Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-29
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Mr.. Hoover's efforts to impose the
principles of modern business efficiency
upon the Government service have pre-
cipftated all sorts of outcries. A White
House card catalogue of departmental
employees is brought to light and as
sailed by administration critics as of
sinister implications. Inquiries into the
war service records and prohibition pro-
clivities OF deputy U. S. marshals are
likewise viewed with suspicion. The as
sert.on of Attorney General Mitchell that
the personal habits with reference to
liquor, and the personal opinions with
reference to prohibition, of the ap-
pointeeS of his department would hence
forth be matter Of Government con-
Germ, is viewed by the captiouS as in
some way or other infringing on per-
sonal liberty. Private business univer-
sally sanctions the practice of private
employers who catalogue their employees,
who require missionaries, and who
maintain whatever espionage seems de-
sirable over their personal habits, but
any such course by the Government is
resented. At the moment the Capital
finds itself quite excited on this score.
It is q rare week these days which does
not bring tempest in teapot.
X y
The appointment of Col. John L. De
Witt from the Infantry to be quarter
master general, with the rank OF major
general, surprised the Army, which still
clings to the old tradition that seniority
should largely regulate the choice of
bureau heads. Forty colonies in the
Quartermaster Generals Department
were passed over in the selection of Col
De Witt and he was in ninetieth
place In the roster of Infantry
colonies listed in the order of seniority
In the selection of Brig. Gen. Lytle
Brown to be chief of Engineers a host
Of officers in the Engineers branch
were passed over. Gen. Brown came
from the line. Nor has the Army yet
forgotten the selection of Col. Stephen
0. Fuqua to be chief of Infantry at a
time when he stood in 159th place in
order OF seniority. But In Army pro-
motions, as elsewhere in the Govern
ment, the Hoover policy is to pick the
best man for the job, regardless of
other considerations. Here again eff
cheney is the watchword.
n
Though Senator Lawrence c. Phipps,
Republi can, of Colorado, declines to con-
firm 1t, q well authenticated report is
current that he does not intend to seek
reelection and that his present DISPOSE
ton is to retire at the expiration of his
present term year hence. He will then
nave served IL years. He is one of the
country'S richest men, with large pri-
vate interests more than SUFFICIENT to
occupy his time, and is quite out of
sympathy with the rising tide of Re-
publican insurgency. Ex-Gov. Sweet of
Colorado is generally spoken of as the
probable Democratic senatorial nominee
this year, but there has been no talk
as yet of Republican candidates for
Senator Phipps' seat because of the as
sumption that he was to run again.
\ X X
Gen. Frank T. Hines, director of the
Veterans Bureau, cites some significant
figures with reference to the extent that
World War veterans have made loans
upon their bonus certificates. Nearly
one-half of the S,440,634 holders of
such certificates had borrowed on them
up to January /. The number of loans
in November and December were twice
the number in the corresponding months
of 1928 and the amount of loans dou-
bled. Nearly 10000 applications for
loans were received in the first 10 days
of this month. This is three times the
number of loans for the entire month
OF December and far in excess of all
loans In the entire month of January,
1929. Approximately 100000, 900 has
been advanced on the certificates since
the loan feature became operative, in
April, 1927. The increase in recent
months bespeaks the far-reaching ex-
tent of the financial distress which fol-
lowed in the wake Of the stock market
debacle.
y 4 \
This week marks the hundredth ami
versary of Daniel Webster's famous
grafton in the Senate replying TO Sena-
tor Hayne Of South Carolina. The ora
ton, familiar to every American school