The Washington herald., 1922-04-11

standing of the action taken. There
were no charges. and there was a
distinct assurance that the benefits
Of the retirement act were pre-
served.
In the circumstances which were
presented to the Executive at the
time of taking this action, il seemed
apparent to me then, as It does
now. that no action less sweeping
than was taken. could give COM
pIete assurance of the full protec-
tion of the governments interests
Need of Merit Systen.
Steward, in his reply to the Pres
ident's letter, makes the following
statements:
We regret that the essence of
our protest was not APPARENT in our
former letters. and we gladly ac-
cept your invitation to. join With
you in doing the things that may
be necessary to promote the high
est degree of efficiency IN the Fed
eral service. Those things, as we
see them, consist in securing and
retaining employees of the highest
efficiency with the highest sense of
duty and responsibility to the pub
lie, and of removing from the serv-
Ice any and all employees who are
lacking in efficiency or in diligence
But the accomplishments of these
ends we believe, Mr.. President. must
be brought about through a strictly
merit system of appointment, pro-
motion. and dismissal-in other
words, that adherence to the prin-
ciples of the Civil Service law Is
the fundamental safeguard to- the
public. service. 4.
Men Suffer Handfcap.
we feel, with you. that the pow
ers, duties, rights and relationships
between the Chief Executive, the
other executivs and the employees
should be made clear to Congress,
to government employees, and to the
American public, to which we are
all answerable."
Your letter states that there
are no charges against the dis
submit that had this statement
been made at the time of dismissal
that they were dropped withou;
Prejudice-they would have been
without the lifelong handicap now
imposed upon them in seeking otE-
er employment. As the matter now
STANDS. the summary dismissal
without notice, under circumstance
which implied a cause not diyuIred
their record''i is such that they an
disqualified for any service in the
government whatsoever: at any
rate. ineligible for Reinstatement
in any capacity even under the
nVe-year extension order issued nv
you under date Of June 25, 1921"
Alleged Confession MADE,
The theft Of the cancelled s.
bills. a part of which was found
in the Potomac River, occurred
about a year ago. and Clayton C.
Dunn. formerly a night watchnan
at the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, was arrested sometime
later in connection with the cas-.
Dunn's alleged declaration that
ne had burned most of the bills at
the time of his arrest-after. N Is
alleged, he had attempted to mass
some 81 bills raised by .pastihs the
numbers OF the stolen IS bills on
them-is believed by the secret
service authorities, according 10
Chief Moran. who asserts that tbIs
matter has nothing to do with the
reorganization or inventory.
VIII Resume Work Friday.
Most of the 1000 Temporarily
rurloughed employees of the bureau
VIII return to work by Friday, ac-
cordfng to an announcement made
yesterday by Director Hill.
Unless I am greatly mistaken.
the director said, "the inyentorv.
VIII break all records for speeS
we are doing everything possible
70 make the Unemployment period
snort for employees of the bureau.
Each division of the bureau viii,
return to work as the. inventorv
workers finish their survey. This
WI enable q majority of the EN-
pioyes TO return before. Friday. Ar.
rangements have been made 10 b,y.
the wetting division return -.
IN order that there may be no A..
nay when the other sections retnrn