Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-01
LANE DEPLORES LACK Of
ABILITY IN WASHINGTON
Retiring Cabinet Official Declares
Men OF Larger Capacity Arc
Needed in Administration

WASHINGTON Feb. 29.-Omciai
Mashing;on. "a combination OF pot it,
ca tancnses, drawins-room and civil
service bureaus containing statesmen
who arc politicians And politicians who
ere ere Het : stn;tcsmon is poorly organized
capacity would do better
such is an cpitomc OF the views OF
Franklin X. Lane, retiring Secretary
OF the interior. Expressed in a character
istic parting report to tho Prcsidcn,
on the occasion of leaving public life
today after more than twenty years
scrNIcc-thc last seven in the Cabinet
Poorly Organized.
Washington" says the retiring
actcr. It is honest beyond ANY CON-
inrrcili standard It wishes 40 do
r,,E"rythins that will promote the pub
for the task that belongs 10 it. Fewcl.
men OF larger capacity would do the
i En. oGtier Ahility is not lacking,
aEsls because o. an in:initude OF de-
tails and nnwiiiinEness on the par, o.;
Take srf h r rSspo Of pnhic ssrynt TO
seems TO be afraid OF every one The
sti -prot"ctiNc sense is developed alb
! Tr%rniaily. the creative sense a;roph!es
rust c"nildcnce, enthusia sm---iheSc
s;npel virtues OF ali great business@
arc inc ones most lacking in govern
meni organization. We have so many
checks and brakes unon Uu.. worI, chat
our progress does not keep pace with
Inc nations rcnu!rementS.
49, Discretion Is Lacking.
we could save money 70" tho gov
cVhnent II We had moro discretion as
10 now w." should use that given us
For the body ot the civil servants there
should be quicker. promotion or dis
SnarEe anu ii sure insurance when dis
b; a., rd,yy CONES ms For the higher admin
drieS twice as nigh as those now given
ana thcy should be made TO feel that
,neS arc inc ones responsible for the
being merely an adviser and a con
struci3r OF policies. As matters are
nov nov asyis.d there are too few in The
government whose business il is 10
pldn ENcr| man is held TO details
20 the narrower view. which comes too
o enre To- be the department. view or
Tor the day that is hero and upon us
mon who have. little TO do but study
The problems o. tho time and test their
capacity at meeting them.
In a word We need more opportuniry
s s6T p ahna.ne: ensincering. statesman
ana responsibility below"
Lnuds Interior Departments.
as an ah;iin the INT, interior Dcpar,men
unrelated governmental ueoncics," the
retirinE secretary characterizcs it
Spns the less 3 rs the most distinctly
reviews briefly the aims and accom-
piishments of his administration, some
o. o., tne nc ,SamSr mnrealiznd. Construc-
OIL Alaskan coal lands b. Il leasing sys.
tenn. water power development lcgisla
ton and a leasing system of oil and
mineral lands on the public domain
Nlaska. the secretary thinks. - ham
ncred oy too much rod tape" in Wash
:nston. which is state policy in
MANY OF me government bureaus
Alaska, Mr. Lane says. should il, ,,l
m niStered By 81 Federal board in the
territory; be noticed by u constabu! ary
as was Northwestern Canada, shoul d
nave her coasts made safe 70" nay!gu-
tion ana have Canadian m'Ssk OK crossed
WIKI thc native reindeer to furnish
:" nov meat supply to the Pacific Coast;
america nization. the DEVELOPMENT; o.
INC cap'ta! as an educational center
Tor ;hc country. farms FOR soldiers and
development of natural resources arr,
among me projects Mr.. Lane ieavcs
oehind MIN. and his report argues for
me wisdom OF their prosecutions