New-York tribune., 1920-10-30

had started an investigation with a
view to bringing about this reform,
and had published the partial result Of
that inquiry and its intention to act
upon it. The new party government
found 100000 civil service employees
on the rolls of the government In
stead of reducing the number from the
yer, start there was a continuous ad-
dition to the civil list The last esti-
mate of the Civil Service Commission
indicates that the number is approXi-
matoly G5,000, and the best informa-
ton is that the estimate is more than
1000 short OF the actual number and
takes no account of the almost limitlcss
boards, commissions and specialists and
faddist officials.
Il want to be fair. or course. our
world war machine created the need
for more help in nearly al thc de-
rartments, but since the war tre civil
list has not shrunk even Approximately
20 a peace basis. The Adm 'nistr.tion
IN power seems to be utterly incapable
Of getting back to a peace time basis
Of ~anization, administration and eX-
pendlture.
This not only indicates an unnec-
cssary expenditure of public funds
but it takes out of the ranks of pro-
duction and distribution every unnec
e.saiy employee and adds TO the cost
of living. The amount asked for the
executive departments of the govern
mcnt this year means tax of S02 for
every man, woman and child in the
country approximate $3.50 for every
family of five. No one but the pauper
escapes paying his share in one wa5
or another.
"These are home issues which affect
every one and which need no fore ign
interpretations. They concern you,
&C and a |, my coun"rymen, as vi
tally as to-morrow's breakfast, or the
winter coal. or the price Of shoes and
clothing. They are in fact part Of
the cost Of each Of these items of the
bin Of existence in this land of ours.
Democratic IncapacIty Seen
Take up thu question of government
in any phase. and we find upon the
part Of this Administration the same
incap&city or inoptitude, the same want
Of foresight, the same lack Of practical
comprehension of business as applied
to government. ldealism may be used
in the formulation of policies, but the
application Of policies and their trans
formation into actions is business, and
business is a matter Of systematic ad-
! ministratSon.
I'VE do not care to dwell on the
costly blunders and the unspeakable
waste of the war adm nistration. We
may forgive the aircraft waste and
disappointment in aircraft eQuipm ent
in the war, but we hold to strict ac-
counting for the grievances and fail
ure of two years of peace. We can
forget the unhappy story of unheard
o waste and eXtr9vagancc in seeking
shipping to meet our war needs. but
we do not forgive the utter failure to
meet the opportunities for sh pplng
emlnence in peace. The failure Of the
81 tipping Board. the astonishing inasil-
ty to meet the surprising OpportuntN
OF all time, is the ou.cta1dlng proof
OF incapacity to meet tho call OF the
new order in the world.
"N { need rctrcnchment in cNpcndi-
lures. We need efficiency in govern
ment. We want to unshackle business
from It's burdens Of taxes, heavily anl
incquitably aud unsclentiiicaNY imposed
! We want to establish our lines OF trans
: port and communication on q basis
, which will make them adequate to Tho
: ever increasing demands Of our de
, velopment and needs. We want an edu
catlonal system which Will offer free
, opportunity 10 every aspiring mind. wt
=, want a policy of social justice whici
viii be q response to the Sermon OF tn,
Mount. We want an American mer
chant marine which will carry Amer
can products in American bottoms un
der the folds of Old Glory to ever,
port in the world; we want an agricul
tural development which Will furnish
: food in plenty and find profit and pleas
ure in the doing; we want high stand
!. ard of living based on q high rate Q
wages, honestly earned and reaectcl IL
high production and protected agains
unfair competition of foreign good
= produced under inferior working condi