The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-15
OFFICIALS AT SCHOOL.

We very checrfully give place TO the
following on the subject Of public pay
for officials in office while they 90 to
school TO learn their duties:
Editor. The Tribune: have no desire to
enter into any controversy with an editor
IN his own paper, and especially over a
matter OF law construction such as Is tn
yolved in the decision Of Solicitor Nc
Cabc, that il is illegal to pay the salaries
and expenses OF the forest rangers while
they are attending the agricultural col
leges and being Instructed In forestry. Let
II for granted that my friend and fellow
townsman. George p. McCabe under
stands the law and that he is technically
correct In his construction Of IT,
But in your editorial OF February II
you take up also the business and COM
mon sense" side OF the question. You
say;
"Thc principle contended for by Mr.
Pinchot In this matter is not only outside
of the law, but IL is outside of any pos
sibilty OF law. 1t Is a travesty on busi-
ness and common sense, Nobody en-
ploys any one 10 go to school to learn
the duties that he is expected to know
how to do at the time OF his appointment
To introduce the Pinchot theory in the
public service would be devastating to
the public treasury.
There is neither law nor business sense
while Mr., Pinchot is undoubtedly able
TO rally 10 his support a large influence
and following. it seems impossible that
that influence and following could sup
port him in the eXtravagant proposition
that an aDpointee In the public service
Is to be allowed TO go TO school to learn
his duties after his appointment. and
while he is drawing pay for performing
the duties. which In fact he is at school
learning about
Now l beg 10 call your attention to the
fact that Mr.. Pjnchot Is not the first man
to introduce this "theory into the pub
lie service"
The war department maintains West
Point as a place to train officers for the
army. and the navy department has An
napolis, where its officers are educated.
Again, after the appointment of officers
to commands they are often called to-
gcther In cavalry schools" In 'infantry
schools" =" and In exercise called "maneu-
vers" where officers and men are given
additional instruction in their duties
after appointment.
The navy also gives special instruction
in schools for its officers and men, In
fact, the army and the navy never seem
to get through training and educating
their officers and men, and always the
salaries and expenses are paid by the
government.
In the Indian service, a branch OF the
interior department, and teachers In the
Indian schools are assembled at central
points during the summer vacation and
given instruction in their duties. Their
salaries are not stopped and at least
part OF their. travelling expenses are paid
by the government Just such conven-
ton. or school. was held in Ogden by the
Indian service about four years ago,
lasting three weeks.
Now. there are three departments of the
government where such expenditures are
considered TO be business and common
sense" Why not in the forest service.
branch or the agricultural department?
o. A. KENNEDY,
Ogden. Utah. February IL. 1910,
The attempted analogy between the
case Of q civic apprentice being paid
for going to school to learn his work.
and the case Of army and navy cadets is
misft The civil service examina.
tions. in which the applicant is re-
quired to demonstrate his fitness for
the position sought. is the true rule.
The law governs, while reason requires
that an applicant for position should
be competent to fill it. Any departure
from this rule must be for. special rea.
sons and must be covered by law. With
| respect to the payment in the schooling