The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-23

ing.on National bank of that city. a
position which he now holds. Mr.. Graves
was an excellent public servant. had
marked ability, and his careful attention
TO the mnutest details of his work secured
for him an exceptionally successful career
while in the employ of Uncle Sam. From
the clerkship of 81, 200 he was promoted
through all the clerical grades. In 1S6s
he became chief clerk of the United
States treasury Office: in 1873 chief
examiner of the civil service; in
1873 superintendent OF the national bank
redemption agency: IN 1852 assistant
nlted states treasurer, and in 1855 chief of
the bureau Of engraving and printing. lie
resigned the lass-named position to go 10
Seattle. He thus spent twenty-six Of the
best years of his life in the service of the
government. Politics had nothing 10 do
with his promotions. Taking III view all
OF these facts. it Is evident that there Is no
man in the country better qualified to pro-
nounce an opinion upon the desirabiiity
OF life IN the public service. Just now
what he says is pertinent indeed, as doubt
less the public service is looked upon with
interested eyes by many people through
out the country who are thinking of the
change from Republican to Democratic
administration, which will take place on
the 4th of next March. Mr.. Graves thus
answers the question. Would you advise
young man TO enter the civil service ?"
Most decidedly not. l cannot express
myself more 10 the point than by saying
that should regard it as a great misfor-
tune tor son Of mine to accept 4 govern
ment clerkship. In expressing this opin-
Ion so decidedly l speak OF the average
man. There IS large class of men who,
through lack Of enterprise or self-conti-
dence, are bound TO be subordinate wher-
ever they are. This class is probably bet
ter Oft in the public service than else
where. But | have no hesitation in say
ing that the great majority of the men IN
the departments-the bright, energetic,
self-reliant men, by whom the real, eff
cient work of the government is done
would be much better Oft il they had
chosen some other career. They would
not only be- worth more in pecuniary
way and earning more, but they would
have greater sense of manhood and in
dependence-they would feel, in short,
that they were men. instead of mere parts
OF a machine. One thing 1 must not for
get to say: have now been in private
business for more than three years and
have had an opportunity to compare pri-
vate employees with public employees. The
more see of private business methods
the more deeply l am impressed with the
ability, honesty and integrity of the great
body OF clerks and subordinate officers of
TIC H..
els the disadvantage of which you speak
inherent in public employment, or is it
due to some fault in the SYSTEM"
The fault is largely in the system. The
public service does not offer sufficient
chance for advancement. The range of
promotion for the average clerk is only
from $1,000 to $500 year. He is APP
pointed in the first place at 81 200. and all
he can look forward to at the end of life
time of service is 81 500 a year. Think of
1t! An advance Of only 5000 year as the
reward of a lifetime of faithful! work. L
have often said that our government pays
more for poor work and less for good work
than any employer on the face of the
earth. The duties of the lower grades of
clerks are very slmple-perhaps nothing
more than copying, which the private EN-
ployer would get done for $50 or $40
month. On the other hand many OF the
clerks Of the higher grades and some of
those of the lower grades have important
duties and great responsibilities which in
railroad company or other corporation
would command salaries of s., 900 or more.
OF course this cannot be changed without
a radical change in the law, but it would
suggest a reform which might be easily
made"