davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
READ LANES DIAGNOSIS

system of competitive examinations
and appointments on merit has been
built up for the classes of positions
covered by the law. But beyond GER
LITIGATION by the civil service commits
sion for appointment of those appli-
cants who are proved by examination
to be eligible, the merit system Is not
fully operative even in connection with
the positions to which 1t applies. Hap
hazard practices in assignments of
work and in promotions, over which
no central authority has Jurisdiction.
have brought about inequalities which
are discouraging to the workers. This
condition and the relatively low sal
aries paid by the government cause
a turnover" in government forces
that could not long be withstood by
a private business.
The readjustment of government
salaries in the District of Columbia
has recently received the attention
of the joint commission on reclassifi-
cation of salaries, which was author.
lied by a provision In the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
act approved March l. 1919. The re,
port of this commission is now In the
hands of congress and Its fate remains
to be seen. The report represents
many months of work and an effort to
present data which will enable con-
gress TO understand conditions as they
exist.
The present civil service law was
enacted TO correct the evils OF the
'spoils system" which had become In
tolerable. That the plan provided by
the law, that OF appointments through
competitive examinations for certain
positions, has been a vast Improve
ment over the old patronage method
is generally conceded; but the law
failed to be completely effective in
strument by not providing for the APP
plication of the merit system to the
more responsible and, therefore, the
more remunerative positions.
The administrative offices, aside
from the cabinet, which do not come
within the scope of the civil service
law, are postmasters at offices of the
first, second and third classes, col.
lectors Of internal revenue, collectors
of customs; registers, receivers, and
surveyors general of the land Office.
assistant treasurers, surveyors, special
examiners, appraisers and naval oiii-
GERS in the customs service; super
intendents of mints, assayers in mints,
supervising inspectors In the steamboat
inspection service, commissioners OF
immigration and naturalization. as
sistant secretaries and heads of bu
reaus of the departments at Washing
ton. etc.--about 1900 positions In all
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
copyright. Western Newspaper Union
By EDWARD G.LOWRY

on the stove contains his Sunday din
ner, which he has prepared for him
self, consisting of white navy beans
and fatback. These beans are now
costing him twenty-five to thirty cents
quart, and the fatback costs him
forty cents pound: 1t could have
been purchased few years ago for
seventeen cents pound, and the beans
for ten cents. He does not get any
fresh meat because he cannot afford
to buy it.
the United States government should
employ men of that type, or any other
type for that matter, and not give
them enough to live on decently. 1t
Is particularly pity in this case be-
cause he Is somewhat superior to
many of the employees. He has
stayed with us as matter of faithful
ness to the government, and has
stayed with US when he could make
more in one week outside of the gov
eminent than we pay him for one
month.
"others have left US, but instances
of that kind have been very few. At
one time / had In our auditorium our
employees and made an appeal to
them to stand by US during the war
period, and there were more than 300
of them present, and they all of one
accord assured us that they would
stand by us and would give US the
benefit of their labor In our depart
ment during the war period, notwith-
standing the fact that the price for
labor outside was great deal more"
This curious pride in their work and
loyalty TO the government and the
government service was thing that
cropped up in the most unexpected
places.
AS one employee put 1t: Il think you
will find that every service seems to
be quite proud of its work. / know
you will find 1t In our service as far
as compensation and such as that are
concerned. The pay In this Office is
small, but that element, that feeling
In mans mind that he is really help
ing to accomplish good work and
helping this government to function
well, is really part Of 1t. / find In all
my talks with employees that they
really feel proud of their work, and
that pride is really what gets things
done. think that is true everywhere
In the whole service, and particularly
throughout the executive depart
ments."
That is curiously true, and 1t Is one
of the reasons, possibly the chief rea-
son, why men stay on in the depart
ments year after year at low rate
of pay and not much possibility Of
promotion.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
She Made a Real Sale,

was clerking in a clothing store
and had been talking about making
sales, when a man came in and / said {:
Now watch me, and will show you
how to make a real sale"
"When / made out the bill / said I:
''How do you spell your last Manner
Imagine my embarrassment when he
fired back so that everybody in the
store could hear it: did you ever
hear of Smith being spelled any way
except S-m-i-t-h?"-Exchange
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
Monarch Jumped Too Quickly to Con-
eIusion That Eskimo Was
Actuated by Loyalty.

