The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-04
THIRTY SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE

SENATE
1EoReASnATIoS OF CLERKS THE
PAaTMESTs
The CHAIR laid before the Senate the following
report, from the Heads of the Departments, rela-
The reorganization OF the clerical force OF the
Departments:
WAsHISGToN CRY, May l. 1852
The undersigned, in compliance with a resoiu-
zion Of the Senate OF the 1th Of March, 1851 direct.
ing the Secretaries Of State, Of the Treasury of the
Interior, OF war, OF the Navy, and the Postmaster
General, 10 report to the Senate "somc plan of
Classifying the clerks in the several Departments,
for nPportoning their salaries according to their
strSSts, and Tor tqualizng the salaries of the
clerks OF the same grade in each of the Depart
lnents also, some plan to provide for n fair and
lmPiruai examination of the qualifications of
clerks, and Tor promoting them from one grade to
ano,her, upon due regard 10 qualifications and ser
vices, respectfully present the following separate
reports touching the cerkships in their respective
Departments. with sug gcstions for etiectng the OBJ
Jects supposed TO be contemplated in the Senate's
resolution.
he Importance OF securing, more uniformly,
high grade OF qualifications and more permanent
feature 10 the cleTkships in the several Depart
!nents. must be universally conceded but desira
bic as the undersigned regard these objects, they
lave found ii difficult to devise any plan for their
attainment by legislation without at the same
iiiiie Imposing restraints and limitations upon the
discretionary power of appointment now vested
IN the heads OF Departments in accordance with
ne proVIslons oil the Constitution. Ii ii be con-
coded that Congress may subject the power OF
appointment to such restrictions as they NAV deem
cXpedssn mt, 1t may yet be doubted whether do
might not impair, rather than promote, the eff.
cheney OF the clerical force of the several Depart
nents. and, by increasing the existing evils ope
rate to the deritneut of the public service. Leaving
to the wisdom OF the Legislature determine how
far this power - By the Constitution left subject
10 restraints or conditions, they suggest, the
most appropriate means which they have been
ao TO devise for bringing into practical effect the
determinations proposed. that in of a vacancy
IN any ONCE OF clerk. except that of chief clerk
board shall be constituted by the head of the De-
partment in which the vacancy shall have occur
red. TO examine any candidates to fill the same Who
may be sent before it by the head Of the Department,
as we'll as to their condition of health and ply
energy, as To their education, skill and other qua
hhcations for the duties of the place in question;
and that no person shall be considered eligible to
such appointment who shall not produce TO the
head OF the Departmentto be filed in it's archives
certificate Of approval from such board Of exam
inatioa.
That every vacancy, except In the chief clerk
ship, or IN clerksblp Of the lowest cass, shall he
niied from the next inferior class in the same dc
partment, or bureau, by the individual who shall
receive from board constituted for his examna-
lion IN the, same manner prescribed in the fore
going paragraph cci tlfiCate that he Is fully qua
lifted.
And if no person in such inferior class receive
such certificate, then such other person may be APP
pointed SHALL by the direction of the head of the
Department, be sent before suoh board of exami-
nation, and receive theretrom the requisite certif
cate OF qualification.
That when such other persons shall be so APP
pointed without the previous presentment for
animation OF all the clerks Of the cass inferior
70 that In which the vacancy is to be filled, the
head Of the Department 10 which such appointment
Is made shall cause TO be entered fully its
CORDS the reasons Tor such procedure.
" bile several OF the undersig ned entertain
doubts IN regard 10 the practicatiity utility OF
tbe foregoing plan OF preliminary examination,
and OF promotion by regular graduation, they have
"l,n come hesitation concluded 10 unite IN report
lnR II as worthy VI trial, and more likely 10
Conphsh the desired object than any other upon
which oil can agree.
Ia regard TO the classification Of olerks too,
a-Eht difference ol opinion exists among the UNI
dtrslsned, "a Will be seen By an examination II
their several reports annexed. Most Of them, how
ever, are OF opinion that, though the number and
proportion VI clerks In each Of the proposed classCs
required in the several Departments and oliccs
VIII Le widely different, yet that Nj The clUrks
pOyed al the seat Of Governnent-as well by the
two Houses Of Congress as IN the several EIecu
1--we Departnenls-Inay be useiully classified
co1dIpg 10 service and capacity, with uniform
aalariss to all clerks OF the same grade.
Inc clAssibcation and arrangement OF clerks
submitted in the accompan ying schedules for
eral oil the Executive Departments, and the bureaus
and decks thereof are in accordance with the indi.
yidual views of the head Of that Departmen mt for
which the schedule is made.
The undersigned, however, unite in recommend
ing that such class hcatiOn and arrangement be es
tAblishod by a~ as shall be found most nearly TO
iull these several recommendation. and that uni
form salaries be established for all the clcrks Of
each class-in whatever department OF the Govern
ment they may be enployed-at the city Of Wash
inglon.
Addressed 10 the Hon. W T. Kfso, President
pro tvnbors United States Senate And signed by
the Secretaries Of the Treasury Of The Interior, OF
War, and Of the Navy, and by the Postmaster
General
Accompanying this report were hedulcs OF
oLassihoation Of the clerical force, With aPpor-
uJnment Of salaries, sc.
The whole referred 10 the Committee on RI.
nance, and ordered 10 be printed.
POSTAGE
DIR. SUMNER presented the resolutions Of the
Legislature OF Massachusetts, in favor OF cheap
ocean postage.
MILITARY RousTy LANDS.
DIR. fEJCH, from the Committee on Public
Lancs, 10 whom was referred numerous memoir
ais praying notifications Of the present Bounty
Land lave, said the committee had come 10 the
conclusion that u was inerpedcnt at preacnt 10
prOyo-e any modification Of that Law. aud had in
sructed bin 10 ask 10 be dischar ged from the fur
ther consideration Of the same.
LAID TO wIfcoSsIS roE RAiLaoAls.
Mr. WALKER presented The resolutions Of the
Legislature Of wisconsin, asking grants Of lands
Tor certain railroads in that State.
lie moved that the Senate proceed 10 the consid-
cfaiion Of the bill granting 10 Wisconsin land 10
sd IN the construction d certain railroads Ia that
other from Milwaukee 10 the Mississppi river; and
che motion Was agreed o..
Dir SHIELDS submitted amendment making
grant TO Illinois for extending said road from The
boundary line Of Wisconsin 10 Chicago, Illinois
Aud, after some debate, the amendment was
Withdrawn.
A motion 10 lay the bill on the table vas Lost
The bid was then ordered 10 be engrossed Tor
third reading.
jim CAPEHs.
Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa, reported bill granting a
pension 10 Jim Cspcrs, free gro for revolution.
sry services; which, on motion was taken up, con.
,ioered, aud ordered " be engrossed for third
reading.
NDIhS DEFICIENCY BILL.
Toe h0us Of one O'clock having arrived. the con.
alteration Of the Deficiency bill was resumed.
Dir. AIJHiSON moved that the bill be post
pOned Tor thc purpose Of going into Executive ses
Tor the purpOsc Of cOnsidcring certain Indian
treaties which he said acquired some action, aud
VA which the people II love, WIZ, Onsin. and Min.