The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-09


Service Commission, is greatly interested
in the campaign for higher salaries for
department clerks. Discussing the mat
ter with a representative OF The Wash
ington Herald. he recalled the fact that
the salaries paid are based on law Of
1858. and that the average pay Of the
clerical force had not changed materially
since then.
The clerks work longer hours now
than they did in 1855" said Mr.. Doyle.
"and It costs more 20 rear a family than
1t did at that period. As far as servants
are concerned. the supply was then
greater than the demand, and wages were
comparatively small The wants OF the
clerk were fewer. and were satisfied
cheapIy. He could lay aside part Of his
salary for old age. and still live In a
manner BETTING his station.
4 hardly think the statement that there
are plenty of good men to I'LL the places
Of those who resign Is true The rota-
ton In Office, which ranges from 10 TO .
per cent a year. works injury by the loss
OF the most valuable employees. As a
rule those who quit the service are the
most capable and it is an economic loss
TO drive men Of ability out of work which
they are best htted to perform. It is seY-
eral years before those who are ap-
pointed 70 succeed them can fully replace
them"
Opinions of MIR. Doyle.
Mr.. Doyle's views along this line were
given In more detail in an article which
appeared in the Washington Investigator
last March 1t said in part:
1.-THE notion of public economy has been
strongly impressed upon the popular mind
since the civil war. a further hindrance
to ameliorating legislation has been In
the false view that public office is largely
secured by political influence, and retained
by the same power; that the majority OF
government clerks are incompetent or
superannuated. and many dishonest.
Secretary Garfield, in his last annual
report. said that no one administrative
change was more needed than a reclassi-
fcation Of all the employees OF the govern
ment, and a readiustment OF the salaries;
that II would enormously increase the
efficiency Of the public service, and that
adequate provision should be made for
the retirement of employees who have
given long and meritOrious service. In
government as we'll as in private employ
it Is essential that salarles should be
sufficiently high to attract competent
persons; that promotion should be based
upon merit, and that a stimulus be given
to the best efforts.
Lower Positions Hard to FIJI.
Men Of the higher classes in directive
and technical work are better paid in
private and corporation employ. in pro
portion to the value Of their work; but
the lower grades OF employees are. in
many cases, better paid than in similar
work In private employ. The experience
Of administrative officers and Of the Civil
Service Commission. however. proves that
the lower positions are hard 20 I'll with
persons having the qualifications demand
cd by the departments. because the serv-
Ice is not made sufficiently attractive as
a life career.
There is an excessive proportion Of
declarations OF appointments. a serious
consequence OF which is that the depart
ments are compelled 10 appoint persons
OF inferior qualifications, who are not well
qualified for promotion to higher post
tions. The facts show that, as a rule,
the same character Of service, even where
better paid is more attractive IN Driva p
than in public employ. While this is due
IN part to inadequate compensation. Il IS
also due largely to the fact that the pub
lie service does not offer promising oppor-
tunities for advancement for ambitious,
well-educated young men. such as is Of
fered in large corporations, where, in
time, they can command much higher sal
aries than they could hope to secure in
the government service"