Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1922-04-12
By EDWARD G. LOWRY
Copyright, Western Newspaper Union

Copyright. Western Newspaper Union
WHY GOOD MEN DODGE
The government service must look
largely to the graduates from colleges
and universities in recruiting for its
technical work. Replies to an inquiry
addressed to some forty; Of the leading
colleges and universities of the coun-
try to discover what class Of men took
civil service examinations, whether
the number is decreasing and. IL so,
the reasons. disclose wildly what the
training schools of technical and scien-
tific men think about the government
as an employer. They warn their
graduates against government service.
and the graduates iced the warning.
Carnegie Institute of Technology
at Pittsburgh, reports:
1t is certainly true that the best of our
graduates are not Interested in govern
ment employment because they feel that,
first of all, it does not pay adequate sal
aries, nor does it offer opportunity for
advancement that private enterprise does.
This spring I interviewed all the men,
bers of the graduat ting class. except the
women, and nonexo of them would consider
government employment, although there
were many positions open. There
are now about 1900 male graduates of the
institute, and I will venture to state that
not more than ten are employed by the
government.
Replies of similar tenor and import
were received from the University Of
Chicago, Leland Stanford university,
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology,
Princeton university, Indiana univer-
sity, and the University of Wisconsin.
Inequality Of compensation Is one
Of the chief reasons that deter scien-
tif1c men from going into the govern
ment service. Congress fixes the sal
aries of most Of the government en-
plOyees. can give concrete illus
tration of how it determines the sal
aries of scientific men.
DR.. Leland 0. Howard and DR.. Ed
ward w. Nelson are two scientists in
the employ Of the government who
have national regulations.
The appropriation bill for the De-
partment Of Agriculture was under
consideration in the house on January
Both, 1920. The secretary Of agricul-
ture had been recommending for five
or six years that Doctor Howards
salary be increased from Sd 500 to So
600. He proposed it again in that
years bill. When the item was eached
In the discussion on the floor, this col
loquy ensued: r ...:-.@-
o. 3
Mr.. Stafford-Mister Chairman, re-
serve point Of order on the paragraph
Is the entomologist whose salary you
propose to increase the same person rec
commended for an increase last year?
Mr.. Lever-Yes; he has been in the gov
eminent service many, many years.
The Chairnlan-I make the point of or
der. '''.
Mr.. Lever-I concede it. --
Mr.. Mclaughlin of Michigan-Will the
gentleman reserve his point of order?
Mr.. Stafford will reserve it.
Mr.. McLaughlin-The committee made
the recommendation to increase the sal
airy $500. took testimony on it and con-
sidered it very carefully. In our judg-
ment the increase in salary ought to be
made for an official who, has been in the
department, as the chairman says, for a
long time at the head of this bureau He
has performed able and faithful services.
The salary is less than that paid to the
heads of other bureaus. We felt. after
listening to all that was said. and with a
knowledge of the work he has been doing
and has done. the salary proposed Is not
too large. -.
Mr.. stafford-How long has he been
there? gt.l
Mr.. Lever-He has been there forty-two
years.
Mr.. Stafford-What is his age?
seventy, but he is still vigorous and able
to do good work. He is one Of the
greatest entomologists in the world.
The Chairnaan-The point of order is
sustained.
Five minutes later the matter of
Doctor Nelson's salary was reached
The secretary of agriculture recon
mended an increase of his pay from
$500 to $4,000. This happened:
Mr.. stafford-Mister Chairman. re-
serve the point of order on the para.
graph. Will the chairman of the com.
mittee inform the house as to how long
this biologist has been lin the service
of the government and how long he has
been receiving the present salary OF 8 800
I on which you recommend an increase Of
$500?
Mr. Lever-Mister Chairman this gen
tleman. whose name Is Nelson, has beer
In the service of the department since
November, 1890 He has served as chie1
field naturalist from 1907 to 1872 and wa.
assistant In charge of the biological in
vestigation. from 1913 to 1914 On Augus
6. 1914. he was appointed assistant CHIEF
/ of the bureau, and on December l, 1916
was made chief Of the bureau. He tool
the place Of Doctor Henshaw.
Mr.. stanord-And the. salary has beer
$500 since 1867
Mr.. Lever-Yes. ss3
Mr.. STAFFORD What il his age?
Mr.. Lever-I should think that Doctor
Nelson il round fifty years OF age.
Mr.. Statford-He is not superannuated
Mr.. Lever-Oh. no: he 10 = very vigor
GUS man. - 4i35 66 5@s
draw the point Of order.