Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-25
Copyright. western Newspaper Union
XXIII.
WHY GOOD MEN QUIT


any other establishment of the govern
ment doing important technical work,
and they will tell you that their chief
difficulty is 10 retain competent en-
ployees In the supervisory and tech
nical positions. Their turnover is alb
normally high in these positions.
Every day men leave the service
to accept private employment at ma
terially increased salaries. so that the
departments are continuously going
through a process of selecting and
training executives and technical en-
come really valuable. on account Of
the inadequacy of their compensation.
The second factor which contrib
utes 10 the present ineffectiveness OF
the government as business estab-
lishment is found in the improper or
ganization of the executive branch of
the government for effective service.
You are familiar, at least in a general
way, with the defects of the present
administrative machinery.
You know for example, that the In
terror department now has jurisdiction
over a great number Of bureaus on
miscellaneous character that have
nothing 10 do with each other or with
the functions which the Interior de-
partment was originally established TO
perform.
You know that many agencies have
been located in the Treasury depart
ment, the great fiscal department Of
the government, which are purely non
fiscal in character, such as the coast
guard. the public health service, the
supervising architects Office and the
bureau of war risk insurance.
You know that the great bulk Of
the civil public works of the govern
ment are executed under the super
vision of the War department, although
the bureau of public roads is located
in the Department Of Agriculture, and
the reclamation service in the Depart
ment Of the Interior
You know, furthermore, of the In
dependent existence outside the juris-
diction of any of the great executive
departments Of some 4O-odd boards,
commissions, offices and bureaus.
These are merely examples Of con-
dition that would require volumes to
describe fully, but it is generally
known that the executive branch of the
government is at the present time IL
logically and uneconomically organ
lied in many important particulars.
1t should be remembered, however,
that even with an ideal personnel and
a perfect organization ii is doubtful
IL the high degree Of economy and
efficiency that characterizes private
business can ever be attained in the
government offices. This is SO because
economies made by government OIL
Gals are not transformed into divi-
dends for themselves as they are in
private business.
There is an impression in congress
and throughout the country that men
of great ability are not found In gov
eminent service; that the salaries are
not sufficient to attract and hold them.
On the contrary, there are a great
many people of distinguished ability
in the government service. one Is
more and more impressed by that fact,
especially since the war sent 10 Wash
ington so many men OK large means
and famous names with whom the
government employees could be com
pared. The comparison was time ana
again 70 the advantage of the govern
ment employee. But the salaries are
not the attraction; it is the work IT.
self. This Is well understood by some
eminent observers OF public life. Sec
rotary of State Hughes declared him
self as follows before the advisory
committees of the war risk insurance
bureau:
1t has been my experience that with
the higher officerss the officers of greater
institutions, where efficiency is rewarded
by public epresentation-while the field
IS a limited one because OF the great OPP
portunity to men of ability-it is still en-
tirely possible TO draw to the public serv-
ice men of great ability and distinction.
because of the desire TO render public
service and the number of men VINO are
available for that purpose, while rela-
lively small, is still sufficient IL the APP
pointing officer wants men OF that class.
In order 70 obtain them, however, he
must give a free field. lie must not In
terfere as to political action to control
administration tendencies and must per-
nit them to be given the reward which
a well-conducted office of Importance will
give TO its incumbent in the public esti-
nation.
Now the difficulty increases when you
pass those heads that get the credit and
come to the technical expert who has
got TO do the regular work and upon
whose efficiency the operation of the de-
partment finally depends. These men are
little known. The public hasn't time even
TO learn their names. They are interested
In work to a degree of being willing TO
make sacrifices.
There is active competition for men of
brains and great ability of that sort, and
the government will never be served I'M
less IL pays the price for those men. Now
] think that Is plain situation. You
may be able TO get a director in the bu-
reau of war risk Insurance for 5000 q
year, or for nothing at all. but you can
not get an actuary. You cannot get in
surance men. You cannot get superin-
tendents. That would be my Judgment
Millions ir IL.