New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-08
CIVIL SERVICE PROJECTIONS.
TIE REFORM MEASURE DISCUSSED.
OPINIONS OF SUBORDINATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

TIE REFORM MEASURE DlSCUSSLD.
OPINIONS OF SUBORDINATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,
my TELEGRAPH THE rRBUsEI
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.-Scvcral subordinate
officials and clerks IN tue Government departments have
been expressing for puDucuuon their views respecting
Ciy Service appointments and promotions
The First Assistant Po-tmaserGcncral, Mr. Hat'on.
condded to a Baltimore Sun correspondent bis opinion
that ''rhe whole business fraud" That 10 merely
offers a means for making political capital" TO "men
VINO are always In iayOr OF any ism which
IL likely TO command votes enough 10 give
them an Office" that tho reform twas begun 40 the
wong end" Another feature Of the civil Service
law which Mr. Hatton says Will not work vel is tHat
providing for the promotion Of clerk, by competitive
examination.
Respecting prom ltions in the Civil Service, Samuel
Hodgn. wao keeps the records pertaining 10 appoint
mcuts an promotions In tue War Department, 81 firmly
convinced that they should be made "accp.dug
10 seniority rather than by competitive examination
or selection" Ho has found by experience that con
siderable IN feeling Is engcud'rcd whcre alowercia,s
clerk Is promooi his late superior. and that the
Government really loses money thereby inasinuch rs
the sighted ma yiduul looks up1a his loug and faithful
service - counting for nIuguG" Mr HOIEEus also
OBscryes BY adopting The seniority plan persons VINO
entered the service within the past two years
feel confident that tucy VIII be promoted In duo time,
ard although they may DE- better clerks than some OF
their seniors their valuable not lost 70 tho
Governments Chiefs OF divisions ut liberty to detail
clerks such wqls they best suited for
OF course the seniority plan not INTENDED u promote
all the fossils 70 tho higher grades and keep back ambi-
tious aud Intelligent clerks because there arc several
clerk, Do each Of departments VINO are consd red
merely pensioners on account OF their previous .oS
and cifc Client services"
Nathan Smith, OF the Post Onloe Department thinks
that promotions should he either by seniority by sclr
ton By the heads departments COLONEL o. r. Burn
side, OF the same department, 'aya that the "scn"ry
system would If properly carried out greatly benefit
and harmouizo the Ciyi Service the worst system OF
all.
James r. Hood Appointment Clerk or the Department
OF The Interior believes that OF the three methods Of
making promouons-by seniority. selection and com
pc:itiyc last Is tine eas. me'lorous
and he least practicable" lie ob. crycd that the man
who answers questions best In competitive rEHmina-
ton Il not always the best clcry that the chief OF
bureau can always say who his clerks deserves
promotion; that he ALWAYS knows better than suy
hoard OF eIamners can ascertain who among his CLERKS
are accurate rapid, faithful houest ana temperate ana
ine-r qualities necessary TO the making OF gooa
public servant ns knowledge OF business
Between the other two methods Mr. Hood thinks IT dh'
cur to choose Tue seniority plan tends 10 permanccy
and fapitY Ia service, Dut OnaGs no uuut'h'l 10
excel; while to have promotions depend upon selection
,y br 10 offer every In ucrnrut excel but would
also open the door 10 tayorit1m ana luylstfe oMuIt
lie thought either method pcicI@Dc 10 'h'I u 'o'nt
tive examinations.
As the law requires examinations for promotion
and rs they have not yet been given trial. tho fore
gong criticism, appeIr bo too late IN respect aud
premature IN smother they might have been dlscnSsed
with prOpruty before the law was passed AZ the Pres
upproved the act II would seem to be 9hy re-
spcc'ful 10 hun for clerks and subordinate oihcNus 70
allow II to have fair trial before dcn"HhclhR
N In its entirety as "a fraud or uecdllh-
that this or that feature OF II IA unrneritO lOus
or prlc icabe. Besides, u seems not onl Gisr'scct
fu bur gro sly unjust 10 insinuate that When frsu5h
Arthur In ms annual message Congress, rccomeuuou
legislation tie reform OF the Ciyll service OF Magn
me sIcurd nm dcsgnrd to effect that object he did so
merely 10 mike Il little political capital