Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-25

- his Job His name is
HhAH Md,o2I oAIUhMIiRAL hIRAL Rear Admiral Nc
Gowan, Paymaster
General Of the Navy, otherwise known to his
subordnates, when the boss isn't around,
as SAMMY" That is, they like him
He worked his way through college and
law school by running a brickyard and
at another period, selling tickets at a
railway station. Then he became news
paper man. In 1894 he received an ap-
pointment in the pay corps of the navy.
He is young-looking man, Is years
old. Twenty years in the service and still
a civilian? Within the bureau of which he
has charge he is addressed always as Mis-
ter MCGOWAN" His is a business Job. That
is one reason. And the other, he is the sworn
foe of bureaucratic aristocracy, with all its
pride and jealousy over titles
In the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts
he has effected many changes in the last
year. These changes are too numerous to
mention; but it is sufficient to say that cor
porations, municipal and business, are COM
ing to Mr.. McGowans bureau to take lessons
in the science of efficient management.
Surely this is gratifying to people who know
something of the waste in expenditures on
the army and navy. The bureau is the busi-
ness office of the navy Also it is the butch
er, the baker the tailor and the grocer
of the navy. 1t saves Jacks money for him,
and the savings bank which it operates has
deposits aggregating several hundred thou
sand dollars. 1t runs great clothing fac
tories in it's own name and besides, is one
Of the greatest purchasing agencies in the
country. Mr. MCGOWAN is somewhat given
to making epigrams in his oral and written
instructions to the force. MAKE II bureau
with small % and Navy with a big M"
is one Of the ideas behind his reforms.
Stopping Meaningless Letter-writing
1t is an interesting fact that letter-writing
in the bureau has been reduced to the ire
ducible minimum. Promiscuous letter-writ-
ing has stopped. The true bureaucrat dearly
loves to write letters. He thinks he is at his
best when he is writing letters for the chief
to sign, division heads debating many of the
letters which take the bureau chiefs sigma
ture. 1t gratifies the soul of the bureaucrat
to grow arrogant and sarcastic in such die
tation. Nothing of that sort is tolerated by
Admiral MCGOWAN. He insisted that letter
writing be reduced to a minimum and that
nothing unkind or contentious be put into a
letter especially to another coordinate bu-
reau. After his first general remarks on the
subject he followed 1t up with an "intra-
bureau order" beginning:
Don't write at all unless you have some-
thing TO say; and, having said It, stop.
And ending as follows:
Don't write anything that has the least
semblance of infcting a punishment or of
encroaching in any other way on the proper
rrerogatives of any other bureau or office.
The legitimate function of this particular
bureau is to supply the fleet and to account
therefor; and any attempt at aggressive ex-
panson must of necessity have the effect
of crippling work. and to that extent
weakening the navy II being fact beyond
hat min h.,ol
there is plenty of 1t TO take up all time.
Another efficiency expert can be found
out in Dayton running a town. He is
H. M. Waite. The work ne is doing as city
manager is being watched with interest all
over the country and would be watched with
interest in Europe II Europe hadn't too many
other things to think about Just now What
kind of man is he? Not of the good fellow
type found among politicians. No savoir-
faire. Lean and sharp-eyed, he deals with
his visitors courteously; but, in business
hours, dismisses them as soon as they are
through talking business and while they are
in the office keeps them on the business
track He is no mixer" He looks and acts
like a man who has a big engineering Job
on hand-and that's what he is, a civil en-
gineer.
Tale of a Phonograph
also engaged in the promotion of efficiency,
is Robert w. Campbell, attorney of the Ini-
nols Steel Company and former president Of
the National Safety Council. He Is, 1t may
be added son-in-law OF Judge Gary OF the
United States Steel Corporation. The "safe-
ty-hrst" movement, in which he is so active,
appeals to him as being closely related to
the development of good feeling and CO.
operation between employers and employees.
He has helped apply its principles in the
businesses with which he Is himself con-
nected and has added preaching to practice.
And thereby hangs story Of a phono-
graph Mr.. Campbell was doubtful OF his
ability TO put the facts clearly and effect
lively before the people he wanted TO reach.
(And a lawyer. too-think of thatD At any
rate. he bought a phonograph and took II
home with him for a specific purpose.
Night after nigh. he followed out that
purpose, talking into the mouthpiece and
then reversing the mechanism. He carefully
listened to everything he had TO say and
considered how he had said II. II there
seemed TO be In the talk any note that would
Jar on any class OF hearers that he intended
later TO address face to face. he made a new
record This method OF revision he kept
up until he was sure he had acquired the
ability OF saying his say on the subject OF
safety First" In manner that would help
gain confidence IN the matter. p. d. p.