The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-04-12
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Awaken Whole System.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.)
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, April Il. - The
Harding administration is thoroughly
aware of the criticism that has been
sweeping the country with reference to
its comments on the civil service system
and the summary removal of score of
division chiefs and employees in the bu-
reau of printing and engraving. And
the word is being passed back to the
friends of the administration who have
been afraid a mistake has been made
that they need not worry-the investi-
cation in progress will fully justify the
step that has been taken.
In other words, that statement of
President Harding and Secretary Mel
lon that no charges had been filed
against the dismissed employees and that
nothing had been discovered to impugn
the honesty or integrity of the employees
is to be taken literally, but the charges
of gross inefhciency will not be with
drawn. Indeed, the closing down of a
large part of the bureau and the taking
of inventory is expected to reveal suffi-
cient evidence OF ineffciency to answer
any criticism that now is being made.
All sorts of rumors have been current
| that President Harding was miSled TO
| believe that a great scandal would be
| unearthed at the bureau and that he
would find all the evidence he needed as
| soon as the organization in charge of
| things there was removed The friends
Of the dismissed employees insist that
| the investigation will disclose no more
| evidence of inefficiency in the bureau
| than in any other government depart
ment.
| Much Interest Shown.
Meanwhile. the letters being received
| from all parts of the country indicate a
| widespread interest in what is being
done with respect to the civil service
| system. Mr.. Harding's declaration that
| he was not starting a deliberate drive
4 on the civil service but was merely try
| ing to improve it was made in an effort
| to stem the tide of reproach for what
| appeared to be a return to the spoil
| system. Party workers far and wide
| however, have welcomed the President
action as 4 splendid idea and they have
! in the main rested enthusiastically OH
| the principle that TO the victor belongs
! the spoils." 1t is admitted even by adj
1 ministration officials that many of these
| letters come from politically minded folk
who believe in government by party and
| the removal of any restrictions on that
| system.
The Democrats are watching develop
ments carefully in the belief that the
| episode will be of value on the stump
| during the next campaign. Curiously
enough, one of the first issues made by
! Charles Evans Hughes in his preSiden
| tial campaign of 1916 was on the al
| legged Indifference of the Wilson admin
| istration to the civil service in making
certain appointments. Party platforms
of both sides have endorsed the civil
| service idea for many years.
Must Render Good Service.
President Harding. however, believe
that the incident win be a tonic TO tn
whole government service, that it will
stimulate efficiency and show govern
ment employees that they cannot expec
to be protected from removal if the worl
is unsatisfactory Already there ha
been preeipitated a discussion as to how
far the civil service rules should cove
positions of Importance in the govern
ment. The tendency for years has beer
| to enlarge the scope of the civil servic,
system so that permanent force o
workers might be marshalled. This hai
been advocated on the ground that il
changing administrations there's mucl