Milford chronicle., 1922-04-21
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT
BETTER WORK-MORE
EFFICIENCY

''That's right. You always do lot
of talking about something you don't
know anything about" said Jack to
Freddie who was attempting to deliV-
er the remainder of a long lecture on
the dismissal of the former superin-
tendent of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing and his division chiefs.
'When President Harding says that
he acted for the good of the service
that's enough for me, but if it isn't
enough for you I'll get Uncle Ted to
talk to us all about it" Jack was a
bit peeved and didn't hesitate to
show it, either.
"Ruth. go find Uncle Ted and ask
him if he won't tell us our story to-
night about this thing. 1 can't stand
to have Freddie going on like this"
So Ruth went in search of Uncle
Ted. Finding him in the study read
ins it didn't take her long to per-
suade him that they wanted a story
bodly. After they were all settled and
quiet, he began.
"I'm rather glad" said Uncle Ted,
"that Freddie brought this matter up.
I had thought it stale by now, but
have found some grown men who ap-
narentIy do not understand what was
done and why. 1t is a good chance Tor
me to make the matter clear. With
ont talking about any man in partlc-
ular will try to show you the why
and wherefore in this matter. Presl-
dent Harding and the entire admins
tration in Washington is insisting
unon one thing above all else. The
one thing is efficiency. That is why
Cen. Dawes was called in by the Pres
ident to cut down expenses and stop
dunlications of orders among various
departments. That is why Mr.. Brown
has been working with his committee
to reorganize the various departments
and stop duplication of work.
"Freddie, let me ask you this. sup
nose your father saw a certain part
of his store going down hill. II was
not doing the business 1t shoulo' ne
tried and tried, we will say IOr
months to get those in charge OF Ihls
department to better conditions. But
thew failed. What would he do? He
would have to do the only thing left.
Dismiss all those responsible and put
new blood in their places. We don't
know the exact reason for the ols-
missal of the Bureau of Engraving
and printing officials, but President
Harding has said there was sutnclent
reasons for their discharge. He mas
said If was for the good of the SER
VICE which means for better et1clen-
cv II means that that part or the
government was not going along as
it should. o o,i+e
excited over this affair because MEM
hers of their party are hit. They are
howling for the President to give ms
reasons for these dismissals. The cry
of the Democrats at this time is anus
ing. All of a sudden, when tney no
longer are able to pick whom they
choose and place them in government
positions where they choose, they nave
become champions of the civil ser
vice law.
"Everyone can rest assured OF one
thing. The President will probably not
present any specific charges against
the dismissed officials. There IS SIM
nIv a general charge of ineticiency.
We must all remember this. the ao-
ninistration of the executive brancn
of our government according to the
Constitution rests with President
Harding. The President feels that
what he did was for the best interests
of the country as a whole. That is the
on1v wav. as President, he can look at
things. 41;,o
rrbis lent the last of the shake-ups at
Washington. Reorganization IN OtngI s3I
departments of the government WIN
follow wherever the President mus i'ls
that the service can be improved me
Internal Revenue division OF the
Treasury will probably be reorgahlE-
ed. Work is years behind in that ol-
flee. When the reorganlzatlon oI tne
Treasury Department (ot Wnlch I!e
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Is
a part) is completed, 1t is salo tnat ina
other departments Will follow' Ing
administration has made up its mln9
that tbe people who make up some OF
the branches of the government are
not as efficient asst hey should be tney
will have to go. The United States
Government must function properly
even If a few people are Temporarily
Embarrassed. That is the answer TO
anvthing of this kind. Secretary Chris
tian. in reply to a visit from the dis
missed, men and women said:
" sThe President has had no wish 10
raAect upon the character of any gov
ernment employee, but he dlo nolu
that a sweeping change in the bureau
was essential for the good OF the pun
liy service. He regrets the inslnuatlns
publicity no less than those DO VINO
have been discontinued from the pup
lie service"