Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-10


to give them the ordinary and prop
thor of this amendment the gentle
man from Missouri (Mr. Borland,
shouts himself hoarse by crying
economy and that we should save and
thus win the war by grinding the
poorly 1Hid clerks and requiring of
them longer hours and no additional
compensation. and in cases where
they are not required by their chiefs
10 remain at their post after the days
work is done fully the eight hours
then they shall be punished by re-
ceivinG no compensation whatever.
1t may be well at the present time
to consi Ter the actual condition of
the Government employees In Wash
ington. Up to the time Of the declar-
alton of war a great many men had
been employed in the Government
service loing clerical work, but the
war has called 10 the service in the
field the young men Of the depart
mcntS. Willie many other male en-
ployces have found more lucrative
employment elsewhere. and OF ne
costly the clerical help Is now being
performed almost exclusively by
women from all over the Nation who
have passed the civil service eXami-
nations.
This is not true however. as to the
heads of the departments. commits
sions. and bureaus Of this city. War
has made a radical change in that
particular. The clerk has not been
promoted except in rare instances
and only where he had political
pun. but there has been appointed
Mt the heads of these great bureaus,
departmrnts. and commissions a vast
army Of we'll known politicians.
largely from the Southland, VINO
know scarcely anything about the
/ duties Of their offices and who are
now drawing salaries ranging from
$4,000 to $4,000.
This army of officeholders has TAX
en- possession Of all the public build
/ ings. desirable business apartments,
and wcil-hghted rooms in this city,
and they have swarmed and over
flowed into the anneXes and extra
buildings erected recently by the
+ Government. No one but those who
are in the secret conclave and at the
council table understand the duties
and responsibilities of these new
chiefs, commissioners. and managers.
The departments have all been en-
larged to make a vast and colossal
war machine. There has been no
adjustment of any old department.
bureau. OF commission. but new war
organizations composed of so-called
war cabinets. food and fuel COM
missioncrs. Navy shipping boards,
aircraft boards. Army departments
without end. new bureaus Of Govern
ment. extra commissions without
number have a multitude of subdi
/ visions almost endless. At the head
of these many departments, bureaus.
and commissions are found these Fat
fellows drawing big salaries. calling
themselves heads of departments.
chiefs Of bureaus, and managers OF
commissions. They are distinguished
from the clerks under them by hav-
ing upon their person the uniform OF
the Army or the Navy. They have
never earned any rank or commission
on the battle field or on the sea in
peace or war. They are, however,
| wearing he Army and Navy bars and
insignia and rank according to the
size of their salaries. no doubt. They
must be called by those under then,
generals. majors. captains. and chiefs
Some of them wear spurs. which no
doubt were won by valiant service in