The New York herald., 1922-04-09
EMPLOYEES in PANIC
AT REPORT OF more
BUREAU DISMISSALS
u. s. Office Holders Invoke
Civil Service Law to
Hold Jobs.
PLANT TO SHUT DOWN
Closing Of Engraving De-
partment to Take Stock
Arouses New Fears.
BATTLE NEAR In CAPITAL
Patronage Is Hardest Problem
Facing observation-disclosures
Made for Economy
ny LOUIS sEIB0LD.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HmALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., April 9.

Special Dispatch to THE NEw York HmALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., April 3.
Explanations advanced by Govern
ment executives have not tended to
destroy the impression that the re-
movai of subordinate officials recently
have been dictated largely by political
exigcncies.
Direct intimations that more sweep
ing reductions would be made in all
of the Government departments have
increased. the uneasiness Of employees.
who have invoked the protection of the
civil service laws.
The removal Of Chief wilmeth and
twenty EIGHT other officials of the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing for
reasons that have not yet been fully
revealed has subjected the Admins
tration to storm of criticism from
the National Civil Service Reform
League and other organizations which
have labored to keep the public ser
vice free from partisan influences.
A report generally credited will in
crease further the disquiet in this re-
spect It is that executive officials
are considering plans to take all the
higher positions in the Government
service nut of the civil service and
include them in the list coming within
the appointive prerogatives Of the
President. II this plan actually Is put
into eject II lis certain to provoke a
battle between the proponents Of the
civil service system and the reaction
airy politicians whose most popular
slogan is that ito the victors belong
the spolls."
Thousands of Jobs on List.
Under the new plan which has been
prepared for the approval Of the Pres
ident and his executive associates po-
sitions paying salaries from $4,000 to
81, 900 would be made the starting point
for the reorganization of the civil SER
vice system.
The line proposed would be drawn
between officials of certain grade who
would be exempt from civil service re-
strictions and those performing the
functions OF clerks, who would be pro-
tected by IT, The clerks in the second
grade would be best preserved from
the influences of the old time spoils
system and practically secure as long
as efficient and of good conduct.
The exemption list. however, un-
ouestionably would give over to the
practical politicians who express little
the control of many thousands of inn
portant places with which to reward
? their supporters and henchmen.
The announcement that such move
Is to be made has set the greater part
Of the $1,000 employees of the Govern
ment departments at the national cap
ital by the ears. While hoping for the
best they actually fear the worst. Al
ready they are discussing the advisa-
blity of organizing and invoking the
assistance of the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League. of which Richard
II. Dana Of Boston is the president, to
secure them their rights"
Call 1t Economy Move.
That President Harding and other
members of his Administration have
long contemplated the reorganization
OF the Government departments Is
known to everybody in Washington.
Until the arbitrary removal OF the en-
ployees OF the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing. however, there was no
intimation that political considerations
would be permitted to exercise the
slightest influence in the undertaking.
Desire on the part OF the President to
make good the pledge Of his party to
inaugurate an era OF retrenchment and
economy in the cost of Government
was accepted as the reason for Il.
Whether this ambition on the part
OF the President, or the pressure OF
POLITICAL leaders both in and out OF
Congress Is really responsible for tho
removal OF the engraving and print
ing bureau employees is a matter OF
opinion. Executive officials assert that
political considerations we're ignored
+, They point as proof to the elaborate
plan for Government reorganization
which the Brown committee has
worked out and to the systematic bud
cet program developed by Gen. Charles
G.. Dawes.
The attitude of the majority OF the
Republicans in Congress toward this
project has not been friendly. It also
II understood there has been some
friction even among executive officials
regarding the plans of the new or
sanization committee for consolidating
bureaus designed to cut down the
overhead and increase the efficiency OF
the whole Federal service.
Congressional leaders, while prating
great deal about economy. are gem
orally opposed to the curtailment OF
Continued on Page Fifteen.