Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-21
THE BUREAUoRAr AND REFoRM.

$3.50 "OA "%A ~ SS u u AI8u a OO"G
OF the Illustrations which he used and the removal OF
P. P. Claxton. federal commissioner Of education, from
his position. No ofhcial statement Of the reasons for Nj.
c1axton's retirement has been made, but gossip attributes
It to his activity in opposing before q congressional com
mtttee, plans Of the administration for q reorganization
of some Of the governmental work. The particular
question ct issue was whether there should be created
q department Of education with = cabinet oncer at ita
head or whether the federal education work should be
made . part Of the proposed department Of Public serv-
Ice. Mr.. Clarion, as . commissioner. Of education had
been very urgent In pressing the creation Of 4 separate
educational department: The administration IL under
stood to favor the creation Of q department Of Public
Service with the educational work included therein. But
Mr.. Ctaxton In the course which he took appeared in
the attitude of 4 public o1acal employed by the admin
stration. opposing . policy, to which the administration
was committed. .
.This seems to- b the popular Interpretation OF what
happened. Whether It 10 correct or Lot, remains to be
seen, but II Mr.. C1a1ton did seek to bring undue influence
to bear upon congress, not only for the preservation OF
the organization Of which he is the head, but for ita
expansion and elevation into a major department Of public
service, he followed exactly the course which Mr.. Low
den declared was to be expected of many officials IN
similar cases. He pointed out that. the public omcial
whose duties are confined to one particular subject tends
to over-enphaMSe the importance Of that subject ana 70
lose his sense Of proportion in consdering that work
in its relation to the general needs Of the community.
For instance, he said that the man who studies the boil
weevil and devotes himself to an investigation OF ita
habits, the injury which 1t inficts, and the means for
checking the spread of the pest, is apt to come to the
conclusion that the boil weevl Is the most important
tAAu8 III II WOElO 4 I'LL II 1CuVlIle9 o I the gov.
eminent ought to be centered on its destruction This
he said is entirely apart from any thought of graf. or
dishonesty of any kind. 1t is simply one Of the elements
in the psychology of the situation and the outgrowth of
u very natural tendency of the individual to become one
sided in following a particular line Of work.
1t was further pointed out by Nj. Lowden, and he
has the background of his own experience in Illionis az
authority. that when a proposal is made to reorganlse
and simplify the activities Of government by combining
boards and commissions which are doing similar work
and eliminating some of them, in the hrst instance, there
will be . chorus of approval. Everybody will be in favor
of the principle, but when 1t comes to the application
OF the principle. everyone will be found IN favor Of the
abolition of all unnecessary boards and commissions except
the particular one of which he is a member. That il
supremely important and must not be changed under any
consideration.
The claxton incident therefore, assuming the popu,a,
interpretation to be the correct one. 10 simply an iIustra.
ton of what Mr.. Lowden said that We must expect when
effort Is made to simplify the operation OF government
The once holder condders his ONCE the most important
thing in the world and he IL inclined to use ali the In.
huence that he can muster to prevent any interference
Governor Lowden:I. do mot Imagine that We may
rely on any international organisation to prevent VA
But the mere fact that Representatives Of the natdon,
Of the world meet in the same room and ut around the
same table to talk things over win be q great hslp. and
. sep in the right direction.
Here it II canning dime, and the price o. .,r.. !,
the lowest In year, Yet. dix months from nav. vhep
somebody says that the price Of sugar il arw,y. 1900
1t canning time. those who hear him win nod Their head,
and admit that Y u true.
The city has . chance to buy tbs audttorium :. .
zeal harEain prtees Il would b . pity II this chanea
shsuld be passed mp through the indifference ~ -. 49,.
20 get out and vote merit Monday.
Lack Of ore ships has tied up I ersat nu.her =
ships q the upper lake ports. The iss fr4dsit thsr. 4
TO 30 eas. tbs more II eoss 10 ct coal beeE. ~ =.
shall ssos b seeding coal
4 : ss...i 2ru's the 3manassnasnt q : saak 1e~aa