Evening star., 1941-09-14
Capitol SideIights
BIZ Will P. Kennedy.

During this second World War eX-
pansion of the Federal civilian defense
work army there are few if any who
have even heard the name of a man
who more than a quarter of a century
ago headed a Government agency that
pioneered for the benefits they now
enjoy. There are few taxpayers who
appreciate that his agency laid the
groundwork for the Federal budget and
accounting agencies, and for more than
20 years worked tirelessly for economy,
efficiency and career service throughout
the Government. The man referred TO
is Herbert D. Brown. chief Of the United
States Bureau of Efficiency, which was
abolished in 1890, but whose basic work
led to reorganization of the administra-
tive branch Of the Government and re-
classification of salaries-and whose in
fiuence today pervades Uncle Sans
vastly enlarged work shop. Men who
trained with him have earned their way
into high positions in the most impor-
tant agencies of Government.
Mr Brown entered the Federal
service in 1905 In 1911 he was
accountant on President Taft's Commis-
sion on Economy and Efficiency- Two
years later he was chief Of the Division
of Efficiency of the Civil Service Com
mission. and in 1918 he was appointed
by President Wilson as chief of the
Bureau of Efficiency. Since leaving the
Federal service he has been an in
dustrial relations consultant and re-
sponSible for liberal policy toward per-
sonnel and retirement systems in some
Of the largest industries. His home Is
in Glenora, N. Y. Among his CO.
workers for economy and efficiency IN
government we're:
William H McReynolds. administra-
tive assistant to the President, who also
is liaison officer for personnel manage
ment and for emergency management.
He formerly was investigator and as
sistant chief of the Bureau of Efficiency,
director of the Classification Board, as
sistant to the director of the Budget
Bureau, to the governor of the Farm
Credit Administration and to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. For nearly three
years he has been a member of the
Presidents Commission on Civil Service
improvement and is president of the
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Commission.
Harold N. Graves, special assistant to
the Secretary of the Treasury, was
senior accountant and assistant chief
of the Bureau of Efficiency. He pre-
viously had spent nine years in i'm
portant positions in the Philippine serv-
ice. He was member of the Personnel
Classification Board. administrative as
sistant to the Secretary of Commerce,
executive assistant to the Postmaster
General, director of postal rate research
and technical assistant In the Treasury
Department.
Alvin w. Hall has been director of
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
since 1924.
Malcolm Kerlin, administrative as
sistant to the Secretary of Commerce
since 1929. He was an investigator and
later assistant chief of the Bureau of
Efficiency. Previously he had been as
sistant chief clerk of the Post Office
Department, superintendent of registered
mails, assistant postmaster of WASH
ington and director of postal savings.
James v. Bennett is director of the
Federal Bureau of Prisons and commits
sioner of prison industries in the De-
partment of Justice.
George c. Havenner, an investigator
for the Bureau of Efficiency, has done
important statistical work in many Fed
eral agencies-the Government Printing
Office, Treasury, Commerce and Labor
Departments. He was chief clerk and
superintendent of the Commerce De-
partment, Investigated the Government
Printing ONCE for President Theodore
Roosevelt in 1909 and investigated
foreign trade promotion activities for
the Federal Government in 1920, and
was a member of the first citizens ad-
visory commission to the District Com
missioners and has been trustee Of
the Washington Public Library since
1880.
Charles S. Bell, assistant administra-
tive assistant, Treasury Department;
Sidney Morgan. secretary of the Tariff
Commission nov In military service,
and Donald B. Evans, an investigator
for the Bureau Of the Budget.