An amusing story Of the king of
Denmark's recent visit TO Greenland
was recently told by NJ Aagaard OF the
Danish legation, TO members of the
Danish club in London.
As the royal yacht was approaching
Greenland a dark speck became visible
ON the open sea. II proved to be a
solitary Eskimo in his little cayak
(natiye canDe). The Eskimo came on
board and his loyalty in having brayed
the perils of the sea in such fran
craft assured him the warmest Of well
comes. The king presented him with
a cigar and, what the Eskimos most
highly prize, a rife.
On landing, the king described the
incident To the Danish commissioner
in Greenland and asked him who the
man was.
The commissioner, in accents of hor-
ror, replied: -The mans an escaped
convict. He broke prison yesterday.
stole canoe and put to sen. We
thought he had been drowned"
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03

In his final report to the President,
upon completing his work as secre-
tary of the interior, Franklin X. Lane
sketched with sure hand out of the
abundance of his experience the pres
ent Washington condition:
The call is for thinking, planning, engi-
neering statesmanship. For we are quick
ly passing out of the rough-and-ready
period of our national life, in which We
have dealt wholesale with men and
things, into a period of more intensive
development, In which we must seek to
find the special qualities of the individual
unit, whether that unit be an acre of
desert, a barrel of oil, mountain
canyon, the flow of river or the capae-
ity of the humblest of men.
ITO conquer and to master-the sam
old task is ours but not in the same ola
way. We have discovered this land and
made it ours, but this is not the end
of our Journey for now we are to give
thought the deepest thought. to the ways
in which Ii may be made to yield most
abundantly in the things which COM
pick society with most imperious curl
osity demands.
washington is a combination of politi-
cal caucus, dra wing-room and civil serv-
ice bureaus. 1t contains statesmen who
are politicians and politicians who are
not statesmen. 1t Is rich In brains and
In character. 1t is honest beyond any
commercial standard. 1t wishes to do
everything that will promote the public
good. But it is poorly organised for the
task that belongs to II. Fewer men of
larger capacity would do the task better.
Ability is not lacking, but 1t is pressed
TO the point OF paralysis because OF an
tnfinitude OF details and an unwillingness
on the part OF the great body of public
servants to take responsibility. Every
one seems to be afraid of everyone. The
self-prctective sense is developed abnor-
mally, the creative sense atrophies. Trust,
confidencs, enthusiasm-these simple viz
tues OF all great business are the ones
most lacking In government organisation.
We have so many checks and brakes
upon our work that our progress does
not keep pace with the nations require
ments We could save money for the
government II we had more discretion as
to how we should use that given us.
For the body OF the civil servants there
should be quicker promotion or discharge
and a sure insurance when disability
comes For the higher administrative
officers there should be salaries twice as
high as those now given, and they should
be made to feel that they are the ones
responsible for the work of the DEPART
mant, the head being merely an adviser
and a constructor of policies.
As matters are now devised there are
too few in the government whose BUSH
ness IL il to plan. Every man is held to
detail. to the narrower view, which comes
too often to be the department view or
some sort of parochial view. We need
for the day that is here and upon us
mea who have little to do but study the
problems of the time and test their ca
pacity at meeting them. In word, we
need more opportunity for planning, en-
ginsering, craftsmanship above, and more
liked authority and responsibility below,
che employment methods of the gov
eminent could be improved. Under
the civil service law OF 1883 good
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
NO REWARD FOR LOYALTY

What can man hope for who en-
tiers the government service as
careeri Let us look at some actual
cases. Here is the story of one as
told by Il. ]. Ayers, chief clerk, De-
partment of the Interior. He cites It
as a case similar to that of many 9th
ers In his department, and says there
are many others who are In worse cir
cumstances:
The records of our department
show that he entered the service as
laborer at $3.50 year, after service
of three and half years in the Uni
ted States navy as a first-class fire.
man, with an honorable discharge. He
has been with us for more than thirty
three years, and Is sixty-six years
old, and has given more than half his
life to the service of the government.
He owns little property three
miles beyond the Chesapeake juno
tion, and he gets up early In the morn
Ing, before, daylight, and comes In to
work and goes out after dark at night.
Today he is getting $40 a year. He
has raised a family of nine children
three of whom are now dead--eight
boys and one daughter. His elder
sons are married and have established
homes of their own. Two of his sons
were In the military service in France,
and his daughter, twelve years old,
lives with her grandmother, where he
is supporting, educating and clothing
her.
HE is white man, very intelli-
gent man, eminently qualified for this
particular line of work His wife is
dead. He is his own housekeeper and
he does the cooking and the washing
and the ironing.
His home was established In its
present location because it was not
thought practicable to raise a family
in the district, and he bought piece
of property in Prince Georges coun-
ty three miles beyond the railroad
terminal, which distance, as / said, he
walks twice day, leaving in the morn
ing most of the year before daylight,
and returning home by dark. This
small place consists of a shack and a
few acres of land on which he has a
mortgage of $1,000. and you can judge
that he enjoys no conveniences other
than The small house, which protects
him from the elements.
'The house is divided into four
rooms, the partitions being of paper
tackled to the framework, there being
no laths or plaster.
"The small stove standing In the
center of the room he has used for
more than twenty years, and the pot
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
Not Really Remarkable.

