New-York tribune., 1908-12-25
NORK N CITY OFEICES.

The adoption of the time sheet system for all
employees in the city departments is to be
garded with approval and with some degree
of hope as q practical attempt to abate
serious and costly evil. There has long been
reason FOR suspecting a too general prevalence
of Lambs historic rule, TO arrive at the office
late and then make up for tardiness by leaving
early Persons visiting public offices morn
ing hours when employees in private establish
ments have been at work for some time find
many desks still unopened, and in the after
noon. when elsewhere all hands are still busy.
the activities of municipal offices ended for
the day. During that portion of the short
day when they are actually at the scene OF
put8tive duty. many of these placehOlders are
living excmpifcatiOns Of the art Of leisure not
always elegant devoting the time for which
the city taxpayers pay them salaries TO the
artistic trimming of their fngernails. to
watching the passing show before their Office
windows. and to talking of many more things
than those transcendent themes which engaged
the attention of the Walrus and the Carpenter.
There is reason for thinking that the hours of
duty which are nOminally prescribed for
each day are in fact too few. If the city gov
ernment is to be run on business principles It
should he run on business Office hours The
clerks and other employees should work as
many hours day as those do who are in simi-
lar places in private offices. In that there would
be no hardship and certainly no injustice since
in the public service the work is generally
easier. the pay is larger and the tenure of place
Is more secure than in private employment But
while the present short day system is in force
certainly every emplOye should be required to
report for duty promptly at the beginning of
the day. 10 work diligently while the day lasts
and to remain on duty until the very end Of the
day To have short day. anyway to make it
shorter ar each end by arriving late and de
parting early. and 10 da wdle over the work
during that diminished fraction of fraction.
is simply TO defraud the public. TIE evil of It
is emphasized by the circumstance reported
in this city, that many employees thus slight
their public work in order 10 have time for the
filling Of other and private engagements and
by the notorious practice in neghboring city
of delaying important work until the end Of
the day and then getting double pay for re
manning after hours and doing in overtime the
work which should and easily could have been
done in regular hours.
The responsibility for these evils rests pri-
marily upon the heads OF departments II Is
their duty TO see that their employees do their
duties. 1t is we aware. said by some that
the Civil Service system Is at fault since if
encourages the men TO regard themselves as
secure in their places. no matter how they act
That is Il great mistake The Civil Service law
was never designed to keep unworthy or I'M
faithful persons in office, and It can do SO only
through gross perversOn. 1t was meant 10
establish what is rightly and significantly
termed merit system. which means that not
only appointment to office, but also and equally
retention in office depends upon merit and fit
ness There is no legitimate protection for ma
lingerers incOmpetents or drones as the heads
Of departments could speedily and effectively
demonstrate If they had the necessary gumD-
tion and public spirit We shall hope for some
good results from this application or the time
sheet system. and trust that II Will be so on
forced and so supplemented with whatever
rise may be necessary that shall soon he
getting almost As much work from public ON
ploves as is got from private employees on
smaller salaries. n that consummation were