Evening star., 1920-08-08

der the present system, however, the
chief often enjoys sinecure, his
principal subordinate being the real
executive. The chiefs salary is a to-
tal loss to taxpayers. The time con-
sumed by the President in consider
ing candidates and by the Senate in
debating the suitability of nominees
is not to be overlooked. That large
mum bers of positions of this class are
still linked with politics is a serious
handicap all around. The relinquish-
ment OF patronage privileges would
be of distinct advantage even to those
VINO seem to regard them as a val
uaDle possession, for a political an
polntment usually results in a num-
per OF disgruntled candidates and one
migrate.
1t would be no less sensible for a
private corporation to conduct its
analrs with view to political rather
tnan business reasons than for the
government to do SO. The vital differ
ence between the business of a pri-
vate corporation and that of the gov
ernment, however. is that if at the
end of fiscal year the CORPORATION
finds itself facing a deficit it cannot
call upon the citizens of the country
to meet it through a tax levy. The
ability to do this makes it possible
Tor the government to transact its
business In most unbusineSslike
way. How long will the accepted mo-
tion prevail that in administering
government AFFAIRS practical experi. .
ence in government business is super.
fluous? When will taxpayers awaken
to a realization OF the fact that eff
cheney in government administration
means a saving of government funds ?
1t may be argued that the govern
ment service differs from a private
corporation in that it does not aim
at profits, but surely it should aim
Eat L. ..l~
terprises insureS profits.
* X
There is today no such profession or
career as that of trained postmaster.
collector Of customs,
Trimming for collector Of internal
Public Offices. yspos; wsp snoud or the hike like
not be? Is the Post Office Department.
for example, anything but a large
business institution whose sole OBJ
ject is to collect. transport and dis
tribute the mail satisfactorily at the
lowest possible rates? Why should
there not be a profession of postmas-
ter which might be learned by school
ing in the post office business just as
there is a profession of freight traf-
fic manager, which is learned by
schooling in the RAILROAD business?
To carry the system to a logical
conclusion, when a vacancy occurs in
the position of postmaster at New
York city, which office pays $4,000
year. why should it not be Allied by
the transfer of a postmaster at a
$6,0 900 Office, such as Pittsburgh.
Washington, Buffalo or Cleveland? :?
The public is so welded to the idea
that the Office of postmaster in a par
ticular city rightfully belongs to a
member of that community that ii is
probably not ready to receive kindly
a change SO radical. but II 1t can be
ice will result from an alteration of
methods in the appointment of post
masters the change would doubtless
be acceptable.
It is conceded that the President has
the right to select for members of his
cabinet men who are In every way In
sympathy with his owr policies; pos
sibly q few offices require m2n with
training and experience not obtain
able in government establishments.
1t is further conceded that ii would
be q mistake to ill all supervisory
Offices through promotion, for the oc-
casional infusion of new blood of the
right kind from the outside would
bring into the government service
new ideas from private business and
would tend to promote the spirit OF
competition that 10 SO essential to
the success Of any large organic. .sa,
the federal civil service would be inn
proved from the top to the bottom If
promotion of worthy subordinates
were the rule rather than the excep-
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