The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-02-21
Copyright, Western Newspaper Union
WHY GOOD MEN DODGE

WHY GOOD MEN DODGE
The government service must look
largely to the graduates from colleges
and universities in recruiting for Its
technical work. Replies to an inquiry
addressed TO some forty Of the leading
colleges and universities Of the coun-
try to discover what class Of men took
civil service examinations, whether
the number is decreasing and, if so,
the reasons, disclose wildly what the
training schools of technical and scien-
titic men think about the government
as an employer. They warn their
graduates against government service,
and the graduates heed the warning.
Carnegie Institute of Technology
at Pittsburgh, reports:
1t is certainly true that the best of our
graduates are not interested in govern
ment employment because they feel that,
first Of all, it does not pay adequate sal
aries, nor does it offer opportunity for
advancement that private enterprise does.
This spring I interviewed all the mem
bers of the graduating class, except the
women, and none of them would consider
government employment, although there
were many positions open. There
are now about l. 500 male graduates of the
institute, and l will venture to state that
not more than ten are employed by the
government.
Replies of similar tenor and import
were received from the University of
Chicago, Leland Stanford university,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Princeton university, Indiana univer-
Sity, and the University of Wisconsin.
Inequality of compensation is one
Of the chief reasons that deter scien-
tific men from going into the govern
ment service. Congress fixes the sal
aries of most of the government EN-
ployees. | can give a concrete illus
tratiOn of how it determines the sal
aries Of scientific men.
DR.. Leland .. Howard and DR.. Ed
the employ of the government who
have national regulations.
The appropriation bill for the De-
partment of Agriculture was under
consideration in the house on January
3Gth, 1920. The secretary of agricul-
or six years that Doctor Towards
salary be increased from 1850 to So
900. He proposed it again in that
years bill. When the item was reached
in the discussion on the floor, this col
loquy ensued:
Mr.. Stafford-Mister Chairman, I re-
serve point of order on the paragraph.
Is the entomologist whose salary you
propose to increase the same person rec
commended for an increase last year?
Mr. Lever-Yes; he has been in the gov
eminent service many, many years.
The Chairman-I make the point of or
der
Mr.. Lever-I concede it.
Mr.. Mclaughlin of Michigan-Will the
gentleman reserve his point of order?
Mr.. Stafford-I will reserve 1t.
Mr.. McLaughlin-The committee made
the recommendation to increase the sal
airy $500, took testimony on it and con-
sidered 1t very carefully. In our judg-
ment the increase in salary ought to be
made for an official who has been IN the
department, as the chairman says, for a
long time at the head of this bureau. He
has performed able and faithful services.
The salary is less than that paid to the
heads OF other bureaus. We felt, after
listening to all that was said, and with a
knowledge Of the work he has been doing
and has DONE the salary proposed is not
too large
Mr.. Stafford-How long has he been
there?
Mr.. Lever-He has been there forty-two
years.
Mr. Stafford-What is his age?
Mr.. Lever-Over sixty, perhaps nearer
seventy, but he is still vigorous and able
to do good work. He is one OF the
The Charman-Ths point Of order Is
sustained.
Five minutes later the. matter Of
Doctor Nelson's salary was reached.
The secretary of agriculture recon-
mended an increase of his pay from
$500 to $4,000. This happened:
Mr.. stafford-Mister Chairman, I re-
serve the point of order on the para
graph. Will the chairman Of the COM
mittee inform the house as to how long
this biologist has been in the service
of the government and how long he has
been receiving the present salary of s.. 500
on which you recommend an increase OF
1909?
Mr. Lever-Mister Chairman, this gen.
tleman, whose name is Nelson, has been
in the service of the department since
November, 1890. He has served as chief
HSlu naturalist 1TOIl 1915 " 1S1E, ana was
assistant in charge Of the biological in
vestgation, from 1918 to 1914. On August
6, 1914, he was appointed assistant chief
of the bureau, and on December /, 1916
was made chief of the bureau. He took
the place of Doctor Henshaw.
Mr. Stafford-And the salary has been
50 500 since 1916?
Mr.. Lever-Yes.
Mr. Stafford-What is his age?
Mr.. Lever-I should think that Doctor
Nelson is round fifty years Of age.
Mr.. Stafford-He is not superannuated.
Mr.. Lever-Oh, no; he is a very vigor-
Gus man.
Mr.. Stafford-Mister Chairman, 1 with
draw the point of order.
Doctor Howard was refused his in
crease of pay because he was too old,
"over sixty, perhaps nearer seventy"
Doctor Nelson was allowed his in
crease because he was not superan-
nuated but in his prime, round fifty
years of age
Now, as a matter of fact, Doctor
Howard is more than two years young
er than Doctor Nelson. Is 1t any Won
der that scientific men of any attain
mGnts are reluctant TO enter a service
where the measure of the value Of
their services is set down in any such
banhaZard and casual waV2