The sun., 1909-11-17
HUGHES ON ADMINISTRATION
TELLS or THE EVILS OF roo
MANY ELECTIVE OFFICES.
saw Peoples ERerts to Prevent Despot-
ism Results In Division OS Responsi-
nifty That weakens Government
Don't Seek once. but Ne Ready for II.

nifty That wcakens Government
Don't Seek once. but he Ready for II.
NEW HAVEN. Nov. lo.-Gov. Charles
=. Kuehes Of New York spoke to the Yale
students tonight on Administrative
Effciency.'
His next lecture win be on Political
Psrfies. and will be delivered early in
December. when he and President Taft
como 20 New Haven 70 speak at the annual
banquet Of the Chamber Of Commerce.
He advised Yale men not to run around
looking for political once, but 20 win
succoes In their chosen vocations and
10 be ready for political preferment II
! b came their way.
(. Ee condemned the restrictions imposed
On public officials by political machines
Y and advised the Yale men II they couldn't
net offfce without binding themselves
With promises to follow the dictates OF the
machines to keep out Of politics. Hewent
% In part a. follows:
IAefhciency is simply want OF public
Doney: taxation to supply waste Is moth
: has bat extortion. Economy is not q pop
ular wafchword with the people at large.
Campaign talk about the extravagance
Of government has, in large communt-
ties. q very limited effect. because people
frsnerally fail to appreciate that they
are paying the bills and that the real tax
mayer is not necessarily the landowner
or the one who makes return to the asses
,ser.
But wben they are denied public improve
nssnts 10 which they think they are entitled
I tAey know IL, and II we are to have con-
toneed communities and be free from
diAordeY we must stop extravagance and
careless expenditure and have the public
business properly transacted. Thrift in
communities is just as essential to happi-
,nsss a. thrift in the home.
The people are willing to tolerate In
publio employment what they will not
tolerate In their own enterprises. II a
man Il rated as a good fellow. II he can
not be proved guilty of stealing. IL he is
good father and a kindly neighbor. then
there are many who consider IL a great
Injustice that he should be adjudged guilty
Of Rross waste and inexcusable inefficiency
IN the public work committed to him.
When upon these grounds he becomes
the subject OF criticism. his friends-ex-
cellent persons-will assure you that he
has not got rich at public expense as though
that were an answer
Very likely his pastor will most sincerely
plead for him becausehi private life As
believed TO be without reproach. IL seems
10 be diffhcult for many to realize that no
one 10 entitled to be paid from the public
treasury simply for being sober and honest.
and that while honesty and sobrlety are
essential tho public offioer ia paid for work
and the people are entitled to have it well
ana economically done.
y When proposals are made for amendment
Of the Law the familiar objection is that we
have too much law. Certainly the activity
Of our legislators has appalling results
when we consider the number OF statutes
which each legislative session produces.
and. the extent OF unnecessary legislation
b dcplorable.
:, There 10 too much III considered lesisls-
sinn. and careless law making makes cor
sective legislation necessary.
There is just as much folly in conserva-
tive epigram as in radical watchwords.
One Of the chief causes for prolific legisla-
ton Ia the constant necessity for adjusting
laws to the expanding need OF municipali-
ties that are living under special acts.
Equally we meet the situation by altering
n link in the chain. or by changing q clasp.
which must be changed again In another
year because OF some other exigency.
!, 1t 40 the opinion OF the average citizen
that the greatest obstacle to administrative
effciency IL oficial corruption. There is
iess direct bribery and stealing. Cor
rupting influences have become Tcrc in
sidious, and for this reason are perhaps
more dangerous.
larceny and embezzlem ent have largely
given place to conspiracies and shrewd
agreements for mutual protection and en-
richment. Partisan encumbrances to q
ereAt extent account for administrative
palsy.
Public service Is not now an almshouse.
althoufh the mana cement OF almshouses is
an important branch of administra ton
II N no recommends ton TO an applicant /
for d place on the public payroll that he
can ret no other employment. Ever y
effort should be made to dignity public c
once. Instead Of carpins At the employee
OF the State as one who feeds at the public
CRIB there should be keener realization
Of the necessity and importance Of the
work that is to be done and Of the credit
that attaches to the proper doing Of IL.
But when we come to the higher ONCE .
am not one OF those who think that mere
increase OF salary will prove adequate
solution OF the problem. 1t Ia idle to suppose
that emoluments can be given which can
rival those obtsinable by men OF FIRST rate
ability In their lines OF chosen effort.
Attosneys-0eperal cannot be paid what
b received by leaders OF the bar; heads OF
banking and insurance departments cannot
expect the compensation paid to the presi-
dsnts Of banks and insurance companies:
Judges must be content to serve for annual
pay lees In amount than may be received
h single case by the lawyers arguing
before them.
The public should pay fair compensation
and should not demand unreasonable
sacrf1ces from those who serve IL. but to
attract good men and to secure efficiency
; the honor and independence OF the ONCE
arc Of far greater account than the emolu-
rnentf that attach to 1t.
II IL be understood that the administra-
tive head has proper freedom. that he will
not be controlled by political organiza-
lions. that he will not be required to parcel
out places that he Is free to MI in order to
eatisfy the henchmen of political leaders,
that be can organize his department on
the basis OF efficiency and receive credit
from q public that is anxious to do honor
TO O public off1cer Of conspicuous merit,
there will be much less difficulty in attract
ing men Of distin suished ability as well
as Of the highest character to the service
Of the State.
In considering this question the obli-
CATION OF fairness In the criticism OF public
oftcials becomes manifest. To create a
disipclination for public life. TO make men
fssi that fts condition with regard to seif-
respect and decent reputation are intoler-
able, 70 drive men OF sensibility away
lfa in