Evening star., 1933-06-24
Consistency and Economy.

It would be of some comfort, not only
for otherwise disinterested members of
this community whose neighbors and
friends are employed in Government
work, but for those WORKERS themselves
who are being dropped from the rolls,
If they could feel that all this suffering
and real tragedy are a part of the
essential sacrifices that must be made
If stricken Nation is to pull itself to-
gether again. If one could sincerely
feel that this is true. there would still
be suffering, but without bitterness.
The bitterness creeps in because of
the inconsistencies that become so plain
on every hand. Hundreds of men and
women are being discharged with
ruthleSsness heretofore associated only
with the Grass and unfeeling en-
ployer for whom the Government would
adopt some sort of code of ethics and
good behavior to make him see the
light. At the same time, hundreds of
new jobs are being set up; the money
saved by discharging personnel, cutting
salaries by euphonious fifteen per cent
IN relation to reduced costs of living
while imposing additional lay-offs with
out pay, is a mere fraction of the hum
dreds of millions that are being spent
In other directions.
The merit system is undergoing the
most vicious attack on the grounds of
pure partisanShip since the days that a
people, wearied and disguised with the
demoralizing influences of the spoils
system, set up the Civil Service Com
mission in the hope that once and for
all Government service would be placed
above politics. While there are opti-
mistic and assuring statements that
new jobs in Washington will be given
to those cast out elsewhere in the name
OF economy, everybody knows that many
Of these new jobs are regarded as the
spoils of victory and were removed from
the Civil Service requirements for that
reason alone, and the rush for them
Is on
Spending millions to stabilize" agri-
culture with one hand, the Government
brushes aside with the other an agri-
cultural marketing service in order to
save couple of millions, thus wiping
out at one stroke system established
In the past to protect the farmers
against the racketeers of the wholesale
markets Snpndirn -
lish machinery for the control of in
dustry and the adoption throughout in
dustry of agreements and codes and
understandings, the Government goes
through the Bureau of Standards with
flne-tooth comb and cleans out the
agencies set up there for the establish
ment of standards in industrial products.
The forgotten man" in Washington
To-Day Is the average, hardworking
government employe who long since
left politics to the politicians, who
has been interested chiefly IN his Job,
secured on the basis of merit through
competitive examination; who has
chosen government work for a career
and who stuck to his lean job while
others were fattening on the outside"
in the days when work was plenty and
pay was high
A brave President has set his face
toward goal in reducing government
costs, and achieving that goal is not
pleasant job that can be accom-
plished without hurting an body. He
has the support of the country and
must continue to have the support of
every loyal American to be successful
But the ruthless reorganization and
economy now going forward in Wash
ington must in the end have been
demonstrated to be for the benefit of
the country and not confused, as it is
being confused. with the creation OF
opportunities for the spoilSmen. The
fewer the delegations of Congressman
who organize raiding parties and call
on the patronage dispensers for action
the stronger the support of the coun-
try, which has been leo to believe that
the ruthleSsncss in Washington is the
ruthIes ssness of war-grim and cruel,
but necessary If there is to be victory.
It might be economy TO provide dIplo-
mats who go back and forth across the