The Washington herald., 1922-04-20
On Civil Service.
To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
"One swallow makex M summsr

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
"One swallow makes no summer"
Mr.. d. E. g. appears again in the
Open Court but does not add one
ray OF light to the subject in con-
troversy. In a former letter to the
Open Court he made certain state
ments, but gave no data to verify
them. / will endeavor to briefly
state his case, which the readers
of the Open Court will call to mind.
MI. G. denounced the Civil Service
as a "humbug-that neither Re-
publicans or Democrats observed II
that government employees loafed
on their Jobs and received twice
the pay they would obtain outside
OF the government" To prove his
statement he cited an Instance
observation. viz: Three men, two
were Democrats and one a Repub-
lican. applicants for a position as
postmaster in a Virginia town
that the latter. who was postmas-
ter, and made so per cent. was re-
moved and the Democrat who made
only Is per cent was appointed In
his place" I have correctly stated
his position, as reference to his
letter will verify. Justinian re-
minded him he should give the
names of the parties involved and
the Virginia town. But in his sec
ond letter to the open Court he.
failed to do SO. but again asserts:
This was an accurate statement Of
facts and can be verified from the
files of the Civil Service Commits
sion" We have only his assertion.
with no means of verifcation, as
the commission informed me the
data was insufficient. They told
me. however. in filling fourth-clsss
postoffices in the absence Of three
highest eligibles required by law.
an inspector sometimes made the
appointment and possibly some in
justice might be done.
For the sake of argument We will
concede without any proof to the
contrary an injustice was done in
this case. Shall We, therefore. con-
denim the Civil Service as a hum
bug" and cast a stigma on the
thousands of honest. conscientious
men and women in the government
in the Civil Service?
BY such an illogical course of
reasoning We condemn and repudi-
ate the Christian religion because
there were some hypocrits profess
ing Il. and condemn Christ as an
impostor for teaching it,, Likewise.
one would tear down the finest
building because there was some
bad brick or timber In its construc-
tion. One perceives where such
false reasoning would lead one. 1t
would justify anarchists in this
country who are endeavoring to
overthrow the government and
abolish all law.
Does Mr.. c.. and others like him.
realize what his accusations amount
to / don't think he. does. In the
last analysis IL means simply this:
He has. unconsciously. no doubt.
cast a reflection upon the wisdom
and integrity Of the President in
appointing the gentlemen compos-
ing the Civil Service Commission;
he has cast a stigma on the thou
sands Of honest men and women In
the government service. In his last
letter be says: Il believe In facts.
not in theories, and apply them
and that I am a practical business
man.
Justinian would kindly suggest
to him to stick to his business"
and keep out of print. for that Is
not his element, especially as
criticize would destroy what men
of genius and talent constructed,
and he has nothing to offer as q
substitute. Al parting word,
Justinian would remind him of an
old adage: Shoemaker. stick to
your last" JUsTINIAN.