New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-26
4 UsEFUL PUBLLC W0RK-

When President Roosevelt a year ago nomi-
mated q commission composed Of young and
active department officials to investigate the
governments business methods, he set machin-
cry in motion which was TO uncoil q vast
amount Of useless red tape and to accomplish
many sweeping reforms in public administra-
ton. The time was ripe for a general over
hauling Of the departmental service. That ser
vice has been in a great measure a random
growth. Offices have been created year by year
as the business Of the departments has ex-
panded. Congress has dealt with each demand
for Increased force or pay on fits individual
merits, and established no standards applica-
bic TO all branches Of the department service
Consequently methods, compensation and Office
traditions have varied widely IN different de-
partments, and even in different bureaus of the
same department. Economical administration
was impossible so long as no fixed measure Of
cost was recognized and a let we'll enough
alone" spirit discouraged invidious comparisons
between the more efficient and less efficient
branches Of the service.
As President Roosevelt put it in his speech
the other day to the members of the Keep
commission, there had never been made before
"a comprehensive, systematic effort to put the
countrys housekeeping in order" Nobody had
tried to deal with the department service as
unit or TO organize it on a practical business
basis. But that work has now been seriously
begun The Keep commission has so far made
only a few preliminary reports. But the abuses
it has uncovered have led to a notable develop
ment Of the critical and reforming spirit, and
the House Of Representatives is also showing a
commendable readiness to root out anomalies
and irregularities which have hitherto passed
muster as privileged by long standing custom.
In one field of investigation the Keep commits
sions work has already borne fruit Its report
on conditions in the Public Printers Office forced
a change in manag cement there and the initia-
ton Of a policy of rerenchment which viii re
duce the governments annual printing bill by
more than $1,000O00 The abolition Of separate
supply bureaus, purchasing supplies at varying
rates; the prevention Of duplication in work, and
the standardization of salaries will also save
many millions now wasted, while regulations for
retirement for ICE will not only save something
in salaries but viii increase the efficiency Of the
working force by from % to so per cent.
curious instance of the anomalous condl-
tons obtaining in the government service was
brought TO light the other day in the House
Of Representatives. II was shown that the Cap
itol policemen, all doing the same work, are
divided into three classes, the first drawing
more pay than the second, and the second more
than the third. Vacancies in each class are
filled by original appointments. and no trans
fers or promotions are permitted. A policeman
in the third class may, therefore, serve twenty
years and be drawing 5000 or $500 less salary
than some fellow bluecoat just appointed TO a
higher class. Nobody seemed to know how this
system originated or why it was continued.
In the same way telegraph operators in various
branches Of the service, doing the same work,
are paid on a perfectly arbitrary basis. In one
department the compensation may be twice
what it is in another and clerks working side
by side may be getting three or four different
rates Of pay. There is an unusual opportunity
for useful public work in turning chaos into
order in the government service, replacing the
lax traditions and methods Of forty years ago
with a system fully adapted to modern require
ments.