New-York tribune., 1910-02-07
IErom The Trihure Bureau.


Washington. Feb. 6.--The determination
which prevails in some quarters to rnisrep-
resent the facts connected with the Bal
linger-Pinchot investigation is strikingly il
lustrated by some of the reports which have
gone out regarding the recent letter of the
Secretary OF the Interior in which he
called the attention Of the committee TO the
inadvlsability of making public the full text
OF some OF the papers called for by L. +.
CLAWS Secretary Ballinger wrote the
chairman OF the committee calling his at
tention to the fact that some of the papers
called for contained information the publ
cation Of which might jeopardize the gov
ernment's cases against the Cunningham
and other Alaska coal claims, and sug-
sestsd that the papers be submitted to the
attorneys for Messrs. Claws and Pinchot
and his own attorney, that all might have
full knowledge of their contents, but that
they might mutually agree on the tempo
rary elimination from the record of those
parts which would aid the opponents Of the
government. This was done, to the appar
entity entire satisfaction of ell the attor-
neys, and there has been sent out from
Washington reports which contain broad
intimation that, actuated by fear or by i'm
proper motives, Mr.. Ballinger sought to
suppress a portion Of the documents sub
n1itted. 1t is obvious that had Mr.. Ballinger
failed TO take the precaution TO warn the
committee reports emanating from the
same sources would have represented him
as sei5ing an opportunity to convey TO the
Cunninghams and other claimants knowl-
edge which they could use TO the injury Of
the government, while people who think
viii probably realize that had Mr.. Ballinger
had anything to suppress he would hardly
have sent the papers to the committee be-
fore making the attempt.
Senator Aldrtcta's proposition for e com
raittee On the governments business meth
eds is strikingly suggestive OF the late Ia
nleared Keep commission, which conducted
an extensive investigation OF the business
methods Of the federal departments, al
though II is probable that the committee
proposed by the Senator from Rhode Island
will enjoy better success in securing the
adoption Of its recomnlendatioas than did
the purely executive body created in the
last administration That there are abun-
dant opportunities for the effective reorsant-
zation OF the methods OF the executive de-
parments is known to every one familiar
with them. The salary rolls OF the depart
naents were created at time when the
spoiIs system had not Yet been replaced by
Civil Service reform, and Congress was
actuated quite as much by q desire 10 make
many places. each paying reasonably
large salary, as by a wish TO secure ef-
fective and economical performance Of the
work of the government. To that desire
is due the number OF places filled by mes
sengers,' grown men who perform the same
services as Office boys in the ordinary bust
ness house, who draw salaries ranging from
$50 TO 500 month, and who are generally
totally unfit for promotion. These are the
extreme cases, hut there are numerous in
stances OF overpaid clerks doing inconse-
ouential work and a considerable number
Of undsrpaid superiors doing highly inapor-
tant work. y reediustnaent of salaries on
a business basis would doubtless make
greatly for economy.
It is the wish and hope OF the President
that the proposed committee will devise &
practicable system Of civil service pensions,
preferab bly, by some method of assessment
whereby the employees will themselves bear
the burden OF the expense. but which will
enable the heads OF departments to retire
superannuated employees without inf1icting
I1ardships which most members OF the Cab
met positively refuse TO inflict. a pronli-
nent member Of the Cabinet declared re-
Gently that he could increase the efficiency
Of his department st least third II ne