Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-03-09
Daily
Editorial
Digest
(Title Appld for L. s. Pat otf)
Edited by the Washington
Feature Service
DAVID LAWRENCE. T. :,
THE RED TAPE WORM
IN WASHINGTON

Out of the mouths of Cabinet Of
fcers, safely resigned and therefore
no longer subject TO Discipline, cometh
truth. Such is the comment of the
Washington Herald 0nd3 on the
searching diagnosis of governmental
His made by Franklin X. Lane az he
relinquisehd the interior portfolio.
Too much red tape" is the sub
stance of eX-Secretary Lanes answer
10 the question, What Ails Washing.
ton? Our Capital 10 says us COM
bination of polisi= Al caucus. drawing
ard civil see55 bureau and h.
continues:
at is rich il 7tHms and character.
1t is honest beyond any commercial
standard. II wishes TO do everything
that will promote the public good.
But il is poorly organized Tor the task
that belongs TO it. Fewer men of
larger capacity would do the task
better. Ability is not lacking, but ii
is pressed TO the point of paralysis
because of intiniude of details and
an unwillingness on the part OF the
great body of public servants TO take
responsibility. Every one seems TO
ha afraid of every one The self-p.o-
tectiSe sense is developed abuormal-
" the creative sense atrophies.
While Mr.. .ane does NOT say in
so many words that the government
has become bureaucratic" the New
Work World tDeml thinks that is
the name of the thing which he dc
scribes and condemns. These are
hn ~ i
Tot that indicate the presence of
bureaucracy as unfaihngly in Ameri.
ca as in russia The Idaho States
man tRepl asserts that instead of
oyerStatlng the case, he rather under
states it, but he certainly hit the nail
on the head when he declares that
fewer men of larger capacity would
do better than the poorly organized
army officials WHO now have in han
the conduct OF the government bust
ness. :. One man who has the COur-
age of his convictions and viii take
q chance at making mistake is het
ter than ten meu who adopt the poll
cy OF inactiou and let matters drift
because they dread the responsible
ity OF making decision.
A great cause of The trouble is. aCs
cording To the Philadelphia Inquirer
tRep9. that I'm order to prevent pos
sibe fraud or error we have con
stantly thrown safeguards around az
ton until red tape Is choking all men
save those with courage enough TO
disregard It, and apparently there
are few such in Washington. and
following up the same idea. the
Greensboro Daily News Cnd1 de-
'clares that what America needs 10
learn in governmental policy is 10
pick a good man ard tell him 10 20
10 il. The fact thar office men does
not carry with il responsibility and
opportunity adds the Detroit Jour
nal tlnd. Rep lis one reason why
strong. vigorous men like Franklin
X. Lane chuck Sl2.00o-asyear cabinet
jobs 10 enter positions in the buSi
ness world where there is some on.
let for their energies.
The remedies suggested by M
Lane have the endorsement Of the
Boston Post tInd. pem.L, which sum
marizes them thus
That greater power OF discretion
be given 10 public servants. quicker
promotion or discharge sure I'M
surance on disability. and salaries for
higher officers twice as large as
those now given Above all the man
az the top Should De- free from de-
ts55 and able te devote himself 10
ons OF pla es policies 10 be
~ aNet
= seems TO the Dallas News .Iud
n1 that thts Wr.uS Cabinet OF