Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-08

Clerks I'm the Departments, &c.
The President of the Senate, on Monday, laid
before that body the following communication
from the several departments, made in compliance
with resolution of the Senate of the 7th of
March, 1851, calling on the several heads of de-
partments to report some plan of classifying the
clerks in the several departments, apportioning
their salaries according to their services and for
equalizing the salaries Of the clerks of the same
grade in the different departments; which was
referred to the Committee on Finance, and
ordered to be printed.
The document is signed by all the Secretaries,
except the Secretary of State, and reads as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON, May l, 1852.
SIR: The undersigned, in compliance with a
resolution of the Senate of the 18th of March, 1851
directing the Secretaries Of State, of the Trea-
sury, of the Interior, Of War, of the Navy and
the Postmaster General to report to the Senate
g some plan of classifying the clerks in the seve-
raj Departments; for apportionng their salaries
according to their services and for equalizng the
salaries of the clerks of the same grade in each of
the Departments; also, some plan to provide for
n fair and impartial examination of the qunlj ica-
tons OF clerks. and for promoting them from one
grade to another, upon due regard to qualifca-
tons and services" respectful ly present the fol-
lowing separate reports touching the clerkships
IN their respective departments with suggestions
for efecting the objects supposed to be con tenn
plated in the Senate's resolution
The Importance of securing, more uniformly,
a high grade Of qualifications and more pei
mancnt tenure to the cerkships in the several
departments must be universally conceded but
desirable as the unders gned regard these OBJ
jects, they lave found it difficult to devise any
plan for their attainment by legislation. without
Mt the same time imposing restraints and Iimita-
tions upon the discretionary power Of ap-
pontment vested in the heads of depnrtr
ments in accordance with the provisions of the
constitution. If it be conceded that Congress
may subject the power of appointment to such
restrictions ms they may deem expedient it
may yet be doubted whether to do might
not impair rather than promote the efficiency of
the clerical force of the several departments,
and, by increasing the existing evils, operate to
the detriment of the public service Leaving
to the wisdom of the legislature to determine
how far this power is by the constitution left
subject to restraints or conditions, they suggest,
as the most appropriate means which they have
been able to devise for bringing into practical
effect The reformations proposed, that in case Of
| n vacancy in any Office of clerk, except that of
chief clerk, board shall be constituted by the
head Of the department in which the vacancy
to fill the same, who may be sent before it by the
head of the department, well as to their con-
dltion of health and physical energy, as to their
education, skill and other qualifications for tho
duties of the place in question: and that no per-
son shall be considered eligible to such appoint
ment who shall not produce to the head Of tho
department, to be filed in the archives, a certif-
cate of approval from such board Of examination.
That every vacancy, except in the chief clerk
Shi ar 81 rlcbi nf tclo hall
be filled from the next inferior class in the same
department or bureau by the individual who shall
receive from n board constituted for his exami-
nation, IN the same manner as prescribed in the
foregoing paragraph, certificate that he is fully
qualified.
But if no person in such inferior class receive
such certificate, then such other person may he
appointed as shall, by the direction Of the head
of the department, be sent before such board of
examination, and receive therefrom the requisite
certificate of qualification.
That when such other person shall be so mp
pointed, without the previous prcsentment for
examination Of all the clerks Of the class next
inferior to that in which the vacancy is to be
filled, the head of the department in which such
appointment is made Shall cause TO he entered
fully on its records the reasons for such pro-
ccdurc.
While several Of the undersigned entertain
doubts in regard to the Prachcab,Aty or utility Of
the foregoing plan of preliminary examination
and Of promotion by regular graduation, they
have, with some hesitation, concluded to unite in
reporting it as worthy of trial, and more likely
to accomplish the desired object than any other
upon which all can agree.
In regard to the classification of clerks, too n
slight difference Of opinion exists among the un-
dersigned, will be seen by an examination Of
their several reports annexed. Most Of them,
however, are of opinion that though the number
and proportion of clerks i'll each of the proposed
classes required in the several departments and
and offices will be widely different. yet that NIL
the clerks employed at the seat Of govern memt-
rs well by the two Houses of Congress in the
several executive dcparmcnts-may be usctuy
classified according to service and c,pacrty. with
uniform salaries to al clerks Of the same grade
The Classification and arrangement OF clerks
submitted in the accompanying schedules lur
several Of the executive departments, nnd The
bureaus and desks thereof, a'e III "ccuIdnncc
with the individual views # tie he"d "i that
uor"rtmcu '"r ~hicu the schedule IS made.
1lc Undersigned. ho"cNtr unite y. &c, NJ
mending that such cHsohc run hnd arrnn cement
We established b., law rs shah be t"und most
.urarv to fulfil lhusc several accommodations.
aud that uniform salaries &c established tor al
the cct ks Of ench class, III whatever department
Of the government they may be employed, at the
City IF Washington.
The Secret ary Of the Treasury, in his clasSit-
aotion, suggests that the salary of the assistant
cretary b. Sl.5UO per nnuum; Oh ct ERIK,
81 900 two clerks of SO 900 two Of 81 500;
four of 81 500 six OF 81 400; six OF Sl.2UO
To all the Offices, Comptro,Iers Auditors. %c';
ench chief clerk to receive 81, OOa In the lhlrd
Auditors office there are ten clerks put down at
81. 800, eleven at s 500 and sixteen Mt 81, 4o0
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