The Washington times., 1911-07-02
A CONCRETE ILLUSTRATION
OF CIVIL SERVICE CRISIS.

tration of the. utter impossibility OF
present civil service conditions, for
which the Government clerks owe him
gratitude.
Being a humane man, who has dis
covered in private business that
it is worth while to treat en-
ployes like human beings-unable to
convince himself that the Government
service ought to be a lifelong progress
sion toward old-age starvation-the
Secretary has attempted to adjust his
department to a theory compatible
with these sentiments.
The legerdemain necessary to accom-
plish this result deserves the consider
alton of Congress. 1t is a disgrace to
the Government that conditions should
make such jugglery necessary.
Every year, in adjusting the force
to the service, some positions are abol-
ished by Congress. Some others are
created. There is also a pretty con-
slant proportion of designations, and
there is an increasing proportion of
cases of clerks becoming inefficient
through age or other resaons.
Yesterday, the beginning of a new
fiscal year, the department had to ad-
just itself to new laws. Congress had
abolished 269 Treasury positions. The
old clerks must be turned out, or pro-
vided for elsewhere. If the Govern
ment were utterly cold -blooded, this
condition would naturally be met by
dismissing the least efficient clerks.
But in most cases these would be the
oldest employees, most entitled to be
cared for and least able to got new
positions.
Secretary MacVeagh has not had the
nerve to do this, and the disqualified
tion does him credit. So he has adopt
ed this policy:
Anticipating that at the end of the
year there would be such a list of peo.
pie turned out, he has Saved up the
vacancies" That is, he has not made
promotions or appointments to posi-
tions vacated by reason of deaths, res
ignations, dismissals, etc. The work
has been shouldered on the remaining
clerks, doubling up their duties, or let
ting business suffer.
Then, at the end of the yaer, the
clerks legislated out of office, or who,
by reason of ineffciency, must be as
signed to easier. work, are sprinkled
around through these ssved-up yacan-
cies; each dropped into the niche which
he best fits.
Salaries have to be pruned. Square
pegs get into round holes. But starya-
tion of the old clerks is avoided.
This system operates to suspend, in
considerable part, the routine of pro-
motions. A 81, 400 position becomes va
cant, and the 81 200 clerk next in line
wants and expects it. He doesn't get
it, because it must be saved up till the
years end for a clerk higher up who is
to lose his place.
Inevitably this dispirits and demor-
allies the whole corps. The younger
men and women want to get out while
they are yet able to command positions
outside, and in increasing numbers they
are doing just this. From top to bot
tom disaffection, fear, and jealousy
honeycomb the structure.
The Times has urged in season and
out that this condition is both inhu-
man and unbusinesslike. 1t would not
be permitted in a great private bust
ness.
There should be provision for PEN
sioning and retiring clerks grown old
in the service, and giving their posi-
tions to those who have earned them.
The whole complex organization should
be rearranged with reference to the
value of services rendered, and with
view to such system of retirements
and pensions. Some salaries are not
earned by those who draw them. More
are inadequate for the services rem
dered. Throughout there is atrophy,
dry rot, stagnation.
It is condition that would not be
brooked by the stoekhlders of any pri-
yate corporation. They would fire