ROSA: REORGANIZKD CIVIL SERVICE 537 



Active recruiting by representatives of the Civil Service Com- 

 mission in those more distant States would perhaps go far tovi^ard 

 remedying the difficulty, but it would involve some expense. 



The last difficulty mentioned has lately been partially met, al- 

 though compulsory retirement on $30 to $60 per month, accord- 

 ing to length of service, is not an attractive proposition in the 

 higher grades of the service, especially when it is learned that 

 the salary deductions (to be credited to the pension fund) are 

 proportional to the salary, but the benefits are not. For exam- 

 ple, the deductions for a $4800 position are four times as much as 

 for a $1200 position, but the retiring allowance is no more than 

 for the latter position. - 



If through the adoption of a budget system or otherwise, funds 

 are made available so that adequate salaries can be paid and 

 promotions can be made systematically and without undue de- 

 lay, and work can be planned ahead and carried out consec- 

 utively by those who plan and begin it, the most serious handicaps 

 to efficiency will be removed and a long step forward in good 

 government will have been taken. One of the greatest handi- 

 caps to good administration is the lack of inducement for a career, 

 arising from inadequate salaries for administrative positions in 

 nearly all branches of the government service. Adequate sal- 

 aries which would be an incentive for the best to remain in the 

 service of the government would be of great value to the service, 

 and would remove many difficulties arising from inexperienced 

 men filling responsible positions. With so great a turnover in 

 the personnel, including administrative officers, mistakes in ad- 

 ministration are to be expected. It is no more possible to operate 

 an important department of the federal government satisfactorily 

 with a large proportion of inexperienced officers and employees 

 than it would be to operate a bank or a great mercantile estab- 

 lishment successfully with inexperienced officers and employees. 

 The wonder is in some cases that the government departments 



- So far as the higher positions are concerned, therefore, the retirement law offers 

 no incentive for entering the government service, but is one more reason for in- 

 creasing salaries. For the deductions from salary, coming after so many increases 

 in the cost of living, are in many cases like the straw that breaks the camel's back. 



