The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-01
WASHINGTON RICH NV BRAINS
 AND CHARACTER, BUT POORLY ORGANIZED ECRETARY LANE
Heads of Departments Fail in Initiative Because of Fear and Burden of De tails Subordinates Should Handle
y A.,.sIas.s ,r.a

WdSnlnSt0n, FeDruary zS.-O1nc1ai Washington. "a combination of political caucus. drawing room and civil service bureaus containing statesmen who are politicians and politicians who are not statesmen is poorly organized for its task which fewer men of larger capacity would do better
 Such is an epitome Of the views Of Franklin K. Lane retiring secerary of the Interior, expressed in characteris- tic parting report to the President on the ocasion of leaving public life today after more than twenty years service the last seven in the cabinet
 Washington, says the retiring secre- tary. lis rich in brains and character It is honest beyond any comercial stand- ard. It wishes to do everything that will promote the public good But 1t is poorly organized for the task that be- longs to it. Fewer men of larger capac- ity, would do the task better. Ability is not lacking but it is pressed to the point of paralysis because of an infinitude of details and unwillingness on the part of the great body of public servants to take the responsibility. Everyone seems to be sense is developed abnormally. the crea- tive sense atrophied. Trust. confidence, enthusiasm-these simple yirtuse of all great business are the most lacking in government organization. We have so many checks and brakes upon our work that our progress does not keep pace with the nations requirements.>
 We could save money for the govern ment if we had more discretion as to how we should use that given us For the body of the civil servants there should be quicker promotion or discharge and a sure insurance when disability coN3s. For the higher administrative officers there should be salaries twice as high as those now given and they should be made to feel that they are tho ones respon- sble for the work of the department the head being merely an adviser and constructor of policies. As matters are noM devised there are too few in the gov ernment whose business lit is to plan. Every man is held to details, to the nar-s rover view, which comes too often to be the department view or some sort of parochial view. We need for the day that is here and upon us men who have little to do but study the problems or the time and test their capacity at meeting them.
 s.In a word We need more opportunity for planning, engineering. statesmansI1p above. and more fixed authority and re- sponsibility below"
 Describing the interior department as Gan abiding place for a group of unre- lated government agencies" the retiring secretary characterizes it none the less as .'thc most distinctly American of an the departments," and reviews briefly the aims and accom- plishments of his ad- ministra tion. some of the former unreal ixed Construction of the Alaskan rail- way. opening of Aiaskan coal lands by a leasing system water power development legislation and leasing system of oil and mineral lands on the public domain arc enumerated among the latter.
 Alaska, the secretary thinks, is ham pered by toc much "red tape" in Wash inston, which $ state policy" in many of the government bureaus. Alaska. Mir Lane says. should be administered by a federal board in the territory, be policed by a, constabulary as wss northwestern Canada. should have her coasts made safe for navisation and have Canadian mualx-ox crossed with tho native rem deer to furnish . anew.msat suppIy to the Amsriesnis.sien, % che d1velopn.nt oe the fcapitb as an educational center for the country, farms for soldiers ana de- velopment of natural resources. are among the projects Mir Lane leaves be- hind him. and his report argues for the wisdom of their prosecution.