Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-08
MONDAY, MAY 3, 1852.
IN SENATE.

The PRESIDENT of the Senate laiFbefore the body a
communication from the several Departments, made in
compliance with resolution of the Senate of the 7h Of
March, 1851 calling the several heads Of Departments
to report plan of classifying the clerks in the several
Departments apporonng their salaries according their
services and for equaizng the salaries of the clerks
the same grade in the different Departments Referred
to the Committee Finance and ordered to be printed
THE document is signed by oil the Secretaries except
the Secretary of State, and reads as follows:
WAsHlsGros MAY /, 1852.
SIR: The undersigned, in compliance with resolution
the Senate Of the 7h of March, 1851 directing the Secretaries
Of State Of the Treasury of this INTERIOR of War; the Navy
and the Postmaster General to report the Senate
plan classifying the clerks in the Departments
arporonng their salaries according their services
equang the salaries of the clerks Of the grade each
Of the Departments also plan provide for fair
impartial examination of the qualifications of clerks and
promoting them from grade TO another upon due regard
qualifications and services respectfully present the follow
ing separate reports ohng the clerkshps in their respec
tive Departments with suggestions for eecng the
supposed to be contemplated in the Senate's resolution
The importance Of securing uniformly, high grade
Of qualifications and permanent the clerk
ships in several Departments universally conced
ed but desirable the undersigned regard these objects
they have found difficult devise plan for their attain
by legislation without the time imposing
sraints and limitations upon the discretionary of
vested in the heads of Departments accord
with the provisions Of the Constitution Iii be conced
ed that Congress subject the power Of appointment
such restrictions they deem expedient may yet be
doubted whether to do might impair rather than pro-
mote efficiency of the clerical Of Depart
ments and, by increasing the existing evils operate to the
dement Of the public service Leaving the wisdom Of the
Legislature determine how far this power by the Cons
tuition left subject restraints conditions they suggest
the appropriate which they been able
bringing into practical the reormaons propos-
ed That in Of vacancy in Office of clerk except
that chief clerk board shall be constituted by the head
the Department in which the vacancy shall have occurred
examine any candidates to l the same who be
before by the head Of the Department well their
condition Of health and physical energy their education
Skill and other qualifications for the duties Of the place in
question; and that no person shall be considered eligible
such appointment who shall not produce the head Of the De-
parment be filed in its archives certificate Of approval
from such board of examination.
That every vacancy except in the chief cerkhip in
cerhp of the lowest class shall be filed from the next nfe
ror class in the Department bureau the individual
who shall receive from board for his examination
in the same manner as In the foregoing paragraph
a certificate that he Is fully qualified.
But If person in such inferior class receive such certf
cae then such other be appointed shall by the
board Of examination and receive herefrom the requisite
tifcate of qualification. 4
That when such other person shall be 80 appointed with
out the previous presenmen for examination Of all the clerks
the class inferior to that in which the vacancy be
filed the head Of the Department in which such appointment
is made shall to be entered fully its records the
sons for such procedure.
While several undersigned entertain doubts in regard
the proccab utility Of the foregoing plan Of prem-
nary examination and of promotion by regular graduation
have with hesitation, concluded to unite in repeating II
worthy of trial. and likely to accomplish the desired
object than any other upon which all can agree.
In regard the classification of clerks slight differ
Of opinion exists among the undersigned viii be
by examination of their several reports annexed Most Of
them however Of opinion that though the number and
proportion Of clerks in each Of the proposed classes requr
ed In the several Departments and Offices viii be widely differ
emit yet that all the clerks employed at the Of govern
menas well by the Houses Of Congress in the
raj Executive Departmenmay be usefuy classified accord
ing to service and capacity with uniform salaries all clerks
Of the grade.
The classification and arrangement Of clerks submitted in
the schedules for several of the Executive De-
partmens and the bureaus and desks thereof
ance with the individual views Of the head Of that Department
Tor which the schedule is made.
Inc undersigned however, unite in recommending that such
easahcaton and arrangement be established by law shall
be found most nearly fulfil these several recommendation
and that uniform salaries be established for NIL the clerks Of
each class in whatever Department Of the Government they
may be employed, at the city Of Washington
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in his classification
suggests That the salary Of the Assistant Secretary be
S4 300 per annum chief clerk s. 500; two clerks Of
two Of $1800; four Of 81 600; six Of 81 400
six Of 81 200 To all the Offices Comptroers Auditors,
&c. each chief clerk to receive 1000 In the Sd Audi
tors ONCE there are ten clerks put down at $OO eleven
at $1,000, and sixteen at 81 ,460.l
RESOLUTIONS OF STATE LEGISLATURES.
Mr.. SUMNER presented resolution Of the Legislature
OF the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, stating that
essential reduction the present rates Of postage would
very serious restraint upon the commercial and
social relations between the United States and the nations
Of Europe and would tend greatly to the advancement Of
and civilization and requesting the efforts Of
their Senator'S TO procure 30 desirable an end which was
ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads.