The Washington times., 1907-05-12


discussed with the greatest freedoI
matte effect, as in the articles by -
year or SO ago. 1t can never becom.
young men are continually entering
they must face the question whether
1 presume that most young men on
entering the civil service are actuated
by the same motive as those taking up
business, a profession. or a scientific
calling. The qualification Of ambition.
fame, power. wealth all loom up In the
distance as possibilities. To the writer's
knowledge, the last inducement might
as well be eliminated at once. No
honest man can become wealthy in
Government employ, and few become
really powerful. Whether one can reach
the same niche in the temple OF fame or
crafty laudable ambition as complete
~ as he may outside is big question.
Will Efforts Be Appreciated?
VIII a conscientious young fellow Of
average ability, by strict application 10
the business at hand. by loyalty, dig
ence. and honesty. make the same repu-
tation for reliability, thoroughness, and
ability in ten or twenty years continuous
service In the Government that he would
in other pursuits? VIII he find his
efforts equally appreciated? VIII ad-
vancement come to him with equal Ger
tainty?
Two Glasses Of Civil Service.
The Government civil service divides
Itself sharply into two classes-the
scientific and the strictly business or
administrative. under which we can
properly include the professional
branches. such as the legal divisions.
Including the Department Of Justice
washington positions only. II the
young mans opportunity IN the Govern
ment is the same as Il is outside the
Government. We should expect TO find
the high positions, filed from below.
1t is all very well 10 hold up 10 view
the comparatively large salaries paid
men in ordinary minor scientific Dosi-
tons and in the clerical classes. Every
one knows that these are usually better
in the long run than those OF equal
rank outside. But what becomes OF
the young man after ne has been in the
Government service long enough To
know something about it, Does ne ad-
vance or does he stay in rut, like the
cog in the wheel?'
Corporations Promote From Ranks.
4 big corporation recruits its leaders
from its ranks, not necessarily from
those OF its own employ. but certainly
as a rule from those Of businesses Of a
similar nature. Many OF our great rail
road presidents began as rodruen.
clerks, and Office boys. Indeed. this is
almost an inviolable rule. A business
would collapse If its executives were
no; men who were familiar with every
detail OF it, who had grown up in Il.
is 1t also the case with the Government?
This is the vital question.
Fair Basis of Comparison.
To get a fair basis Of comparison. we
can take the men in the civil service
who held positions on January 1 1917
equal to or above those Of chiefs of
bureaus. Let us take those who are
mentioned in Who's Who in America
and see how many have grown I'D in
the service; In other words. what. in
the long run, the chances are for the
ambitious youth to become somebody
as Government officer?
II We divide these men into two cro,ins
as suggested shove. we get some high
~ interesting facts In The scient{ae.
branches Il the service Cthe Agric,.l-
tural Department, the Smithsonian. The
statistical bureaus, the Geological Sur
vey, etc.. there were twenty-five men
Of rank equivalent to chief of bureau or
better concerning whom the above data
is available.
Sixteen Entered in Low Grades.
All of these men have seen continuous
service, and sixteen entered in n1inor
positions, only nine having been ap-
pointed to the positions they now hold.
Only one Of these men has served less
than five years, five have served from
five to ter years. Three have served
from eleven to fifteen years. three from
sixteen to twenty years, four from TWEEN
ty-one to twenty-five years, six from
twenty-siX TO thirty years. and three
over thirty years. More than half of
them have served over twenty wears.
and more than three-foUrth, have served
more than ten years. Furthermore.
thirteen of these men were thirty years
Of age or younger ut the time of APP
pointment generally fresh from col
lege) and one was only seventeen.
Scientific Bureau Men.
The heads Of the scientific bureaus
rank among the foremost of scientific
men. To be the head OF such a bureau
means that man is the peer of a head
professor in any university in the land
His work is standard. his word author
ity. His associates are the world e
brightest scientific minds. his position
Is one greatly to be envied
The scientific work of the Government
has made Washington the country
center of scientific thought When we
see that most Of the men who lead in
the city's activities in scientific lines
have started far down the scale. does II
not show emphatically the opportuni-
ties which the young man has in This
branch of the service?
Governments Business Men.
Now let us take up the other branch
the one which recruits the most men
the business and professional branch