Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-20
SHAW'S VIEW OF IT,
Former Secretary Of the Treas
ury Talks on Public Ownership.

Government Employees Never as EN-
eisnt ss the Employees Of Firms and
observation-disclosures Of Office In the
Civil servies Breeds sIiPshod Ways.
There are over 10000 public servants
exclusive OF presidential appolntees'
under the direct supervision Of the de-
partment at the head Of which l had
the honor to temporarily preside. lney
are good. conscientious, painstaklng
body Of men and women. and yet II
the treasury department were pfl
vate enterprise every whit as much
work could be accomplished with
reduction Of one-third in number ana
one-fourth IN the salary Of those re-
naming. This condition Is not TO De
charged to civil service rules ana reg
ulations. OF which | most heartily APP
prove. but TO the inherent nature OF
public service.
Some years ago while walking
through Lincoln park. Chicago mo-
tIced group Of twenty-five or more
men pushing lawn mowers. stopping
10 make some inquiry Of a policeman,
7 innocently asked why the city did
NOT use mowers drawn by horses |
shall long remember his reply: Il guess
You don't live, IN Chicago. do you!
How long do you think the city ad-
minIstration would live If 1t moved
the park with horses
The cornerstone Of the city hall IN
Philadelphia was laid on July 4, 1911.
but the building was not completed
until the first year OF the present cen
tury. The capitol at Albany was De-
gun in the sixties, It was far enough
advanced to he the scene of an inau-
eural bail In the seventies and was
completed. all save the tower, for
which the foundation was found in
suf,cient. in 1899 In the meantime
the two great, political parties alter
mated I'm control. and am told in one
or more Instances four generations
performed work on the building.
The appropriation for the public
building In Chicago was signed by
Grover Cleveland, and about sixty
days ago made final settlement and
signed the draft for the last payment
and was then able TO answer public
criticism because the work had pro-
crossed so slowly with record proof
| that ii had been about as expeditiously
built AZ most structures Of It's charac-
ter erected by the government.
The Harlem river. extending from
| the Hudson to the East river, eight
miles In length, was dredged by the
government to a depth of fifteen feet
in seventeen years.
Now note few instances of private
enterprise In 1904 the Pennsylvania
| railroad began the construction OF twin
tunnels through the mud beneath the
| Hudson river and four tunnels extend
| Ing thence under the city Of New
York and beneath the East river 10
| Long Island City, and now at the end
Of two years feels confident that its
| fifteen miles OF nineteen foot wafer
| proof tunnel Will be completed and in
use within the contract period OF four
! years.
John X. Mcdonald began work on
the subways OF New York in March,
1900, and had nine miles with double
track aud stations In operation in -four
years and seven months.
| These instances illustrate the natural,
the necessary and the inevitable differ
ences between private enterprise and
government work and might he multi.
piled indefinitely.
do not know that can explain the
reasons why these differences must
and always will exist better than to
recite very commonplace experience.
received telegram some days ago from
the cashier OF n little bank In which
| am interested. II read: II am offered
$3.50 an acre for your East Boyer
land. What shall do?" 1 answered
"You know better than | do. DO as
you think best" To this he replied. 81
think the land Is we'll sold" These tel
egrams were not even preserved. But
II I had been acting for the govern
ment I would have had the land adj
vertised for sale, | would have sent q
commission to examine and appraise
II, | would have had not less than two
subordinate officers OF the department
90 through all the papers and submit
their recommendations | would then
have rendered final decision, but
would have been careful TO preserve
q complete record OF everything, lest on
some unhappy day after my retirement
and perhaps after my demise an lnves
tigating committee, appointed per
chance by an adverse congress, would
make inquiry and, falling TO find posi-
tive proof OF honesty, would make
report filled with suggestions of doubt
and that would be quite enough to
brand my name with shame. My sub
ordinates took the same precautions
and safeguard their regulations with
an equal amount OF red tape whenever
| they sell an old horse or WORKOUT piece
OF furniture.
It Is the appropriate function o: The
government 10 safeguard the indivld
ual and to see that the game oil busl
ness is fairly played. that the cards are
held above the table and that every
body Is given a square deal. II Is moi
the appropriate function of the govern
ment to sit In the game.
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