The Washington times., 1924-02-27
Government Clerks as Footballs
for Higher Ups
BY BILL PRICE.

ny DILL FRlCE.
The return to their former positions Of ten employees who
were many months unfairly dismissed from the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing is naturally source Of satisfaction
70 workers in that big Government plant and all workers
for the Government in that indicates disposition among
executive officials to right wrongs that may have been
mitted against employees Of Uncle Sam.
The final action in this case however was not realized
until after incessant and vigorous fighting by influential
friends In and out Of Congress- who let up in their
efforts to have the discharged and their
civil service status or to their former positions Three Of those
VINO were perempoy kicked out under charges died
before their had been cleared Even those who are back
on the pay rolls suffered the losses Of their salaries for
periods.
These bureau employees remarkably fortunate in having
enlisted the sympathy and backing Of such men as Senator
OARAWAY, who peristenty kept their before Pres
dents HARDING and COOLIDGE and Secretary MELLON.
Mr. MELONS action in overtuning things in the bureau wasl
taken IN the belief that reports him accurate There
appeared to be no partisan motive in what he did, although
many OF those who advising and furnishing alleged tes
Mony were political schemers who did expect benefit by the
dismissal Of their fellow employees These schemers were
backed too by influential statesmen and politicians seeking
70 pay OH political debts through promotion to the positions
Mr. Mellon and President Coolidge gave evidence Of their
"Reminiscences when the true facts having revealed they
decided to do justice to those who had been the victims Of
such manifest Injustice
But for unusually strong backing and assistance these
employees might never have been replaced in their positions
and their lives would have been lived under the cloud of
They would have been sneerngy referred to
- dishonest and inefficient
What has occurred in this case may occur again as to
individual employees smaller groups Of employees who will
not find strong champions to battle for them Thew must
stand the gait and bear the gnomny because heads Of
are too busy to listen their pleas for reopening
o. their cases or because there Senator'S Congress
men who have the time to fight for them beyond the custom
airy formal efforts that are often made.
This sort OF thing is not creation Of the mind II has
changes Of administration bring flow of new higher ups
INTO the departments and bureaus who seek to make
These higher political apponees They may or may
not be men Of substantial mind and poise They may be
nothing Of work. but bringing with them flock
OF new notions and ideas they to nCt Government
Uncle SAM who find themselves shifted around from place
70 place subjected to wh@s and caprce sometimes dis
toadying" to their superiors, may be benefited
The orderly processes Of administration in depart
ent or bureau are disturbed and changed time after time
BY new higher and their cotere Of bootlCng under
sappers Always present the chaps who trying to
make records by feversh activities Of minor nature that
accomplish nothing except to disturb the efficiency Of the
mass Of workers
Uncle Sam Government gets along under the strain Of
ALL but there is lacking anything like real business methods
or system Political higher ups who know nothing Of bust
ness put few years trying out new schemes They
succeeded by other higher who nuly what has been
done and start along other lines.
In this confusion there is protection for humble en-
poes VINO happen to get into the way Of freshly inspired
higher ups II they unfairly dismissed they have little
chance in an appeal to those who brought about their
There real necessity for civil service appeal court to
which injustices may be taken for hearing and settlement
court the recommendations Of which likely followed
BY the heads Of departments and independent establishments
Cabinet officers have soft snaps They work and
difficult for them to take the time get the bottom Of
personnel cases. They must rely Others It has been
shown that too often the Others be fully relied
upon
Every employe Of the Government who may be summary
dismissed on charges affecting his her good should
mission court that is politically coored and which
Will fearlessly search for facts and truths