The Washington times., 1914-05-22
FAVOR BETTER TREATMENT.

here Is remark Die crySIaillzdlloI.
O sentiment throughout this country N
lrCr of better treatment of Govern
MT employees" said President Russell.
Washington has been stirred by the
snissal from the City Postoffice of
-hteen veteran employees, thrown out
.tly because of old age This was 60
: on while Congressman on Capitol
al we're expressing sympathy for the
VII service employees. but what We
: I'd is less sympathy and more action
one prominent legislator up there
as qGoted in the papers today as ad-
eating a maximum tenure OF hVS
y arS for Government clerks. l hope
: o papers have done that gentleman an
8 justice. Just think what would hap
80 if any large business concern an
D. .Gnced il intended 10 train employees
3 rr .IS work. but il intended TO let them
. after five years. 1t would not a'trace cl
a. lis service any efficient men, nor
E. bUld it get results from the constantly
? ifJing force"
Employees of Uncle Sam. in Mr.. Rus
. u opinion, never can hope Tor re-
f., ,.ss so long as they are unorganiZed.
The men at the heads of these de-
J lartments have but four years TO serve
I'D they must make records for econ
Uny and efficiency, principally Tor
,.unomy, while they are in office. They
aeirieve economy at the expense OF the
,Ivil service employe. We are not
= Key to see the spectacle OF these men
.rrliJeratsly urging Congress to increase
= - appropriations for their depart
l.ents merely SO the pay rolls may be
swelled.
Gag Rule Removed.
But, thank Heaven, the gag rule which
SO long existed has been removed, and
We are free to go to Congressman and
put our cases before them. It was
2 uprising that, in this free country, a
-ystem so long was tolerated by which
Government employe not only was
Jisfranchised but by which he could
not hope to consult with his fellow en-
Uloyes and go in groups 10 present his
-rieVances.
But now the great mass of voters,
- well as Congressman. are being
ought to realize that Government en-
loyes are lot parasites, that they are
not underworked and overpaid, but
that. on the contrary, they are parts of
a great machine, that the good of the
service depends upon the humble civil
service employe, that without them the
great administrative machinery of the
Government would creak"
\ slightly higher wage to start with,
followed bv stagnation and no chance
q promotion, is the history.
a young man with ambition, lured
on by the attractive initial salary, en-
1ers the service believing his promotion
VS. dependent only on his own efforts,
and that his limitations are bound only
y his ambitions. He soon finds out
nat such is not the case. that a barrier
Is set uD for him. that the good
positions now are by political
Z rom competing for those even by the
,Ile against his participation in poll
t.cS.
Then. too. an employe is robbed Of
his earning capacity by working for
the Government He does highly
to sell what he has learned while
for the Government, in some
other market. he finds ii is not worth
r cents elsewhere. He either loses am
ticn and gets into rut. which is
d enough. or he gets out if he realizes
..ss condition before il is too late. and
.. tnat case the Government has had
. q expense Of breaking him in, but
'psss his services. That is mighty poor
b -siness.
Hopes To Raise Service.
at is our hope to raise the civil
Eerv &C to the point where it is pro-
.ssion. We hope to see the day when
b. clerk may enter the Government sell
v.Ce with a career ahead, without the
city ammo yances and fears that now
sssail him. and when he may feel as
grcG Of promotion in his prime and
Gstenance in his old age"
.~ecretsry Llewellyu Jordan, in his an
r al report, reiterated the belief OF the
tssoc alton in "au adequate waSe scale
no an equitable contributory plan OF
.eLircmeut." On the iatter point the as
ycistion is at odds with the National
q ssociation of Civil Service employees
v hich is lighting for a stra ght pension
~ without the contributory feature.
& resolution was introduced b" Harry
Z. ycrs, chairman of tire resolution COM
gEttre. thanking The Washington Times
rr IT, efforts on behalf OF the Gov
-fumCUt clerks.