The Washington times., 1920-07-18
AGAINST ARMY
MEN IN OFFICE
"Reclassificationist" Charges
Civilian Departments Are
Being Militarized.

Charging that certain civilian de
partments OF the Government are
being miiitiarired, and declaring that
-'boots and spurs" are no essential TO
the proper performance OF the office
work of the civil establishments OF
the Government, the latest issue OF
"The observation-disclosures" bitterly at
tacks the placing OF army Officers In
clerical positions while such officers
continue to retain their rank and re-
ceive a salary greatly in excess OF
that received oy civilian employees
performing the same grade OF work.
The paper discusses a complaint
which has been "buzzed" about the
military departments for some years,
but more especially since the signing
of the armistice and the return of a
number OF officers from the field. 1t
is stated that hundreds OF officers
are being assigned to clerical duties,
which practice Is objected to by other
clerks because of the inequality In
salary and the superiority" carried
by the military rank.
CASE OF THE CAPTAIN.
"The Reclassificationis makes
special reference TO captain, until
recently colonel, who was given
clerical position in the War Risk Blu
reau, of which case it says:
THE army regulations provide that
q captain shall command a company
made up OF enlisted men of the army
who voluntarily submit themselves to
military Jurisdiction. When. there
fore, any person assumes to place
captain OF the army In command OF
civilian employees of q bureau that Is
not even connected in any wsy with
the War DEPARTING he is by that
act raising the military above the
civil and assailing a vital principle
Of our form of government
Specifically, the people charge the
Secretary Of War with the duty OF
seeing that the military forces of tn.
country arc properly and lesitimately
employed. This captain Is not prop
erly and leEitimately employed when
he Is permitted TO occupy place that
calls for no military training, educa-
tion or qualification. and that cou'd
Just as well be filled by a person in
civil life as such positions are sup
posed to be filled. as they should be
fiiled, and as they are now being hlled
all over the departmental service at
much less cost to the Government
than what it is paying this captain.
EMPLOYEES NONPLUssED.
"The preservation of the demo-
cratic ideals OF our Government re-
uuires that every position should be
filled from the civilian ranks. 1t Is
destructive of those ideals that the
boots and spurs of militarism should
thus find place Of authority in
purely civil establishment OF the Gov
ernment. and 1t Is a contravention OF
the rights Of the personnel OF that
establishment. many Of whom are
OF Sifu
not understand by what process Of
reasoning they are under the juris.
. djctton Of any officer OF the army.
"Our theory Of Government unques-
tionably Is being violated in this in
stance. and only the snallowest sophis.
try can be offered 10 support an
argument that the law as well is not
being violated
The article continues that mo Of
fcer of the army could be forced to
occupy such position against his
wishes" and suggests that "the cap
tain gracefully withdraw because tho
fair fame of his profession is in
voIvcd.'
CLAIMS LAW VIOLATED.
In conclusion. the Reclassifica-
ZIONIST says: "Under rcclassif1ca-
ton OF the civil service such POSI-
tion (that heid py the chptaih III
question: as this would be specihcaliy
provided for, it's duties described, and
the qualifications therefor stated. The
ouaIif'c ations would not include the
holding OF a commission in the army.
and consequently the employment OF
an officer OF the army in the position
would be uncouivocally violation or
the law"