The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-04-27


"HARDINcIzINev DEPARTMENTS
In the enort to Hardingize the ex-
ecutive departments of the govern
ment following the Newberryizing OF
the senate, all manner OF sensational
rumors and inunendoes against fhe
dismissed officials of the bureau of
printing and engraving have been
given wide publicity in the press
from the finding of packages of mon
ey in the Potomac river down to al
legged inefficiency and unfairness.
These publications we're accompan-
led by others to the effect that the
same thing was to take place in other
departments, with the result that en-
ployes of all departments have been
thrown into a state of apprehension
and fear little less than chaotic.
One by one the sensational reports
have been shown to be false. Ore Of
these canards related to alleged un-
fairness on the part of Director VIII
meth in the discharge of certain en-
ployes last summer. 1t now appears
that the protest of these discharged
employees was thoroughly investi-
gated by special board headed by
Comptroller of the Currency Crissin-
ger which was approved by Secretary
Mellon and which completely exon
Grated the director and his aids.
In addition to this, President Hard
ing said in a letter to the National
Federation of Federal mployes that
there were no charges, and Secre-
tary Mellon joins him in saying that
nothing has been discovered to i'm
pugn their honesty and integrity. In
the same letter President Harding
says, 81 shall maintain every regard
for the civil service law"
These are fair words, but they do
not square with the actions of the
president in making appointments or
in dismissing employees. He prac-
tically nullified the spirit and intent
of the civil service law when he
changed the executive order of for
mer President Wilson relating to the
appointment of postmasters, permit
ting anyone of the highest three to
be appointed instead of the highest
one on the eligible list Under this
executive order ex-service men have
been continuously Disseminated
against as well as Democrats show
ing the highest efficiency.
In connection with the discharge of
the bureau of engraving and print
ing officials, the mere fact that it was
done through Elmer Dover, former
secretary to and henchman of Mark
Hanna, relieves it of any suspicion
of intent to conform to or extend the
principles and policy of the civil SER
vice. a4a
Despite the presidents fair words,
these dismissed employees have been
subjected to suspicion from the day
of their dismissal, and further in
justice done them is made apparent
in the letter of the Natioanl Fedora
ton of Federal Employees replying to
President Harding. The letter says
in part:
Your letter states that there are
no charges against the dismissed off,
cials. We respectfully submit that
had this statement been made at the
time of dismissal, that they were
dropped without prejudice to their
record, they would have been with
out the lifelong handicap now impos-
ed upon them in seeking other en-
ployment. AS the matter stands the
summary dismissal, without notice,
under circumstances which implied a
cause not divulged, their record is
such that they are disqualified for
any service in the government what
soever. at any rate, ineligible for re-
nstatement in any capacity even un-
Ter the five-year extesnion order is |
sued by you under date of June rs, !