do you. know anything about
palmistry, Herbert?' she asked. "Oh,
not much" he answered, although /
had all experience last night which
might be considered a remarkable ex-
ample Of palmistry. / happened 10
glance at the hand of a friend, and
Immediately predicted he would pres
emily become the possessor of n con-
siderable amount of money. Before he
left the room he had nice little sum
handed to him. And you foretold
that from his HANDY YES, it had
four aces in it,
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
delegates Work for RepubIle

Paris,-The world congress of the
Irish race began the last OF its meet
ing here Friday morning with dts
cuSsion Of a resolution putting the dele
gates on record as declaring that the
result of the London conference the
negotiation of the Anglo-Ir!sh treaty.
was deaial of self determination
for Ireland. The resolution further
pledges the delegates to use ever
means III their power TO obtain com.
plete indcnendence for Ireland.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
sEMl-MoURNING, AS 1T WERE
Offer of That Red skirt Made Caro-.
line Reconsider Her Demonstra-
ton of Sorrow.

Every Saturday Caroline used to go
forth on cleaning job. One day she
appeared robed in black.
What's the matterT'' her employer
asked.
'Oh. Miss Sophy," she moaned, my
uncle he is dead, and Use gwine TO
mourn. Use gwine to mourn for him
four months"
The lady expressed sympathy and
added:
Il had out that red skirt Of nina
for you. thought you might like ii
but of course you won't want it now -
mo. Miss Sophy; Use gwine TO
mourn four whole months"
Next week brought Caroline as
usual.
Il been thinking bout that red
skirt, Miss Sophy," she said. Its
just the kind OF a red skirt / like,
and l believe from now on I'll mourn
from the waist p."-Everybody'
Magazine.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03

A Germantown lad who is pos
.sessed of even more curiosity than
the average child, recently sought out
his mother TO acquire more informa-
ton concerning affairs in his house
hold.
Mother" he asked, .'why is it that
sister sings so much when her young
man is here?"
Il think. dear said the mother.
softly, that she is trying to test his
Observation-Disclosures Ledger.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
In TO the Neck

a bachelor who is forever putting
his foot in 1t recently visited the proud
parents of a new boy.
The mother held up the bundle for
inspection by the bachelor and asked
gayly: Tell us now, frankly, which
of US do you think he is like?"
After careful scrutiny the bach
eIor replied "Well. of course, it isn't
very intelligent looking yet, but he's
wonderfully like both of yOu.'
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
DYED HER BABYS COAT,
A SKIRT AND CURTAINS
WITH DIAMOND DYES"

Each package Of Diamond Dyes" CON-
tains directions 80 simple any woman can
new. Even if she has never dyed before,
she can put new, rich color into shabby
skirts, dresses, waists, coats, stockings,
sweaters, coverings, draperies, hangings,
everything. Buy Diamond Dyes--no other
knd--then perfect home dyeing is guar
anteed. Just tell your druggist whether
the material you wish TO dye is wool OF
silk, or whether it is linen, cotton, OF
mixed goods. Diamond DYES never streak,
spot, fade or run.-advertisement.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
But Now

Rummy Robinson-Yes, lady, once
for whole year turned me back on
beer.
Kind Lady-Ah, my noble man,
what were you doing at the time:
Rummy RobinSon-Driying brew
cry truck mum.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
Queen improving

Madrid, Queen Victoria is recover
ing from the grip, which has compel
led her to remain in her apartments
for six days.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03

Funniest witticism loses all its point
if it is greeted by ''what7" for the
third time.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
oninous

ominous.
THE new cook seems to like her
position"
Il don't fancy that sign"
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
DoubtfuI.

