Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24
OLD MEN IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
An Official Who Wants to Run His
Bureau on Business Principles.

An old man wearing light Office coat was
engaged in earnest conversation the other day
with prominent official in one of the depart
ments. He had the low voice and manner
OF one accustomed by long years OF
service to department life. While one
could see from his appearance that he recog-
nized the superior authority which the man al
the desk exercised, yet it vas evident that he
was trying in an humble deprecating way to
carry his point. Finally the interview was
terminated by the chief turning away with
some impotence at the same time saying,
well We will see about it."
The old man hesitated moment as if he was
gong to say something more ahd then changed
ms mind and shufied out of the room.
The official turned with rather discontinued
expression on his face, and said to a STAR man
who had entered the room shortly before:
That mans case illustrates one phase Of the
dlfhcuitles which have to meet in running the
business Of this bureau"
what did he wantI" asked The STAR man.
REDUCTION IN WORK, BUT NOT IN SALARY.
ooh, he is one of the old clerks" was the
reply. ale has been in government employ
for about thirty years and is receiving the high
est salary paid to clerks On account of his
age and increasing infrmities he Is no longer
q
deal on sick leave, and now he acknowl-
edges, what he never did before, that he
cant do the work. He came in to
ask to be transferred to some desk
where the work was light. I told him that
thought such change would be advisable. but
said that OF course his salary would have to be
reduced said that the other clerks who have
been In the Office for some time and were
efficient received the salaries of the lower
grades because there were no vacancies in the
higher grades. 1t would not be fair. however,
1 added, to make them do the work of the
higher grade while receiving the pay of q
lower grade. The old man was unwilling to ac-
cept the change in his salary. He wanted the
old pay. He said of course had the authority
TO make the change, but he would never con-
sent to il"
Perhaps he is in straitened circum-
stances, suggested the listener, land can't af-
ford to have the reduction made"
Nonsense" was the reply. The has been re-
celvlng good salary for years and has been
careful and has accumulated enough. under
stand, to live on for the rest of his life. But
he don't want to give up what he has got and
this Is not the only instance. l find in
their bureau that the high salaried
places are filled, as rule, with old men who
nave been here good many years. The places
with lower salaries are filed with active young
men, and 1t often happens that they have to do
not only their own work but that of the old
clerks who receive a good deal more pay.
Now 1t seems to me that this state of affairs is
NOT GOOD BUSINESS.
The object of this bureau is to perform
certain very important part of the government
business. If it was conducted on business
principles instead of On sentiment largely
there would be very radical change made
These old men, when they are no longer able
to do the work. ought to step aside and give
the younger men a chance. At least they
ought to be willing to change places
and accept such salary as they can
earn. They have been receiving good pay for
years and no doubt they have earned all they
have received. The government is prompt
paymaster. 1t never shuts down IN dull times
or makes reduction in wages. Year in and
year out it is always the same. In other en-
Payments men have to take the chances, and
this Is an element which never enters into the
calculations OF government employee. As
long as he behaves he is sure of his paw twice
every month"
Il am going to try" added the official. '.to
make a reform in this bureau and see if some
OF the inequalities cannot be righted. l want
to try to run this bureau on business principles.
know that no good business man would ap-
prove OF the present methods.
The official added that he was new to depart
ment life. but it seemed to him that his views
had the merit of being practical. As to whether
he would be able to carry them out remained
to be seen. He also said that when he spoke of
old men he meant inefficient clerks of all ages
and both sexes