Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-06
rather in the system than in the man who
takes advantage of It's loopholes.
A ReIncIx SurreafcI

rather in the system than in the man who
takes advantage of its loopholes.
A Remedy SuGGestcd.
Whenever a criticism is directed at sys-
TEN there should be remedy attached to
il. Such a remedy for the present i'll was
suggested to The Star yesterday by one
who is familiar with the affairs in the office
of the treasury architect. Said this one:
There is no real necessity for the depart
ment appointing these SuperinteI1dentS Tor
any special building.
They should be organized into perma-
nent corps, with reasonable assurance OF Il
tenure of office during good behavior and
good work, and then assigned around the
country to various buildings, not as perlna-
nent function aries, but as shifting toremen.
as il were, liable to be ordered off to other
duty at any time. This system is in vogue
in the navy and produces the best Of re-
suits. There is no truer saying than that
which asserts that a new broom sweeps
clean, and new eyes more and new
tongues say more than old ones. The first
evil OF the superintendent system now in
vogue Is its political character, AID its
consequent uncertainty of personnel The
second evil is the fact that men are as
signed to certain buildings and kept there
until finished or until there is polit-
ical earthquake to throw them out.
Then, too, there are probably more su-
perirtendents and subOrdinateS appointed
ana provided for than are really necessary.
1t is openly charged that the office force on
any building erected by the government is
out of proportion: that this is the first item
of expense calculated for in the estimates,
and that what is then remaining is allowed
to go to the Ia bor side of the account. With
a semi-permanent corps, such as has been
outlined. this factor would easily be elimi-
nated for any surplus of force would soon
adjust itself with an economical admins
tration, such as would have to be in order
when such system We're put into effect
The example of the navy in this regard is;
valuable. These officials, after being train
ed by the government. are placed on duty as
emergencies may demand. shifted here and
there, and never allowed to become stale
ut their work. Their tours of duty are
made so long that they can become effect
i've, and yet so short that they do not lose
interest in their work. In the course of a
very few years they develop into efficient.
all-round men. good anywhere and always
reliable. SO far as humanity can insure re-
liability"
There does not appear now any reaSona-
bic objection to the scheme thus outlined by
The Stars Informant. If there is any
branch of the gOvsrnE.ent where a strict
application of the principles of true civil
service reform to be applied IL is in
the building bureau of the treasury. which
handles millions Upon millions of public
money annually and makes mars the
architectural beauty of the country. Good
as man may be in his line, he cannot step
suddenly from private life into the public
service and perform efficiently. 1t takes
min, months, perhaps two or three years, to
become adjusted, and then there comes a
whirlwind Of official reverses to sweep him
out aid to sweep Eew n.en in again.