Milford chronicle., 1922-03-31
CODyright. western Newspaper Union
XIII.
WHY GOOD MEN DODGE

Inc 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
q. colleges and universities of the c0un-
try to discover what class of men took
civil service examinations, whether
the number is decreasing and, if so,
the reasons, disclose vividly what the
training schools of technical and scien-
tific 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 1t offer opportunity for
| advancement that private enterprise does.
! This spring 1 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 $500 male graduates of the
institute, and 1 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. 1 can give a concrete illus
tratiOn of how it determines the sal
aries Of scientific men. =
DR.. Leland 0. Howard and DIR. Ed
ward w. Nelson are two scientists in
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
Both, 1920. The secretary Of agricul-
ture had been recommending for five
or six years that Doctor HOward's
salary be increased from $4,000 to $5,-
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
ernment 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
ary $500, took testimony on it and con-
sidered it 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 tha A
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 ablG
to do good work. He is one of the ii
greatest entomologists in the world.
The Chairman-The point OF order ia
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-AIister Chairman, re-
serve the point of order on the para.
graph. Will the chairman of the com.
mittee inform the house as to how Ions /
this biologist has been in the service 4
Of the government and how long he has
been receiving the present salary Of $S,5
on which you recommend an increase OF
$500?
Mr. Lever-AIister Chairman. this gem
tleman, whose name is Nelson, has been
In the service of the department since
November, 1890. He has served as CHIEF
field naturalist from 1907 to 1912, and was
assistant in charge of the biological In
vestigation, from 1918 to 1914. On August
s, 1914, he was appointed assistant chief III
of the bureau, and on December !, 1915 II
was made chief of the bureau. He took
The place Of Doctor Henshaw. III
Mr.. Stafford-And the salary has been III
s., 500 since 1916? III
Mr.. Lever-Yes. III
Mr.. Stafford-What is his age? IL
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 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
tower 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
Edward is more than two years young
sr than Doctor Nelson. Is 1t any won
der that scientific men Of any attain
nents are reluctant to enter a service
where the measure Of the value Of
heir services is set down in any such