Evening journal., 1922-04-24
MORE BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT

rENHE country including Delaware Is standing with
4 the President his determination to put more
In government by getting rid Of inefficient and
dsloyal employees.
The protests OF Democratic leaders against the ad
mnistratons placing loyal employees guard in the
responsible executive offices having little ef-
feet upon public opinion. The arguments advanced by
over-enthasiasic supporters the OWL service
TO the effect that the administration breaking down
the civil service and yielding the olamor Of spoismen
an argument that will not stand up under honest
analysis
The only which the civil service system has
for based upon the supposition that 1t
means merit and efficiency public administration II
it produce qualities there Is justi-
ncaton for the civil system in public affairs.
There Is no familiar with conditions in the Fed
ersi departments washington but that during
past eight years the civil service system has been
down efficiency rather than promote it.
It has operated protect sackers agators and in
competents public service rather than to GUST them
and make for merit in public work It has joined
hands with organizations outside the jurisdiction Of
government officials and with the cooperation OF these
organizations it has installed in the departments at
Washington a bureaucracy which places premium
upon the slowest, most incompetent most wasteful.
most Indifferent rebellious employees It has
cooperation Of these external organizations
bred spirit of nsubordnation and gross extrava-
gance in nearly every Federal department
AS a result Of this condition thousands OF Federal
employees look organizations outside the government
orders regarding tho character OF their worl
rather than to the administrative chiefs who re
sponsble and entrusted with carrying out the poll
ces Of the adminstration.-whchp policies the admins
traton is charged by the people with carrying out
The hrst concern OF any group OF men VIII
are placed in charge Of a corporation a business
entrusted with putting effect and carrying to sue
cessful conclusion a certain policy is 20 surround him
self or themselves with a body OF loyal and efhcien
neutrality-suspicious. who not only through
the motions Of work but who firmly believe in tn
policy Of their superors that they put all their abitl
and all their sympathy into the work This loyalty
this esprit de corps the very OF the meri
system without It there be no merit system; thu
term becomes a mockery. The head OF railroad, oil
industrial plant or business corporation or bankinG
house would tolerate people upon his payroll who
we're faithess to the institution in that they did not be
lievo policies and were eternally breaking dowr
the morale OF employees and publicly crtcising rs
management would be foredoomed to failure.
1t is exactly the same with the administration of tn,
government Civil service and the merit system must
something far more than the ability Of ndivd-
uals a competitive examination and dried
lines and obtain a certain percentage. The merit sys-
public administrative offices means loyalty the
policies the administration willingness put
shoulder the wheel and ones heart into the work to
make these policies 100 per cent. successful
Where employe Is doing this in public affairs
he or she should be dismissed the as they would
be in like circumstances in a private corporation.
There must be outside organizations whose stand
ard Of work whose decrees hours Of
and quantity Of output precedent in the mind OF
tne Federal empoye over the and the wishes Of
the heads OF government.
The civil service system refuse TO permit itsel
be used by outside organizations for the pur
pose Of protecting faithless employees The Presden
and his administration In their determination to clea
inefficient and disloyal help in all departments
the have the heartiest support Of all thnl
ing people. especially Of taxpayers who foot the bill
by the incompetency indifference laziness al
extravagance of such help