The Washington times., 1913-12-28
THE PRINTING OFFICE AGAIN.

For heavens sake" said visitor in The Times
Office yesterday, don't stir up this Government Print
ing Office patronage any more until we have time
to get few more people Offices. We've just got to
have EN-" f..
The speaker was politician of some local note /;
man of the kind that helps "the boys get jobs in
consideration of political support
He knew that conditions in the Government print
cry are rotten so far as concerns the application of
the merit system, and admitted it.
But the boys want the jobs, and they're entitled
to EN-" he persisted. 'The Republicans always
filled the place with their people, and we want some
of those jobs now for our people
The Times, with some knowledge of printing Office
affairs over considerable period of years. is con-
vinced that the place never quite so partisan, so
utterly one-sided, as today Still, that's in some wise
matter of judgment In the olden times it was a
convenient hangup for political jobsters Con-
gresham with needy constituent in town was able
to interest the Public Printer and get his man on
some sort of roll long enough to get him out Of
town. leastwise, that what used to be understood
about the Office in the good old days." 1t hasn't
been so ree-and-easy in latter years, and that's
largely because the civil service law has compelled
betterment of conditions.
Public Printer Ford, who is insisting that all
changes have been and are being made on efficiency
basis alone, should get his political friends to do bet
ter team work with him. Our political friend with
the plea not to stir up" matters until few more
jobs can be pulled down, and his frankly cynical ad
mission that it's all politics, and always was-he isn't
Zee Sfenu with prh1sc
having Mr.. Ford insisting on the merit and efficiency
ratings while any Congressman one sees will ex-
plain just how to get into the place If he's all
right and has the proper backing
The prntery always has been hotbed of politics,
and Public Printer has been without his troubles
in this regard. The politicians are ravening crowd
who think they simply must have something; and the
only way to satisfy them is to convince them that
the civil service regulations mean what they say.
1t would be easier for the Congressman them
selves if they would stick together with an agree
ment TO ask nothing from the Public Printer
Every time one man gets job through some bit
of sharp practice, crcumventon of the purpose
of the civil service law, it helps break down the con-
sttuents confidence that civil service legislation
means anything at all.
The Public Printer will do we'll to ponder one BIT
of advice He has not been in Office long. Perhaps
he doesn't know the history of Public Printers be-
fore him who have taken the Office into partnership
with the politicians Therefore it may be worth his
while to know that no Public Printer ever emerged
with credit from that sort of combination None
ever will.
1t easier, Mr.. Public Printer, to say mo" few
times to the politicians than to yield all the time and
get into trouble over if.
You will be good fellow with the politicians you
manage to favor but you will be sustained by
the President who gave you the job, in violating the
spirit of the civil service law. Better keep on the
right side of the law and the President