The Jackson herald., 1910-01-27

expect to find the brain worker sur.
rounded by an array of filing sys. ~ 4
tens, desk devices and other para IN
pheEnalia of rapid.fire Office admins. M
tration that would do credit to the NM
most up-to.date capitalist merchant VA
or manufacturer. NkW
Whereas state and municipal head.
quarters in all sections of the coun.
try afford interesting object lessons
as TO the extent to which mechan. I9432X
ical time-savers and labor.savers have Ik3cxn
invaded the conservative sphere of
public anairs the most convincing
proof of the revolutionary influence WH
at work Is to be found at the national W4
seat OF government All branches W3
of the federal government-the ex. M
ecutive. legislative and judiciary dM
have improved and systematzed the ~
handling Of detail under the spur OF EsC
twentieth-century practice and TWEEN. LA.
tieth-century utilities. This Is more f'oT
notable in view Of the oft-repeated 4 SR
charge by critics of the government =
that Uncle Sam, enmeshed in red
tape. countenanced an extravagance
not TO say wastefulness OF time la.
Dor and material In the discharge of his bust.
ness that would not be tolerated in any pri.
vate business
Naturally some sections Of the governmen.
others in their adoption OF business aids and
office appliances For instance, there is the
forest service, which under the direction of
that human dynamo, Clifford Pinchot is the
peer Of any private business establishment in
the country in point of record keeping, ad.
ministration and celebrity in the dispatch OF
business. Some institutions under the gov.
ernment yet a long way behind this prize
example in the matter of Office equipment. but
the point is that practically all of them have
made beginning in the right direction. With
business men and corporation lawyers being
drafted. a matter of course for cabinet
posts and the most important responsible po-
sitions under the government there is every
reason TO expect that mechanical assistants
will continue to make their appearance In in
creasing numbers as aids in the discharge OF
the eyer-increasing volume OF government
business.
The presidential business establishment
for all that a certain dignity must be main.
tained in all procedure is thoroughly up to
date both in methods and equipment, The
rule (and It is by no means dead letter.
that every communication shall be answered
on the same day on which it is received might
be adopted with advantage by many private
business establishments that do business with
far more fuss and fuster than the White
House. A word should be said in favor Of the
White House system of securing the mail at
frequent intervals during the day by special
messenger and having all incoming letters
opened by one man who sorts the communica.
tions and so distributes them among the Office
force as TO insure speedy response. The
White House uses approved card index sys.
tens for considerable portion of its record
keeping and for its very important mailing
lists" including those Of a social nature, car
rying thousands of names and addresses which
are used in sending out invitations for the
card receptions and other functions at the
presidential mansion. Incidentally it may be
mentioned that the card index and its next of
kin, the vertical file installation are now in
practically universal use in the government
Offices at Washington and no factors have
hepea More to simplify the whole routine Of