Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-18
Few Get Coveted Positions.

"NO one disputes the fact tnat these
coveted positions In private life are Sc
cured by only a few. and that a large
per cent of workers do not rise above a
mediocre salary, but those few are the
very men whom the government ought TO
secure: under present conditions they are
not attracted to government service. This
10 not because the work is not big and
does not present endless opportunities for
the best efforts of men of nigh degree
of constructive ability. 1t is because
after youth and middle age deVoted 10
the nublic service there is nothing for
man to look forward to except old age
and hard work at probably a reduced
salary or a prospect OF being cropped
without any probability OF securing an
other position. ;.
Is not the case in the navy. Both OF
these services attract young men OF vlgor
and strong mental capacity. partly, OF
course on account OF the glamour "hlch
surrounds the military and naval service
and the patriotic feeling that ones coun-
try may demand the highest sacr1hce-
and this appeals to many strong natures
hut also because Of the fact that the mill
tary and naval service provides COM
petent living for a man during the vigor
Of his years and an adequate pension Tor
him in his declining days.
mo one who has followed the history
Of civil government during the last dec
there is as great a field for the honest
service of the level-headed, sober-minded
man of character in the civil branches or
the government as there is IT. the mill
tary The fact that there is but small
opportunity for the ordinary govern
mental employee to receive the award OF
popular applause should not detract from
the value Of the services which he per-
deprived from the very nature of his
work of one reward which so many men
covet
by the adoption Of a pension system
there is no doubt but that the very high
est type Of men would be attracted to
service in the government, and the gen.
eral standard raised above even that of
today"
Needed Legislation.
Regulation of professional locators Of
public lands and pernicious literature in
relation to opportunities for settlers is
urged by Commissioner bennett in his re-
port.
lowing to the frequency and the serious
ness of the complaints received in this
Office. revealing the injurious conse-
quences and grievOus hardships suffered
by persons who have sought homes on
the public domain. resulting from the
ignorant or willful deception prac-
ticed by persons employed and paid to
secure for them satisfactory locations. it
is believed that the subject is well
worthy of congressional attention. and
for this reason the recommendation of
the former report Is respectfully and
most earnestly renewed, in the hope that
it will not be unnoticed.
"It is also desirable in this connection
to invite attention to the pernicious con-
sequences resulting from the use of the
United States mails for the purpose of
distributing false and misleading circu-
lars, pamphlets. cards and other adver-
| Using matter in relation to the induce
ments and CONCENTRATIONS offered to set
tiers by the public lands in localities
rights and privileges of settlers upon and
entrymen of public lands in those locali-
ties. 1t is not intended thus to refer to
news items and contributions appearing
in magazines and newspapers, nor is it
proposed to condemn the very usual and
which local boomers commonly in
dulge.
What are intended to be reprobated.
however. are those publications prepared.
published and distributed by persons.
firms and corporations engaged In and
Element on public lands in such localities
as they have selected for their operation
In and by which such publications. state
ments and representations are made con-
corning the purposes of the government in
relation to the lands therein mentioned
ileges of settlers upon and entrymen of
those lands, such statements or repre-
sensations being ignorantly or knowingly
false and deceptive.
Lured by Literature.
THE attention of this office has fire.
quently been invoked to literature of this