St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-05
The Practical Workings of the
Pendlet0n Civil Service
Bill.
Heads of the Government Departments
Express Themselves Generally
Well Pleased.
Mr.. Hits Minority Report Against the
further Restriction of Chinese
immigration.
Morrison's Modified Tariff Bi11---Gen.
Gresham as Judge Drummond's
Successor.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. I

SOAnOW htcu VI hdiAC
made furious onslaught on the appropria-
ton committee and was raped over the
knuckles very sharply by Mr.. Randall. a
vote will hardly be reached before Tuesday.
AN OHIO QUARREL.
Democratic leader in the house, COM
menting upon the failure of Mr.. Converse Of
Ohio to secure consideration yesterday of his
bill to restore the duty on wool, said to the
GLOBE representative that it was an Ohio
quarrel between Converse and Hurd which
ought not to dragin other sections. He thought
Morrison's tariff reduction bill would pass the
house. Another Democrat exp, esses the
opinion that the Democratic national con-
vention would not declare in favor Of any
rate OF tariff reduction but approve the Ohio
platform of tariff adjustment.
WHAT THEY THINK OF THE PENDLEToN BILL.
The report of the civil service commission
is supplemented by letters from members of
the cabinet to the president expressing their
opinions OF the operation of the Pendleton
bill. Secretary Frelinghuysen says:
within my observation the change has pro-
duced and promises most satisfactory results.
There should be no doubt that the class of
applicants who may pass with success the ex-
animation required will be fitted for the du.
ties OF this department. Moreover, the pres
sure OF office seekers and of those recon-
mended has ceased to tax the attention need
the continued experience gained in the ap-
plication of the civil service law will demon
strate its great utility''
Secretary Folger says: ''Thus far the ap-
pointments have brought into the pub
lie service persons who are up
to the average capacity and
character, though am not able to say they
are above it. am not able to say that there
has been developed in the body of the clerks
and officers in subordinate positions any
more energy in the discharge of duty and
desire to improve in the ability therefor, yet
this that there has been, heretofore or now,
lack in these particulars. It is beyond doubt
that these solicitations for appointments in
the department to places within the classified
grades has almost entirely ceased and is kept
up only rarely and from ignorance that the
law las taken the power to crafty from the
department, and as a necessary consequence
there has been saving of time to those con-
nected with the appointments to office.''
Secretary Lincoln says: ''Reports made
to me by the chiefs of the bureaus in which
the clerks are thus appointed, emitting sew
eral whose appointments are so recent that
they have either not reported for duty or
have only been at their posts a
few days, have proved competent and eff
cient in the discharge of the duties assigned
to them and have given entire satisfaction.
The result of the operation of the law most
apparent to myself is the cessation of person.
al applications for appointments Of this
character, which, before this law became OPP
erative, compelled the head Of the depart
ment to give up no inconsiderable portion of
each day to their consideration. The benefit
of the law in this regard is very great''
Secretary Chandler says: 81 have the
honor to state that the good effect Of the law
in preventing pressure for places and in Civ
ing departments, bureaus and offices their
time for the performance of their duties, has
been manifest throughout the public service.
some difficulty has evidently been exper-
fenced by the commission in furnishing suf-
fcient good material for clerkships, owing to
the reluctance of the most competent
aspirants to apply for and submit
themselves to the dreaded examin atoms
which, in the present crowded condition OF
the larger departments they have not been
confident would be followed by appointme
This reluctance may have led the commits
sion to adopt too low rather than too high a
standard of eligibility in passing upon such
applicants as have appeared and may ac-
count for the inferiority of some who have
been certified for appointments, but such
cases are exceptional. But / believe
that the experiment should be per-
severed in; that it will grow stronger
in its actual benefits to governmental service
and in public favor and that it should be fair
ly and cordially sustained by the executive
and congress-"
Postmaster General Gresham says: ''The
law has relieved the department to marked
degree from the opportunities of persons
seeking positions or of those urging them for
appointment. So far as this department is
concerned the results of the law have been
satisfactory
Attorney General Brewster says: "I con-
slider that civil service commission of the
United States has answered most useful and
necessary purpose. 1t has relieved the de-
partment from opportunities and personal
applications that were not only unpleasant
but that consumed great deal of time, and
it has advanced the public Unrest in many
particulars. l have arrived at these conclu-
sions in favor of the commission and its
workings and its usefulness against
my former notions. My knowlegs
of public service and the
proper mode of appointing persons to
it was derived mainly from others and they
were persons who had large experience ano
through a long lifetime of political action
had convinced themselves that the system OF
examination and exclusion of politics from
such appointments was romantic and fan
tastic. All of these preconceived notions
have abandoned. I have observed the in,
Auence Of the system in its application tc
other departments, and I have learned from
others who have enjoyed its benefits enough tc
convince me it will be serious mistake tc
revoke the law and re-adopt the old method. .
Secretary Teller explains that he has been
making transfers from the census Office in
stead of original appointments since July
and then says: 81 am therefore not able tt
speak of the advantages of the method of Sc
lection provided for in the act over the ole
system. I have seen, however, {
very perceptible diminution Of the pres
sure on the department over appointments
thus not only allowing the heads of depart
ments to devote their time to other purposes
than that of hsteningto opportunities of ap