North-Mrs. Jones said that 1 re.
minded her OF her husband.
WeSt-Is that a compliment?
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
GOOD Joke ON DANISH KING

W. N. U, salt Lake City. No. 5-1s22.
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
DIN CARNETUL UNUI
COPIL FARA MAMA
dc: e. r. PASCU
s Martie 1902.

MafJlc lJUA.
All ann ridicat din pat.
Doctorul mia zis ca pot sa ma
ridic dar sd nu es afara.
''Fetita, fetita mea 81 a iubitu-
lui meu Harry E draguta 81 vol
Mica. Era de noua funti cand s'a
nascut 81 in opt zile a castigat
dol funti. All a ris in somn.
'Doamne de ce l'ai rapit pc
tatsu? Pc iubitul meu Harry! Ce
fericit ar ii fost acum, Gu dorinta
lui vie indeplinita /! 81 cat m 'asi
ii inpartasit 81 eu din fericirea
lui!
'Ce ran fmi pare ca n am tita
80 alaptez! So tin Ia siaul meu
si sS privesc II ea, cum pune ma
nutsie ei pc sinul meu!
'Margareta ziee ca nu-i sea
m6nk lri Harry, ck : capll met,.
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
% Oct0nbrie 1908.

N am mai scris de mutt inn
presiile mele. Arta ma furat 81
m a facut robul Ell. Stunt aami-
rata in toata America Am pri-
nit telegrame de felicitarc din
Englitera, Franta, Germania, Ru-
sia, pana 81 din Indii, pc unde au
.colindat filmele in care am lcat.
Ma cunoaste lume intreaga.
Doamne cat de putin m am
ocupat Gu Dora, Gu fetita mea
iubita, care acum gonganeste BIZ
nisor. Margareta imi serie regulat
in fiecare saptamanE ii Gu abba
apuc sal raspupz odata ps luna.
S'a fotografiat Gu Cecilia ii Gu
Dora. &c frumoasa Z Dora. Asea-
ra cand am PRINT fbtosrafia
cram anetita de bucurie. cat !
crescut de marc de sstavara de
cand y am vazut-o! Slice frumos
zimbeste!
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
ABONATI HARUL
..AMFRICA"
DE INCHIRIAT

Gel mai bun local de orr 81 ce
fel de business, 81 cea mai potrivita
pozitie in Stritul umblator della
CARA de tren la Streetcar, 81 a pa
ira casa della cea mai mare fabrica
din Salem, O.
Localul este langa hala Societ;:~
til Leul, 81 consta dintr'o pravdlie
moderna GU 10 odai. 3 bal de seal
da, garaj pentru automobil. tn
lOcalul acesta am avut eu II tni de
zile pravalie.
Pentru informatiuni, doritorii
sa Sc adreseze la localul nou.
j. M. POPA,
rs Depot st. Salem, Ohio
(45-6-T
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
CoNvoCARE

Societatea romana de ajutOr 81
cultura u. S. "Armonia-Strainul
Liber" din st. Louis, Mo-, pc a
ceasta Gale convoaca pc membrii
sal, lua parte la adunarea gene
rala lunara, care va avea lOc in )
Martie 1922, in, Hala Sirbilor din
Sth and Barry Str.
Sedinta Sc va deschide la 2 p. m.
Deci credem ca fiecare frate
membru isl va cunoaste chemarea.
find ca avem mai multe chestii de
rezolvat in favorul Societatii, pa
na la intalnire seminar i'm numele
Soc. Unite "Armonia-S. Liber,"
Bucar Binig, presedinte.
Elisei Ionescu, secretar.
(46-7)
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
De v|NzARE

