New-York tribune., 1909-11-17
HEAR HUGHES AGAIN
At DODGE LECTURE.
Government Efficiency Theme
of GOUernOrs Talk.

New Haven. Nov. 1s-Governor Hughes
OF New York gave the second lecture In
the Dodge series tonight on the topic
Administrative Efficiency" Reviewing
the cost OF government. which is every
where increasing. he emphasized the need
OF better government Poor laws were
blamed by the Governor for much OF the
ineffciency of the present service. The
Governor begged for better pay for public
officials and made plea 20 the Yale UNDER
graduates who go into journalism not To
criticise public officials unfairly. He said:
The actual conduct Of government is the
severest test OF democracy. The surest
test OF criticism has been always that
single individual performs the duties which
he undertakes much better than the gov
ernment q is said that the governments
OF an individual Is more consistent. more
perseveTing and more accurate than that
of a multitude. Relatively, the increased
burden OF governmental work Is heaviest
IN our large cities.
The cost OF government Is increasing at
a tremendous rate. Inefficiency Is simply
waste OF public money; taxation to supply
only causes loss with respect 70 particular
Outlays: 10 prevents progress. Economy -
not "A popular watchwOrd with the peopis
at large. People generally fan 20 appre,
ciate that they are paying the oiiis anu
that the real taxpayer Is not necessarily
the land owner. Thrift in communities 10
just as essential as thrift in the home.
IL seems 20 be difficult for many 20
realize that no one Is entitled 70 oe peld
from the public treasury Simply Tor oe-
ing sober and honest. and that the puDlc
officer is paid for work and the peopie
arm, are emitted d have y well ana S,nSrsnSn
20 efficiency which demand special con-
sideratiOn One is the inadeQuaey OF me
laws. Imperfect legislation frequently
prevents the securing OF benefits 20 which
the people are entitled There has also
been a tendency 10 cripple administrative
officers BY laws that are too minute
It is true that in the unchecked dis
cretiOn of legislatures and administrative
3ihcers ne the Opportunities OF ErshIll.
But we must endeavOr TO md a remedy
against abuse short OF making Official
and administrative power inadequate. IN
stead OF nlling charters with minute re-
strctiOns as TO local administration. there
should be left TO local authorities suitsbis
opportunity TO administer local affairs
IL probably Is the opinion of the aVerags
citizen that the greatest obstacle TO ad-
ministrattve efficiency IS Official cOrrup-
tiOn
+ believe that the grosser forms OF cor
rupttOn are happily more rare. There -
less direct bribery and stealing There
are. however, the influences which are
payment OF private obligations through
official discretion. in permitting infOrm&-
action to those who may profit BY the
knowledge and in making administrative
offices centres OF solicitations which I'M
ply Orlcial promises. Larceny and en-
bezzlement have largely given place To
cOnspiracies.
Akin to these evils IS the blghting in
fuence of efforts to support partisan
workers at the public expense. Partisan
incumbrances 20 a large extent account
for administrative palsy. Public services
Is not an almshOuse. although the manage
ment of almshOuSes Is important
branch OF the administration.
Certainly many public officers are under
paid and work of an extent and quality ~
expected OF them which private enterprise
wouldn't think of attempting TO command
upon like terms. The public can afford 90
paw It's servants decently. In the great
majority Of places I'm the public service
the employment should be permanent.
The obligation Of fairness IN the criticism
OF public officials becomes manifest. Criti-
cism Is the safeguard OF the public. 10
is the life current OF democracy. To create
a disinclinatiOn for public life. 20 mske
men feel that its conditions with regard 20
self-respect and decent reputation are in
tOIerable. leaves public employment tho
more accessible TO sdVenturerS. 10 soldiers
of fortune and to political hangers-on.
Some OF yOu will probably 20 into jour
nslism. You will. I hope. realize the Obli-
cations Of decenCy and honor. and I hops
that YOU will no more circulate an untruth-
full statement or a reckless statement with
regard 70 a public officer than you would
be guilty OF tTeachery 10 the flag in time
Of war 4 man who seeks profit IN the
sale OF calumnies Is the most deSpiCable
OF human creatures The chief safeguard
against inefficiency is accountability 20 the
people.