Evening star., 1922-12-13

existing conditions are just the op-
posi:e of economy and good business
rs it not time for the thinking peo-
pie Of this land to stop and consider
workels? Should not the improve
ment start in the federal government?
With few exceptions the salaries Of
fered to men and women by the gov
ernment are below those paid for
skilled labor in mechanical trades
outside the government. There is is
much talk throughout the country OF
people fiocking to the government
service. This has not been noticed
for many years by those officials seek
ing persons who can really do the
work as it should be done. After try
Sonnel of the proper calibcr the re-
Sponsible officials are often compelled
by circumstances to take the best
material which offers. The result is
that there has been gradual de-
trriorati"n in the personnel of tn"
government service and if this is not
checked the CONSEQUENCES will be
more disastrous than many realize.
The government is today in dire
need of the services of well educated
and trained men and women, but the
only way in which it can attract them
Is TO give salaries at least as large
as those paid to trained workers in
commerce and industry. The govern
ment is. or should be, in the market
to buy the services of the highest
types of men and women. 1t will
either go empty handed or will have
to he satisfied with inferior material
if il will not nay the price and must,
therefore, suffer the inevitable conse-
qUences.
"The existence of underpaid intel
leCtual workers in the government
and in the faculties of our universi-
lnf
body polite. Those III whom the rem
edy lies should at once take serious
thought of this most serious condi-
ton.
''One of the best ways to serve
the people of the country who come
to Washington t" do business with
the federal government is to direct
them to the department.. commiSSio
or bureau where their business calls
them. and the agency by which this
service can best be rendered is a
central bureau of information" Col.
Jones declared in his report.
Time Wasted for Many.
voived in this suggestion is the fact
that when. as too often happens.
these people are misdirected. they
waste not only their own time but
that of officials and employees of the
government. In the aggregate many
year to weeks and months for almost
any one of the federal bureaus. is
unnecessarily devoted to ascertain
ing for these visitors just where they
can best transact their business
ut is clearly evident that the most
efficient and economical way to OBJ
viate this situation is to establish a
bureau. as suggested above. where
every one who desires definite in
formation from the government Can
either secure it at once or else be
directed to the proper department or
bureau where the desired informa-
tion can be obtained readily and
quickly"
Col. Jones. in his report. declares
that new buildings are needed here
for the bureau for economy's sake
The bureau now is housed in seven
only one Of which was de-
signed to serve it's needs, he says
He points out that the various activi-
ties are So spread out that much de-
lay is experienced in putting through
any piece of work. such as a nautical
chart.
THE remedy is a new building de-
signed to permit production at the
lowest possible unit cost" Col. Jones
stated. The report contains a COM
plete survey Of the work accom-
plished during the year. with a series
of charts made by the survey.