Evening star., 1923-12-15
COL. ZONES PRAISES
!. NEW PAY RATINGS
Coast Survey Head Says Al.
ready More Efficiency
Is Noticeable.

How reclassifcation is already con-
tributing to increased efficiency in
federal activities, with recommends
tions, as to how this improvement can
be continued and increased with en-
phasis placed on the need for more
adequate quarters for the coast and
seodefic survey, are featured in the
annual report of Col. Z. Lester Jones,
director of that bureau
CommendatiCn is made of the lin
creaslng sympathy of Congress" and
or the clear understanding and sup
port of President Harding which re-
suited in the classification act.
wv nile it was well understood and
known by many that the bill was not
perfect, Col Jones points out, nor
and ideas, still it was such a big
step i'll the right direction that it's
possible defects Were more than COM
penaated by the benefits that would
accrue from It's enactment. The
whole tenor and purpose of this legis-
lation Will. L believe, remove the gem
eral and just dissatisfaction among
the underpaid employees of the gov
morale and raising their standards,
SO that the most able workers will
be attracted to and retained in the
service, while those who fail to show
done by meeting the new standards
Will be gradually eliminated through
the pressure of their more loyal and
Efficient associates"
He says that reclassification must
Firing contentment to the worker
and thereby greatly increase their
efficiency and productivity" but at
the same time he calls attention to
another vital" phase of this. legis-
lation. arguing that "inasmuch as the
nt.fT, fS oh, 1,,rT
with the responsibility of handling
their several affairs, and Congress in
turn looks to them for the proper
results, it is therefore in the interests
of good administration that classifi- :
cation and salary matters, which af-
feet the internal activity of any de-
nartment, should be adjusted by that
department, and not by some commits
sion or board which bears no respon-
sibility for the conduct of the busi-
ness of the department."
Need of Quarters.
In discussing the absolute need for
more adequate Quarters. which could
he had at a real saving to the gov
ernment, Col. Jones in his report
points out that the bureau lin its
present quarters is operating under
a handicap that continually stiles
production. We are complaCent in
the apparent saving in appropriations
in sustaining from providing funds
for a modern building properly
planned for the industrial operations
carried on by the coast and geodetic
survey, and yet we are yearly paying
additional overhead in salaries of eX-
ira personnel and lack of production
that is all out of proportion to the ill
terest cost on money invested in a
building adequate in every way for
the coast and geodetic survey
The output of this bureau has A
worldwide distribution. The nforma-
ton that is on the charts that are COM
piled. printed and distributed by the
bureau is absolutely necessary to the
pilot of every vessel that enters. trav-
erses, and leaves the waters of the
United States and its possessions.
These charts are sod at the cost of
paper and printing. but this cost is
higher than is necessary, due to the fact
that they are produced in a plant that
Is not modern and which cannot be
made modern in its present housing