Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-05-24
By EDWARD C.LOWRY
Copyright. Western Newspaper Unio
XIV.
UP TO YOU AND CONGRESS

miSnomer to speak of the national
government having personnel sys-
TEN at all. The reform accomplished
by the establishment of the civil serv-
ice commission and the merit system
has touched but one phase Of the per-
sonnet problem, and that but partially
entrance into the government serv-
ice. Practically nothing has been done
in the way of erecting the government
services into careers that will attract
and retain efficient men. Bad as con
ditions were in this respect before the
war, they have become many times
worse during and since that event
The correction of these evils pre-
sents problem of great completely.
1t cannot be achieved by a half
hearted or halfway tinkering with the
present system. Nothing but a thor
ough overhauling OF the whole person
mel system and the establishment of
a new system covering all phases of
the question and embodying the most
approved principles of personnel ad-
minstration will meet the needs of
the situation. Fortunately a begin
ming has been made in this direction.
1t at least furnishes Il starting point
for action looking to the giving to the
government of the personnel system
that ii must have if government work
is to be even moasurably well done
The situation now is that there Is
an insiStent demand Oh the part of
hn MI hui, h., ,,-hn nI, lin ,.tr
ton OF the national government be put
upon Il more eLIc.ent basis, and thai
the present waste of public funds re
suting from present defective organ
iZation and methods. shall cease; that
congress is alive 20 this demand and
has made start toward meeting it;
thct the fundamental defects in the
existing system are we'll known; and
that the direction efforts looking 20
reform should iaEe are clearly estab-.
lished. The responsibility is thus
squarely up to c,lls.ess
If the problem that confronts con
gress in securing this laudable end is
analysed it will be found that he
fundamental reforms are: The re
form by congress itself Of its oWn or
ganiHation ana mrthOdS of procedure
the entire revision of the present Sys
TEN under which tie financial needs
of the government are determined and
provided; tie setting up of an agency
and procedure through which the eX
penditure of public funds may be
properly controlled and congress be
given that infornation regarding such
expenditures VIII Ga II must have if it
is to asSlne it elf that lis agents, he
administrative services, are properly
performing their duties, and to act in.
diligently III respect TO the future
grant of funds; The provision of an
organ through which thes President
may in fact, as well as in name. dis
charge his duties as head of the ad
ministration; the reorganization of
the administrative branch of the gov
ernment SO as to eliminate the pres
ent widespread overlapping of iurs
dictons and functions and indefensi
BILE duplication of services. organiza
ton. plant and work. and the com
pete recastng of the present system
under which the personnel required
to man the governmental plant is Sc
crred compers stated, promoted, as
signed to particular tasks and con
trolled, to the end that not only JUS
tice will be done to the several classes
of governmental employees, but that
a personnel system will be established
that will insure maximum of eli
cheney in the actual conduct of public
affairs.
A study of action actually had or
now under way shows that steps have
been taken toward the accomplishment
of each of these fundamental reforms.
The introduction Of budget system
Is long step forward.
don't mean in the least to give the
Impression that all private business
is perfectly run and thar only govern
ment business is badly managed, or
THAI all the efficient people are in pri-
vate employ and only inefficient in the
public service. Neither Of those con-
ditlouS exists.
| In the common phrase, you have got
| to hand it, to Alexander Hamilton for
| devisng scheme that has stood up
| since revolutionary days, II has not
been fundamentally altered since his
| day. There has been no REIMBURSEMENT
of salaries in the departmental serv-
ice for sixty years. That implies
certain loyalty and faithfulness on the
| part of the workers.
| My only desire Is to disclose the
| presen. condition of government en-
| ployment; that good men are leaving
and that the present tendency, if not
checked, will inevitably. drive out of
the service all of the efficient and
leave only the mediocre and incom-
/ petent. | have said little myself, but
! have chosen TO let the men working
/ for the government tell the story. Ev-
/ cry assertion of fact in these articles
1 comes from some responsible source
| nv. authorize within .bp shpvica / an