The Evening critic., 1884-07-19
CIVIL-SERvICE.
Secretary Graham's Letter, Giving
"A Lucid Explanation OF the Man.
ner of Certifying Names for Ap-


Secretary Graham's Letter. Giving
"A Lucid Explanation OF the Man
ner of Certifying Names for APP
pointment.
10 he Editor Of The Erenin0 critic;
. II is gratifying to observe the care which 80
Influential journal as THE EVENING CRITIC
has taken to give the people tho facts as TO the
working OF tho Clvil.seryico syetem, but l foar
that In condensing the rathcr long story re.
lated to your reporter on the 18th instant
you have left the impression that the irules In
thai. instance were not strictly observed by oil
the parties concerned. An explanation has
been asked by o new applicant and is hero
given. There were some unlmportant errors
as to the names OF States and individuals. In.
stead, however, OF correcting these We will
omit them altogether, and only use few capt
tails In giving revision.
and u took the examination the same day,
A attaining the higher standing on the eligi.
BILE register. The standing OF each became
known TO tho other, through the intimate rela-
tions OF friendship existing between them, as
each applicant is informed by tho commission
only OF his own markings upon tho subjects OF
his examination. Now y, having observed that
chance In four TO be appointed each time that
his name should be certified for appointment
TO tho head OF department., bethought HIM
stripped him In tho race OF life, and is now an
influential member Of Congress. His letter to
tho NJ. o. recalled former pleasant associa-
pictured the writer as the beau Ideal OF insur
rectionists and rioters, but wos only Intended
as grotesque nbsurdity. But this was ap.
parently the plea upon which, while asking
such information as the Honorable Mr.. q
might be able TO give him, he modestly sug-
gested that the latter should bo certain to as
certain the time at which his name would be
certified up to the Secretary OF War, and at
that auspicious moment to step In and let II be
known by the appointing power that he was
the most htd, unreconstructed Democrat In
oil the land. or course neither tho letter nor
Its contents were ever made known at the War
Department. but the Congressman, without
writer, referred 1t TO the Civil Service Commits
eion. There was nothing TO be done but to re-
turn 1t with the Endorsement that It had proba.
bly, been go referred through inadvertence,
owing, doubtless, TO its great length.
But 1t so happened that within few days
thereafter B's name was reached for certinca-
iioD, was sent up with three others to the War
Department., and he thereupon received pro-
bationary appointment 10 position OF $1,000
year. The Congressman was informed OF tho
result, with the suggestion that II must be the
more gratifying to the recipient to know that
the appointment was made not as a mark OF
favoritism, but as the reward OF merit. 1t was
soon, however, made known to A, DOUBTLESS In
the same manner, that no has already learned
Of the relative standing OF the two. An expla-
nation theroupon was requested, IL any could
from the the same State, the one who took the
lower relative standing had received an ap-
pointment In advance of the other. An expla-
ndIlOn OF tne manner Oh certlIying iOur names
| for each appointment was promptly given, to.
gether with the additional Information that
| his (Ae) namo had previously been certified
twice TO tho War Department., and on each OF
these occasions another name had been SO.
| lected from the three accompanying IT. conse-
quently, while his name, II he was not sooner
appointed, might be etill certified twice to
| each OF the other Departments, those hitherto
below him must now have the turns to which
they were entitled In succession.
But had hardly had time to thoroughly di.
gest this explanation when he was Informed
that out OF a subsequent certifcation to tho
Treasury Department he had been appointed
TO position OF 81, 200 a year. II Is presumed
that he Will not ask for more satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION or offer TO exchange with b.
II. d. GRAHAM.