Din cauza ca vreau sa intru in
tr'o afacere, imi pun casele din
Farrell de vinzare. carl sunt: una
in Broadway, peste drum de tin
mill 81 sheetmill, vre-o 20 odai.
store room mare, pivnite; ) sunt
al doilea block, una 8 odai, pivni-
te; una caramida, Z odai, pivnite.
una 3 odai sus 81 jos, = garaje pen
tru doua cara sau trOcuri. Cara jele
sunt despartite (acestea stunt de ci
ment blockuri). Bal sunt i'm toate
in cea din Broadway sunt ? bal, 81
inca 3 loturi goale tot langa case.
Toate aceste proprietati lie Wind
eftin (lesne) din cauza Cd vreau sa
intru in alta afacere.
DoritOrii sa sc adreseZe la mine.
loan GHENEA
r. K. ID. 81 Pulaski, Pa.
As & 40
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
CrOniCa Iiterara

autorulg" ''Fost 'au, vre-odata
Bucurestii ocupati?' ''Vazut am
moi, la lm deget de fiinta noastra,
prapastia nefiintei?"
81 GU toate acestea, asa este.
Voluminoasa lucrare ce aycm sub
ochi marturia cea mai sfaSie.
toare realitatii tragice pc care
am trait-o Gu totii.
In paginile eli sc oglindeste atat
magma vie a intregului cata-
clism mondial cat 81 vaietu! de
suferinta cumplita al celor dol
ami de razboiu slant ce a purtat
81 indurat tara noastra.
Scrise, ri Gu ri, impresiunilc 81
parerile personale ale d-lui Can
cicov sunt mai multi decat un
simplu jurnal, sunt letopisete fl
dele ale unei epoci haotice in care
cei prinsi in valtoarea prabuSirei
generate, cu greu Isl mai puteau
pastra mintea intreaga 81 sangele
rece, he cum sa mai gaseasca ra-
gaz a-si nota Gu fidelitate 81 obiec-
tivitate evenimentele zilei.
81 totusi, ce admirable face
aceasta oil Cancicov!
Desi, tot timpul razboiului 81
ocupatiunei, hartuit de grea
boala desi amenintat la fiece
clipa 81 in fiece loc sd fie exter-
minat ca ''omul unuia dintre
marii factori politici carl vroi.
.sera razboiul'', d. Cancicov, avO.
catul cult 81 bunul roman, fin OBJ.
servator, privi aceasta tragica
epoca de ocupatiune dusmana ca
un process slant 81 mare in care
datoria lui flu sa ia apararea celui
obidit, intamplase orice!
Gu atat mai multi curajul lui
imprumuta ceva din stralucirea
eroismului, cu cat, urmarit de q
proape de neinduplecatul dus
man al tarii, era spionat 81 divul
gat de insasi din nenorocire 'de
al luz rataciti filogermani deve
niti, eel mai multi, slugi plecat,
nemtilor.
Primul volum incepe la 13 Au
gust 1916 81 sfarseste la 13 Au
gust 1917.
Rind pc rind defileaza inaintes
ochilor nostri:
Mobilizarea generala Gu sfasie
toarea panica celOr 1nstrainat
de idealul national 81 Gu deliran
tul enthusiasm al bunilor r0mani.
Vim, apoi, tragicele zile ale Blu
cureStilOr sub teroarea aeroplane
lor 81 zeppelinurilor nemtestI
Incep vestile negre ale prime
lor noastre infrangeri in Ddbro
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
.(Urmare)

''Am vorbit Gu intendentul Cd
Ia primavara sa sadeasca flori pc
mormantul lui Harry, stiind ca
eu nu vol putea sa viu la timp, 81
ii platesc eat costa. Mia promis.
Margareta STA luat insarcinare
ca va avca 81 ea grija ca dorinta
mea sd fie indeplinita.
Mama staruie 50 mergem a.
casa in Newark, zicand Cd aeun
nnmai avem Ia &c sta in Colum-
bus, unde platim clirie seunpa.
Si Margareta de parerea ma
ynen ca toate 81 " vrea 50 tin
in2f Aproape de e., dar 9 nunai 9
pk de "a.
dpt Az fiitosre ne NJ
America. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1905-current, 1922-02-25
cETIT1 yI ABoNA11
ZlARUL AMERICA"
NSTIlNTARE

Stunt rugati toti abonentn
nostri q observa urmxtosrsle
reguli la trimiterea psntru
schimbare de adres4.
1. Sd Sc scrie adresa vechs
1nde la mers ziarul si adresa
unde s'a mutat.
2. La fiecare persoanx sx
Sc alature m&rci dc 81. Sx 90
caute sd nj sc de& numel6 jtra.
del 81 al orasului correct.
Cine nu observ& aceste re-
gull in zadar asteapt4 O. i %
schimbe adresa ca M 90 poats
AdministratiA.