The Washington times., 1913-12-28
PUBLIC PRINTER
DENIES CHARGES
Ford Says Civil Service Rules
are Strictly Observed at
G. P. O.
CONTINUED from First Page.) }

Republicans. but there Is doubt In my
mind that all Of those promoted were
Democrats.
Politics have had ana will have no
consideration with me, however. Why,
there Is one man, for instance, who. 1
happen to know Is good Democrat be-
cause a Senator interceded and asked
promotion for him. He has gotten two
bumps And why? Because the men
preferred must be efficient.
'I frequently receive letters from this
Senator and that one, Republicans ana
Democrats alike, asking that when there
the constituent named for promotien.
They all receive the same reply, that
if the man is found to be efficient he
will be given the fullest consideration.
IF the chairman Of the Joint Com.
mittee on Printing asked that certain
man be preferred, would he receive
preference" was asked.
mot unless he Is efficient and wen
qualified" was the reply.
Does Not Fear.
"I do not fear and do not feel COM
PEELED to waive efficiency under such
circumstances. Other public printers
may have. I do not know.
1--WE are governed by civil service.
can make no appointment here without
consulting the commission. found this
out when some Of the newspaper boys
asked me to appoint a charwoman- She
was a good, capable woman, and said
I would. When attempted to do SO
/ found that there were over 500 ahead
of her on the civil service list, and that
/ could not appoint except froN this
list In order.
"There have been comparatively few
changes within the office. Much FEWER
than 1t would seem. For instance, The
Thursday. Practically all Of them were
transfers where men were shifted from
Cne division. or one class OF Woih, 70
another Not for the sake Of changing
the. division in which they were employ
cd. and thev were changed to Work on
which there was q rush. In this way
tho personnel Is kept intact. Ther
status is not changed.
No Men Laid of.
"It is absolutely untrue" the Public
Printer said. "that upward Of 100 men
were laid of Friday night. Because OF
the adjournment Of Congress and the
lei -up in work In the night section, they
we're shifted so as to be Kept on, and
were not let out.
Even SO. 1 believe that in an organi-
zation of this Kind changes are benefi-
cial. New men have new ideas. Old
men in a service like the Government
service get into q rut For instance
/ with new departmental chiefs. They
have ideas as to how their work should
| be done. A new man will meet and ap,
preciate these ideas An Old man wouio
] way all these years. and 1t ought to b;
1 GOOD enough for him. A change brings
renewed ne and stirs men to their best
| efforts.
axes to grind. did not know soul ir
! the office. Some of those found here
I expected changes and transfers. dt
Z not know why, or whether II was DO
cause they felt that politics played
Part or for some other reason.
Office In Good Shape.
| The work Of the office is row in the
best shape ever. IF you have doubt o.
this. esk the heads Of the departments
1 men In Congress, or others who have
] their printing done here They are
rratified. Such q man as Senator Smoot
for instance. He is Of the other party
/ Yet T am sure he will indorse the pres
| ent efficiency of the office. We have .
| letter from him commencing the eni'
| cheney of work done for him In connec'
| for with the tariff bill.
| ..I vas put here by the President tC
| run this estab ishment on bushes:
basis, to make 1t the best establishment
possible and at the least cost, and with
! the understanding that IL there are eviis
| here am to abate them. This 1 ar
| doing.
I'VE have happy family here. an
sure that all employees arc contentet
and working hard. Ask them, and the!
n. doubt will verify this. l do mo-
think any of then will lay demotion Z
roIiticaI cause. There is a better feel
ing in the office than there has evel
been.
II take three hours of my time eacf
Tuesday afternoon listening to AM
grievance or suggestion. If employe:
nave either, ] All glad to hear it.
Replies To Question.
flow would an employe fare il, aftel
INQUIRY, ! told you that he had criti
c;sed YOU or your methods" Mr.. Fort
was asked. would he not be dis
| charsed?" =,
No: l should say not was the snil
ling response, IF it could be shown tina.
the criticism was justified. IL 1t wer'
not. II might be different"
Promotions IN the dc Office c are carer Garefui,; !;
rnany instances he said. Il have hat
La man acting for weeks. and evel
rnon;hs, until / vas sure he would maxi
ecc6, before he was made regular
! The new superintendent of work. wilt
was Jumped from s1,600 Job to super
in.cndent of work, MIR. Ford declared Z
lie one of the best men in a printin.
shop in the world. His work show
=" he said, land I never knew him un
iii came here as Public Printer"
..As a matter Of fact" Mr.. Ford con
cjuted. you will find that separation
rom the service have been very few"