Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-01
ABOLISH RED TAPE
/. is LANES FAREWELL
Retiring Cabinet Member Says
Official Washington is Poorly
Organized.

Washington, March l.--Oficial WASH
inRton, "a combination Of political catI-
Gus, drawing room and cvil-service bur-
rea,is," containing Statesmen who are
politicians and politicians who are not
statesmen" is poorly organized Tor us
task which "fewcr men of larger capacity
would do better"
Such is an epitomc Of the views oi
Franklin IL. Lane. retiring Secretary OF the
Interior. expressed in a characteristic
parting report 10 the President on the
occasion OF leaving public life yesterday
after more than 20 years servicc-tfe
last seven in the Cabinet.
Washington" said tho retiring Sec-
rotary, lis rich in brains and character.
1t is honest beyond any commercial stand
ard. IL wishes TO do everything that
will promote the public good. But 1t Is
poorly organized for the task that be-
longs to il. Fewer men of larger capa-
city would do the task better. ABILITY
is not lacking, but it is pressed 70 inc
point of paralysis because OF an infinituae
of details and An unwillingness on inc
part of the great body of public servants
to take responsibility.
Everyone seems to be afraid OF every
one The self-proiective sense Is devei-
opcd abnormally, the creative sense atro-
phies Trust. confidence, enthusiasm tine
simple virtue of all great business
the ones most lacking IN government or
canizatior We have SO many CHEEKS anu
brakes upon our work that our. progress
does not keen pace with She nation $ re-
q'iirements.
Eve could save money for the gov
ernment If we had moro discretion AZ 70
how We should use that given us. for
tho body of the civil servants there should
be quicker promotion or discharge ana
sure insurance when disability comes. for
tho higher administrative officers There
should be sala les twice rs high as those
now given, and they should he made 10
feel that they are the ones Responsible i"t
the work of the department; the head
being merely an adviser and constructor
of policies.
A. matters are now devised there are
too few in the government whose husl-
ness it il TO phan Every man IL held To
detai Il 10 the narrower view. when comes
too often TO be the department view or
some sort of parochial view We need i"r
the day that is here and upon us men VINO
have little To do but study the problems
Of tho time aud test their capacity nj
meeting them.
ON n word. we need more opportunity
for planning, engineering, statcsinanshlp
above and more fixed authority and re-
sponslmliiy below
Describing the Interior Department
as "an abiding place for group 81 I'M
related Governmental agencies, the re-
firing Secretary characterized Il none the
less rs the most distinctive American 81
ali tho departments and rcvicws hTieitv
the aims and accomplishments Of his
administration. some of the former I'M
realized. Construction OF the Alaskan
railway. opening Of Alaskan coal lands
b, a leasing system, water-power devcl-
opment legislation and leasing system
az oil and mineral lands on the puhlic
domain are enumci ated among the latter,
Alaska, the Secretary thinks, " ham
rored by too much rcd tape IN Wash
ington. which is static policy m many
of the governments bureaus. Alaska, Mr.
lane saws. should be administered nv =
Federal Board in the territory; be rol'ced
nv a constahularv as was Northwestern
Canada. should have her coasts made safe
for navigation and have Canadian musk
OK crossed with the native reindeer 20
furnish a now meat supply 90 the facitc
'paaf