Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1915 — “Don’ts” for Letter Writers in Navy Department [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“Don’ts” for Letter Writers in Navy Department

AN OFFICIAL list of "don’ts’’ for letter writers ih the navy department, compiled by Samuel McGowan, paymaster-general, is the subject of much comment among naval officers here who have seen copies of the order.

Here are some of the "don’ts”: "Don’t write at all unless you have something to say; and having said it, stop.” "Don’t. answer a letter just because somebody else wants you to. If you did, many a purposeless correspondence might go on indefinitely.” "Don’t give reasons or explanations unless they are called for.” "Don’t write anything in a perfunctory way; remember always that

each letter or indorsement should bear the impress of the writer’s dignity, courtesy and Intelligence.” “Don’t hesitate to say “no’ if that is the proper answer; having said it, don’t attempt to suggest an alternative aimed to circumvent your own ‘no.’" "Don’t discuss people; discuss things.” "Don't w'rite anything quarrelsome; M would probably not be signed.’’ “Don’t get excited; or, if you do, don't record the fact on paper.” "Don’t use long words when it can be helped (and it generally can).” "Don’t say ‘shall,’ ‘must’ or ‘should’ if you mean ‘will’; ‘verbal’ when yon mean ‘oral,’ ‘amount’ when you mean ‘quantity,’ ‘in- reference’ when you mean ‘with reference,’ ‘in accord’ when you mean ‘scarcely’ or ‘with the view of when you mean ‘with a view to.’ "Don’t send a letter back Unless the regulations require It. Originals are worth far more than copies for future reference.” ‘‘Don’t try to put a whole letter into the ‘subject;’ leaving nothing at all to say under it.” “Don’t write anything that has the least semblance of Inflicting a punishment or of encroaching in any other way on the proper prerogatives of any other bureau or office. . The legitimate function of this particular bureau is to supply the fleet and to account therefor; and any attempt at aggressive expansion must of necessity have the effect of crippling our work and, to that extent, weakening the navy—it being a fact beyond dispute that if we simply mind our own business there is plenty of it to take up all our time.”