Alma record., 1922-03-09
BY EDWARD C.LOwRY
C0pyrlsht. Western Newspaper Union
XIII.
WHY GOOD MEN DODGE


The government service must look
largely 10 the graduates from colleges
and universities In recruiting for lis
technical work. Replies 10 an inquiry
addressed To some forty OF the leading
colleges and universities OF the coGn'
try 10 discover what class OF men took
civil service examinations, whether
the number is decreasing and, II So
the reasons, disclose viyidly what the
training schools Of technical and sclen'
tific men think about the government
as an employer. They warn their
graduates against government service
and the graduates heed 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 IL does not pay adequate sal
aries, nor does II offer opportunity foT
advancement that private enterprise does
This spring l interviewed all the mem
bers OF the graduating class except the
women, and none OF them would consider
government employment. although there
were many positions open. There
are now about 500 male graduates of the
institute and l will venture 10 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 uniyer
sity, and the University of Wisconsin
Inequality OF compensation is one
Of the chief reasons that deter scien
tific men from going into the govern
ment service. Congress fixes the sal
aries of most of the government em
ployees. l can give concrete illus
tration of how ii determines the sal.
aries OF scientific men.
DR.. Leland o. 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 OH January
30th, 1920. The secretary OF agricul
ture had been recommending for five
or six years that Doctor Howard !
salary be increased from $500 TO So,
600. He proposed IL again in that
years bill. When the item was reached
in the discussion OH the floor, this col
loquy ensued:
Mr.. Starord-Mister Chairman. re-
serve a point OF order on the paragraph
Ia 10 aYfA nln oil 81 xsyhA allp
propose TO increase the same person rec
commended for an increase last year?
Mr.. Lever-Yes. he has been In the gov
ernment service many, many years.
The Chairman-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-I will reserve IT,
Mr. McIAughlin-The committee made
the recommendation 10 increase the sal
airy $500. took testimony on it and con.
sidered IL 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 or this bureau. He
has performed able and faithful services
Tie salary is less than that paid 10 the
heads Of other bureaus. We felt. after
knowledge OF the work he has been doing
and has done, the salary proposed is not
too large.
Mr. Starord-How long has lie been
there?
Mr.. Lever-He has been there forty-twc
years.
Mr.. Starord-what is his age?
Mr.. Lever-Over sixty. perhaps nearer
seventy. but he Is still vigorous and able
a
greatest entomologists in the world.
The Chairman-The point of order ia
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 10 $4,000. This happened:
Mr.. stafford-Mister Chairman. / re-
serve the point OF order on the para.
graph. VIII the chairman OF the com.
mittee inform the house as to how long
this biologist has been in the service
OF the government and how long ne has
been receiving the present salary of So 500
on which you recommend an increase OF
800?
Mr. Lever-Mlster Chairman, this gen.
tleman, whose name is Nelson. has been
In the service OF the department since
November. 1890 lie has served as chief
field naturalist from lsos TO 1912. and was
assistant In charge OF the biological In
vestgation, from 1913 to 1914. On August
6. 1914. he was appointed assistant chief
OF the bureau. and on December l. 1916
was made chief OF the bureau. He took
the place OF Doctor Henshaw.
Mr.. Stafford-And the salary has been
81. 500 since 1916?
Mr. Lever-Yes.
Mr. Stafford-What is his age?
Mr.. Lever--I should think that Doctor
Nelson is round Atty years OF age.
Mr. StafTord-He is not superannuated
Mr. Lever-Oh. no. he is very vigor-
Gus man.
Mr. Stafford-Mister Chairman. / with.
draw the point OF order
Doctor Howard was refused his in
crease of pay because he was too old
"over sixty, perhaps nearer seventy
Doctor Nelson was allowed his In.
crease because he was not superan.
nuated but in his prime, "round fifty
years OF age"
Now, as matter of fact. Doctor
uouar rd L. ,,nra fI,ot fnn warns ,.n,,no