The Washington herald., 1920-01-04
Civil Service Tightly
Bound With Red Tape

will not have-a family of five to sup
port Perhaps not. but on the other
hand it might be remembered that
the budget, as outlined. is on a charity
basis and is far removed from the
scale of living suggested by the Blu
reau of Labor. Even the charity bud
get far exceeds the maximum of $40
allowed under the retirement bill.
To government business itself the
employment of the inefficient and SUI
perannuated is OF far more vital
economic consequence than the well
fare of the individual. important as
that is. Although disputed as a party
principle, it is admitted on every hand
that the government cannot or does
not run the business of the country
as economically as private enterprises,
except in some instances where star
walton wages figure. Should the
minimum wage of g be made a law
it would probably add SIS. OOO, 900 to the
District of Columbia pay roll. The
correction of abuses in salaries. posi-
lions and methods OF administration,
it is believed, would directly and in
directly, save a greater sum to the
government
Paying on Merit Basis.
members of my staff, increase salaries
and add few capable men and can
do the work Of my department much
better than II is being done now with
. per cent less help said a division
chief in one of the older departments.
Il mean by this that the employees
would be paid what they are worth
to the service. Promotion should al
ways be an incentive to better and
better work and not as it is now,
where statutory prohibitions chain
a man to his desk for long stretches
of years without a chance for ad-
vance"
The executive just quoted was one
of the optimistic kind. Now give ear
to this from another and he from a
department nearly as hampered as the
older ones:
THE program of the Reclassifica-
ton Commission was put before me
and we filled out the QUESTIONABLE.
he said. Recommendations for i'm
proving the service were asked. I sug-
gested certain things, among others
a minimum salary Of about 81, 800. But
what Is the use? 1t will never amount
to anything. The whole scheme will
be chloroformed on Capitol Hill.
Il don't know what the commission
will recommend but 1 do know that
politics will be the deciding factor.
Congress does not want an efficient
government and the whole thing is
up to Congress. II 1t did we would
have had modern methods long ago
but with every Informative measure
somebody's OK is sure to be gored.
1t is hopeless, absolutely hopeless"
Expert In His Line.
The man who gave voice to the
above is considered one of the ablest
men in his department. He is a
graduate from one of the biggest
western universities and an expert in
his line. He has been in the bureau
for many years.
II have some men under me-" he
continued, who will not be with us
very long. They have had occasion to
bump up against business men while
IN field service. One already has had
several offers. He was offered three
times the salary that we are permitted
by law to pay him. The fact that they
have stayed as long as they have is
the marvellous part of 1t and this goes
to show that the average government
employe is loyal to the core. II he
were not We would wake up some
morning without a corporaPs guard. /"
And, what Of the future?" was
asked.
Just simply that Washington, be-
sides beng the Nations Capital, will
also be the center Of mediocrity," he
answered.