The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-12-08

gagged In gainful occupations. A liule
while ago, when the number Of federal
employees was even larger than II Il
now. one person out Of every 0s In the
United States who had any sort OF a
JOB Mt oil was working for the govern
ment. These calculations are based
on recent estimates Of the bureau OF
the census in anticipation OF the re.
suits Of the fourteenth general census.
Prior 20 the outbreak OF the war.
In 1914. the number OF men and women
In civil positions In the executive
service was approximately 1856. $3.50. In
1916 II had grown to 30s.s32. In 1917.
after our entry into the war, II was
45o.TDS. On June 80. 1919. the number
was 70T,44S The number on July 81.
1920. was 001.110.
These figures are confessedly ND
proximntions. Since the signing OF the
armistlce the number Of federal en-
ployees has been decreasing. I'm.
doubtedly the decrease IN force will
continue to be made for months to
come. but the growth OF the govern.
ment business In the past few years
has been such as 90 make II a larger
employer IN the postwar period than
II Ind ever been In the pre-war period.
These thousands OF men and women
working for the government comprise
every type Of ability and intelligence
Their duties cover range Of activities
that fnr exceeds that exercised for
other public or private employers; for
besides Its task OF lawmaking and law
enforcing. Of national defense and
national finance. the government Is
charged with promoting the health and
welfare OF It's people. OF promoting
their home interests, their agricultural,
mining, manufacturing. shipping. fish
Ing and transportation interests.
To do this II must investigate, con-
troll and eradicate diseases that attack
persons, plants and animals II must
inspect livestock. foods and drugs. II
must study conditions and progress in
education. labor md commerce. 1t
must prevent Individual men or groups
Of men from using unfair business
methods, whether H. banking. trans
portation. trade or manufacture.
The government must administer
public lands and the Affairs OF the
Indians, and educate children In
Alaska. II grants patents Of lnven-
ton, II sets the clocks OF the country.
forecasts the weather. and makes
observations OF the stars and heavenly
bodies. II constructs buildings. docks
roads, bridges. irrigation works, builds
canals and aeroplanes, makes
ordnance and ammunition, clothing
and other supplies for It's soldiers and
snilors. II makes all It's own money
and does all It's own printing. It dis.
tributes nll mail and many packages.
The government does everything
that any employer In the United States
does, In addition to great many
things that no other employer does.
How does II treat Its people? Is Il
good employer or n bad employeri
Are It's employees contenied? These
are questions that should advise the
rn!lroad men, the miners and other
workers who seek naturalization OF
Industry. TO look into before they com.
nit themselves.
Lee them find out for themselves
what government ownership would
mean tn them.
The first thlng they will discover, rs
] discovered when began the present
Inquiry, is that nobody knows. and
nobody In the government service Is
charged with knowing. the exact
number OF employees in the service
from day to day. Even more astound.
Ing, nobody knows, or Is charged with
knowing. even approximately, the sum
OF the payroll OF the United States.
II Is not possible to find out within
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars how
much the United States pays yearly
or monthly In salaries and wages |
went to the Treasury department. 10
the appropriations committee OF con.
gress, and elsewhere where I Thought
the Information might be lohged. but
nobody knew. | was told vaguely that
the government was not run on an |
asset and liability basis, ana therefore
IL was not necessary TO knO,y the exact |
number OF employees on the payroll. |
II the average compensation Is ST.
100 the federal civil service payroll
now amounts 10 more thnn seven
hundred million dollars'nnnually. The
largest single branch IS the Post ONCE
department, with nearly 100000 en-.
ployees. The War department has
more than $4,000 civilian emp orees |
the Navy department about 10000. nnd.l
the Treasury department about 60 600
No other branch has as many as $4,000 /
employees. Any Institution THAT en-
ploys one In seventy-three " MI this
country's workers and calls for the
expenditure OF such large tirt OF
our nnnunl revenues Is entitled 10
your serious co leratlon. You and
you alone nut up the money.