The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-16
This Is What All the Treasury
Department Clerks Ex-
pected to Do.
EACH ONE GIVEN A CARD
THEN ASSISTANT. SECRETARY
NORTON EXPECTS TO READ
FROM COMMUNICATIONS RE.
cElvED THE CHARACTERS.

Washington. d. c., Aug. 16.-Charles
Dyer Norton, assistant secretary Of
the treasury. will go down in history
as the character reader Of the United
States government. He bids fair.
likewise, to strip Frank H. Hitchcock
OF the reputation Of being the champ
ion card index man Of the govern
ment service.
SHOW me what man has to say
when he writes and how he writes it.
and will tell you the characteristics
OF the individual" says Mr.. Norton
In support OF his theory the assist
ant secretary has formulated system
OF reports from treasury department
employees which are due to lay open
to him this coming week an extensive
and interesting chapter in human ma
ture. Tomorrow marks the expiration
OF time for Washington clerks hand
ing in the "blue cards. and the white
cards." and 1t also marks the incep-
ton of one of the most remarkable
card indexes that ever has been set
up in government office.
Hitchcock Beaten from start.
Postmaster General Hitchcock will
be beaten from the start, for that in
dividual never had simon pure card
index-only the reputation of having
maintained one in the successful oper-
alton of his campaign for the election
OF President Taft.
CcoroxorX, Nnrfov,c Hh1,,o nordoO oro
destined to contain disclosures OF in
terest, for they will come direct from
the hands of the employee. The
while cards" will come from the chief
Of the bureau of the division and will
contain only what he knows, or thinks
he knows, concerning each person d.
rectly under his supervision.
Handwriting does not figure in the
character disclosure to be furnished.
In fact, the assistant secretary has ex-
pressly ordered that typewriter be
used as much as possible In making
up the reports.
The place on each card where hui
man nature will have its fullest play
is on it's back, where the orders are
'to state briefly any facts regarding
your efficiency and the conditions Of
your work which 1t is desired to
bring to the notice of the department"
Eight lines on a generous four inch
es by six inches card are allotted for
whatever the employee cares to write
on this subject.
One Clerk Simply Couldn't Wait.
As q harbinger of what may be COM
ing In several instances a note has
reached the assistant secretary In
which the writer discloses only that
He Is clerk In the department of In
ternal revenue. This individual APP
parently could not wait for blue card
to convey his criticism. He says:
''Your honorable committee has left
out one OF the most important Ques-
lions to be asked clerks In each de-
partment, especially in the office of
internal revenue. It Is, How much
time do you lose parading corridors
and visiting other clerks. and indulg-
ing in scandalous gossip"
There are upwards Of twenty thous-
and employees in the treasury depart
ment, located in Washington and
throughout the country. The outside
employees are given until Aug. 81 to
present their reports.
Full History Of Career Wanted.
Each will be expected to give his or
ner birthplace. date Of birth, and the
full history Of his or her career in the
service with the changes In salary.
In tackling the important duty of
writing about his or her efficiency,
each employee is directed to bear in
mind that important features OF the
Co., nnll~-