The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-08-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

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washington, Aug. 25, 1902.
4EWhile 1t has become almost trite to ap-
Ply the word strenuous" to the present
administration, few people realize the ex-
tent to which that quality has entered In
10 the execution of the law in Washing
ton, nor the marked improvement which,
what westerners are wont to describe as
Fshustle," has made In the executive de-
partments. There Is no better exponent
bf this quality in Washington than the
secretary of the treasury, Mr.. Shaw.
Coming fresh from the breezy prairies of
Iowa, with an experience as a western
banker, Mr.. Shaw was aghast at the d.
latoriness with which the work of the
government was performed, and at the
lack OF genuine energy displayed by the
employees of Uncle Sans great counting
house. No immediate change was made,
however, by the new secretary, and his
Bnbordinates began to congratulate them
selves upon having found an "easy" en-
ployer, but the secretary was merely get
ing his bearings. Having gotten them,
he inaugurated a gradual course Of re-
form. Newspaper reading during busi-
ness hours was prohibited. Gossiping In
the corridors of the department was for
hidden to the host of genial and enter
faining old ladies who constitute con-
siderable portion of the working force.
Chiefs were melted to greater effort, and
Iprompter returns from auditors and dis
bursing clerks were required. Finally,
and that quite recently, an order, which
was regarded as almost revolutionary by
the, older employees, was promulgated.
1t stated that all inquiries addressed to
the treasury department., or any officer
thereof, must be answered, or at least
acknowledged, on the day of their re-
cefpt. The CONSERVATION which greeted
the order has, however, changed to ad-
miration for the more businesslike meth
0ds which now prevail. Accurate and
rapid clerks are receiving merited pro-
motion. The public ls getting better SER
Vice than ever before, and there Is. little
likelihood that the treasury department
will ever again slip back into the slow
and unbusinesslike methods which have,
In the past, excited the disgust of every
business man who came into contact
with It. -.s ..-.zs ....
Another department which has felt the
benefit of young and forceful chief is
the navy department. Mr.. Moody is an
eastern man, but he Is business mar
and fearless one. Long familiarity with
the workings of the department., gained
In his position of chairman of the house
committee on naval affairs, enabled him
to inaugurate changes without waiting al
long as did Secretary Shaw to secure q
GrnSp on the situation. Shattering ole
Lens with ruthlessness which
] Used the old employees 10 shudder, The
new secretary has put in force reforms
which from his former position he knew
| ought to be made. Officers who regarded
their influence all sufficient to secure fol
| them, during the rest of their naval ca
reers, pleasant berth in the capital O
the nation have been ordered to sea, ant
the end Is not yet. Mr.. Moody ever
threatens to replace number of turea,
chiefs, who are trained officers, with civil
ians, SO that the officers may be free te
render to their country the special ser
vice for which they have been educated
by the government at great expense
Perhaps the most startling reform will
which Mr.. Moody threatens the tenet
and traditions of the service Is the syste
matte effort which he is making to secur
a modification of the laws, which will ia
cilitate the promotion of non-commis
stoned officers into the line. The difficult,
which is met In the efforts to secure re
cruitsr for the navy, the secretary ha
traced to the fact that 1t Is more easy 70
a. camel to pass through the needles ey
than for an enlisted man to secure com
mission. Such promotions the officer
regard as a violation of the aristocrati
tenets Of the navy They say that onl
gentlemen" should be made officers, an
those will not be found among the enlist
ed. men,. But Mr.. Moody says that
promotion Is made as easy of attainmen
as 1t is In the army there will be man
gentlemen who will enlist and prepar
themselves for the examinations, whic
should be open to every seaman, and ths
those who earn their promotions wi
Prove as well qualified to command as tn
graduates of Annapolis. ''"E
To considerable extent the same spil
ithas infused the department of agricu
ture. Secretary Wilson, who returne
| from the west last. Friday, told your col
respondent that he had secured perfee
organization in his department, and tina
as a result, he was prepared to met
promptly and effectively a new problel
which had been presented for his consie
GRAFTON In the northwest. The secretary
during his western trip, ,einspected larg
fafeaef land In Wisconsin, Michigan an
Minnesota, which has been denuded Of, II
| pine forests by the lumbermen and burr
ed over BY fire. This land is now bein
settled by. farmers, Americans, ,Scand
nayians and Danes, land the. secretar
i fwillimmedfately order the experts Of b
department to examine the district, a
certain the best varieties of grains, gras
es and legnmes for that particular cl
mo 70 orI coil ord ~u}Il vondar ox,onx, n