Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-19
Employment for Washingtonians.

Employment for Westinghouse.
However rapid may be the development
of the Greater Commercial Washington it
Is evident that the growth of the Greater
Manufacturing Washington must in the flu
turc as in the past be gradual and unos-
teutatiOuS. Only those who have stuuied
the detailed census statistics of manufac-
lures realize the number of Washington
residents, outside of the government serv-
ice, who are Classcd by the national census
as manufacturing employees. The local man
ufa"turns establishments though numer-
Gus attract little attention because as a
rule they are small and comparatively
smokcess.
For a city to make notable and rapid ad-
vaaccs as tine center OF great manufactur-
ing Industries it must have a local senti-
mrnt strongly favorable to this form of
municipal development local financial sup
port for successive industrial ventures and
TIL" good will and sympathetic co-opera-
Ton OF the local legislature which taxes and
may exempt from taxation. Considerable
Roadway has been made in convincing the
people of the capital that certain manu-
featuring development IS entirely consistent
with retention by the city of the resden-
tial attractiveness which is it's most val
liable material municipal asset.
II Is agreed by very many that the water
power of the Potomac may be safely devel-
oped to the fullest extent and that there
may be established here to advantage
an unlimited number of light and clean
manufactures like those which make
Paris and Vienna busy and prosperous
without detriment to the external attrac-
tivencss al these beautiful cities. While no
one is willing to admit a readiness to con-
TAI
there are a number who contend that some
portion of the business advantages of Pitts
burg's factories may be safely enjoyed by
Washington by the strict confinement of
factories and their smoke to dtsigna ted sec
lions or zones remote from the residential
quarters. But while there may be room
for the contention that local sentiment ap-
proves or tolerates a certain manufacturing
development, it is as clear MONDAY that
the other two requisites for conspicuous
and quick success as a great manufacture
ing city are totally lacking. Washington
money is not a rule willing to invest in
new Washington factories. and In lieu of
the sympathetic cooperation of Congress.
the taxing power, an antagonistic sentiment
Is met.
Most of those who favor every local in
dustrial project which is consistent with
the preservation of Washington's charm
as residence city hope by this policy to
broaden the painfully contracted oppor
tunties of gaining a livelihood at home
that are presented 10 the growing youth of
this community No campaign for the
public welfare is of more Importance than
that which so shapes local conditions that
more of our boys may earn living at
home and not be eXiled. Results in this
campaign may be accomplished by opening
new workshops or by throwing down bar
rers which shut out Washingtonians from
employment in old workshops Viewing
Uncle Sam as a local employer. Washing
ton IS already a great factory town. Some
of the government bureaus (for example,
the bureau of engraving and printing!
factories of the ordinary type; and all of
the government departments, the great
workshops OF the capital city, employing
some @jton hands and heads. are the direct
and unmistakable substitutes for the fac
tories OF the average American city. The
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES law. which bars
from the classified service all Washing
tonians in excess of quota based on the
relation Of the population of Washington
TO that of the United States, in effect shuts
out The local youth from these local work
Stops. The government disCourages new
Washington workshops as threatening the
capitals residential attractiveness anu its
advantageous financial relations to the ma
ton. and at the same time closes the old
workshops To the people of the city. Wash
IlErOuIans must go out of Washington to
secure employment in Washington. Else
where the employment of the local youth in
the local workshops is favored and fos-
t,'eB in the interest of economy efficiency
and both Industrial and community pros
Tor.ty The government workshops are it
IS believed. the only factories in the world
~ which employment OF the local COM
mUnIty is discouraged by law.
Tile apportionment-of-oh law keeps
alive the very spirit and essence of the old
spaEs system. 1t is a standing contradic-
iuH of and reproach 10 the principle of the
m-Ii, system. The spells system openly
distributed the Offices among the national
legislators. each legislator being held per-
suua'ly responsible for the merit and fitness
NJ hIs aprointees. Under the appOrtion-
ment-of-gffces law the clcrkship spoils are
divided among the several states and the
absence II gross undtness is ascertaned by
competitive examinations. Why should not
the nation as an employer carry the merit
system TO its logical end? Why should
the" Sam in choosing the fittest American
on his merits 10 fill a classified position re-
strict his range OF choice by inquiring
whether the applicant is from Wyoming or
Massachusetts, from Texas or the District
81 columbian Why not eliminate this faint
surviving from the spoils system and give
10 the people merit system of appoint
mcnts which, relieved Of bogus and incou-
gruous features, shall be genuine, consistent
and IN all respects whulesC me-