Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-04
SECRETARY CHANDLER SITS. DOWN
Cpon Civil Service Reform With De-
cided Emphasis.


cided Emphasis.
The refusal of Secretary Chandler to &C
cept clerks certified by the Civil Service
Commission to fill vacancies in the Navy
Department created considerable comment
One of the Civil Service Commissioners is
reported to have stated that the board had
not considered the question, but that they
had authority TO make new designa-
ton except by authority OF the PRESIDENT
The following is the rule covering the
subject:
81. Whenever any officer having the
power of appointment or employment
shall so request there shall be certified to
him, by the co,r mission or the proper ex-
aminiDg board, four names for the yacarcy
specified, to be taken from those graded
highest on the proper register of those IN
his branch of the service and remaining
eligible, regard being had 10 any appor-
tionment of appointments to States and
territories, and from the said four selec-
ton shall be made for the vacancy.
Appended 30 the examination papers OF
Que of the men, q gentlemen from Virginia,
is an expression Vf political opinion, which
was considered little indlscLet put
quite UNIQUE and interesting. The COM
mission refused to allow the papers to be
seen, bat said that there was nothing to re-
fleet upon the examination.
Opinions of Members Of Congress.
The general expression among members
of Congress was that the Secretary did ex.
20
one member, why lie should recognize
the authority of the civil service commits
sion at all. Its rules are unconstitutional.
If YOU examine the Constitution you will
find that these rules are i'll direct violation
of it."
"There is this one thing about it, said
another, of all the persons they have ex.
amined and PASTED there must be some OF
sufficient intelligence for the position in
question, which is, believe, only $1,000
clerkship; and II they designated men who
were incompetent, they must have passed
over the heads of those OF higher merits.
look upon this as a kind OF monopoly OF
patronage"
Possible Way Cut OF The Dimeuity.
AS stated yesterday Secretary Chandler,
IN returning the four certified names to
all a CleTkship in the Navy department,
simply Informed the Con mission that the
examination papers of those certified did
not show a sufficient degree of general in
telligense to warrant him in assigning any
OF them to position in his department..
Further action in the matter, it is thought,
must come from the civil service commits
sion. The general Interpretation OF the
civil service rules is that but one certifica-
Ii ON can We made for vacancy, and that
one of she persons named must be Sc
lected. IN this case it is thought that the
only way ont of the difficulty is for Secre-
tsry Chandler to accept one OF the men to
be discharged for incompetency as soon as
it is practically proved. As all appoint
nentS are made for a probationary period
4 IS course could he pursued. This is the
situation at the Navy department to-day.
Secretary Chandler
did not decline to make an appointment
from those certified, but only expressed
his opinion. 1t is thought probable that
the regulations may be SO modified by the
President as to admit Of the certiCstion a
second time. or the course spoken OF above
followed.