to grow and
at the same time satisfy those compelled to pay the
bills. The danger is that vital industries which reach
the point where essential rebuilding operations are
to be made will flee to other districts where conditions
are more favorable. This is no time for reedless
public works. In fact no time is but often, due
to the urgent demands of various communities, improvements
in no wise vital are made to satisfy.
We are at the point where economy in public affairs
should be seriously considered. Taxes are high. In
fact it is admitted that some industrial operations
have found it better to leave. It is difficult to en­
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon again has sounded
the warning that if Federal taxes are reduced to
a greater extent by Congress than he and his subordinate
experts have advised the country is liable to
regret it. In other words, he has reeom-
Patriots mended a reduction which he believes is
all that the probable revenues and expected
expenses will permit after a most exhaustive
survey of prospects through the best possible experience.
Any sensible body of men with the real
interest of the country at heart would heed the advice
of a public official who has so forcibly demonstrated
his wisdom and ability as has Mr. Mellon and
would leave the situation that if there was any error
in judgment it would be that of the Secretary. Mr.
Mellon has pointed out that if certain taxes are reduced
it will be almost impossible to restore them
and that any resulting deficit involving unexpected
tax increases would seriously disturb business
is the answer of these patriots sent to Washington
for their country's good? They proceed to flood
the country in their effort to deceive the people for
political purposes with the silliest misinfor,
about the benefits supposed to be derived from the
tariff by one of the companies in which it is believed
Mr. Mellon is a stockholder. Time, of course,
will prove who is right but the tragedy of it all is
many innocent persons and industries are hurt because
a crowd of farmers, who have done their best
to leave their farms, make a great noise in the national
capitol trying to make the people believe they
are wise men, real financiers and true patriots.