The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-13
WHAT GOVERNMENT WORKERS
ACTUALLY DO


"Invention," The Times is indebted
for a statement Of the case in behalf
Of the Governments employees that is
worth while. It is a different sort OF
statement; one that needs to be i'm
pressed oftener than it Is.
The Government executive force
in Washington, underpaid and I'M
recognized, is one Of the most re-
lmarkable bodies Of men and women
in any employment in the world.
Read these lines from Mr.. o'Brien's
letter and be reminded Of some OF
the bigger things-just few OF
,them-for which the country and the
world are indebted to the Govern
ment workers;
The farmers OF the west know that
the sugar beet industry was estaDIsneu
Through the initiative OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture. At present tnsy
look to this department to relieve the
present fertilizer problem.
| After important Congressional commit;
tees had failed to work out a parcei
! post system suitable to the great dls-
y.
Invented the zone system, whereby the
parcel post was made Immediately pos
sible.
The increasing efficiency OF the
Weather Bureau Service depends TO
Government employees. and as especially
the Inventions OF the present chief
Prof. Charles +. Marvin.
But recently long distance wireless
telephony was made possible through
the high interest and Initiative OF en-
ployes OF the Navy Department.
| One of the most valuable cement pro-
cess inventions was made by Walter
Page. director OF the office OF public
roads. which was donated to the public:
Practically all OF the wonderful
achievements of the Department OF AS
riculture originate in the unhonored and
unrecognized efforts Of Government en-
Iployes;. and yet the prosperity of
lAmerica's greatest industry. that of
farming depends on or Is largely at
fected by thu work OF these men and
women.
Today the whole automobile world is
turning toward the wonderful oil dis
Itillation process Of Dr. Rittman. where
lby gasolene may be more cheaply pro-
lduced and the basis for the elaborate
produced. This process was the product
OF an inventor aided. not discouraged
and dishonored by the Government.
Trace out the details Of the work OF
the really great achievements from the
loriginations of the men and women
working in the bureau. Take the Coast
and Geodetie Survey; the Geological
sus Bureau. or any Federal bureau
which really affects the common people
lin every bureau OF the Federal Gov
eminent workers are quietly striving "a
the implements and methods, and en-.
larging the concepts and knowledge oil
the bureau. Is this kind OF heart-borr
work to be now discouraged?
For years the Patent Offlce struggled
TO retain the members of its examining
corps, and only this year has the Com.
missioner OF Patents been able 20 lay
the basis for a really stable system Of
Commissioner OF Patents made a re
markable appeal to Congress TO d.
lsomething to prevent patent expert!
from leaving the Patent Office and en-
tering the employ of large industrial
II now. after all the years OF patient
hard work an act conceived withou
, regard to the public effects resultinj
from its application. shall be passe,
which will add u per cent to the hour
OF labor and make no compensation
therefor. what prospect Is there 70
holding. the skilled men and technica
, lexperts?
1 predict thatSiarge numbers OF val
: liable technical men will leave the Fed
eral service II the Borland amend
ment 10 passed. They will keenly fee
. the injustice OF an act which dishotor
their public spirit, which would estab
, fish the ideals OF profit-made industr,
for their guidance.
: 1t is worth while to have such a re
hinder of the real character an
t quality of the Governments civi
4 army. 1t performs more real, big
t worthwhile service with less though
0 of mere money-pay, than any othe
e like organization in the country.