The Glenwood post., 1922-03-30
By EDWARD 9. LOWRY
XIII.
WHY GOOD MEN DODGE

So'eAnneht 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 vividly what the
training schools of technical and scen-
thc men think about the government
as ea 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. 1t does not pay adequate sal
aries. nor does 1t offer opportunity for
advancement that private enterprise does
This spring 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 1900 male graduates of the
institute. and will venture to state that
not more tnan 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 concrete Illus
tratiOn of how it determines the sal
aries of scientific men.
DR.. Leland o. Howard and DR.. 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 81 4,50O to So
600. He proposed 1t 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 a 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.. Staford-1 will reserve 1t.
Mr.. McLaughlin-The committee made
the recommendation to increase the sal
ary 800. took testimony on 1t 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.. Stafrord-How long has he been
theref
Mr.. Lever-Hs has been there forty. two
years.
Mr. Stafrord-what Is his age?
Mr.. Lever-Over sixty. perhaps nearer
seventy. but he 10 still vigorous and able
to do good work. He is one of the
greatest entomoloEists in the world.
The Chairmaa-The point OF order 10
sustained.
Five minutes later the matter Of
Doctor Nelson's salary was reached.
The secretary Of agriculture recon-
nended an Increase of his pay from
$500 to $4,000. This happened:
Mr. 6tafford-Mister Chairman, re-
serve the point Of order on the para
grapA. viii the chairman Of the COM
nittee inform the house as to how long
this biologist has been In the service
e the government and how long he has
been receiving the present salary OF $500.
sr whloh you recommend an increase OF
)6OOr
Mr.. Lever-Mister Chairman. this gen.
uemaa. whose name II Nelson. has been
In the service ee the department since
November, lsSe. He has served as chiet
aeid naturalist frsn 1907 to 1919. and was
assistant In charge Of the biological In
vestIgHtton, froa 1915 to 1914. On August
Z, islA, he WAS appointed assistant chief
sf the bureau, aAA 81 December 1. 1915.
was nade CHIEF se the bureau. He took
Ne psacs q Deoksr Henshaw.
Mr.. OtAHord-AAA the salary has been
$500 aaoe iSisf
Mr. Lev@-Yeo.
Mr.. ataksrA-WhAk u his aseI
Mr., Levsr-I shoNLd think that Doctor
Neasea is rouaa atty year, ot age.
Mr.. 0ta1srd-ds = not superanuuated.
Mr.. LsvsF@OA, -: ~ y . very vtgof-
sus ann. ..-,- ..,...
Nj. staksrA-ansAr ChAlraaa. 1 with
draw Ne seat = Ar1er. f
Doctsr Howard was refused hts In
ereass 4 pay because he was too old.
"ovG AEty. pssAa0s nearer seveatv."
Doctsr Nae0 Wns allowed bis In
Grease beAuss ~ was not superaa-
nsaeso ut \ ~ DEtae, "rosnd atty
Year, e aGe."
New. - . saA1Dr e fact. Doctor
hsware = mere - tWe vears vsxag-
= ~ Oset~ WaseA hk aeg woa-
Der ~ e0eo110c asen e ~ attaia
meats are raaoant T. ntsr q service
Wh010 IA nMA ~