Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04

Explains the Recent Agitation Con.
corning the Rules.
STAR reporter yesterday called the attention
OF Dr. Gregory, OF the civil service commission to
the suspicion expressed by many that the recent
agitation Of the subject of classification in the
different departments has as an object the secur-
Ing OF the civil service protection for officials who
have heretofore been regarded as beyond that pro-
lection, and who, in consequence, would be in dan
ger OF dismissal under the incoming administra-
ton.
ave are perfectly willing said Prof Gregory,
ssthat the course OF the civil service Commission
since the enactment OF the civil service law should
be proclaimed from the housetops. I can readily
show that such suspicion you have referred to
is entirely unfOunded. The agitation OF the CLASH
fcatlon question, which Is not recent, as Is sup
posed, is not to secure new construction OF any
portion of the civil service law the civil service
rules, but simply TO have from the heads of
the different departments statement In
writing OF the existing classification in each
in as a heretofore construed and
that no attempt has been made or wi be made, 70
extend the limits OF the provisions Of the civil ser
vice rules, but that aim Is simply to secure as
near as possible Uniform classification In the de-
partmentS within those limits. which will materf-
ally aid in establishing rules for promotion. ThiSis
phase OF the civil service which has not vet been
actei upon, but which comes within the province
OF che civil service commission. To show that the
change of admfnfstrati has in wise caused this
be ore the election i5 was suggested to the PreSi-
dent to call upon the heals OF the different depart
ments to put In writing for the guidance OF the
commission, the classification cf the clerical forces
In their respective departments This W9s done,
and the publication Of the circular a few DAYS
ago by the secretary of the Treasury is probably his
answer TO that request" Tfhe replies OF ether cab
net Officers made earlier created 10 comment, al
though similar in substance to that Of the Secre-
terror made his reply December 9th. 1884, and the
Secretary Of War January 18th, 1851 sAn officials
ana employees who are net nominated by the
President and confirmed by the Sch ate, and who
are not employed as workmen or laborers, come
Within the classification proposed by the civil
vice law. The President and heads OF departments
are authorized to classify these employees. Rule
10. OF the civil service rules, exempts certain OF
these officers from examination, but not from
ciaSSiflcatlOn. Pending the establishment OF q
system Of rules governing the promotions in the
departments, such matters have been left with
the heads OF the respective Departments.
Our efforts are now simply to secure classical
ton as uniform in the departments as possible in
order to establish a necessary system regarding
promotions So far from fastening in this mat
Tree TO say that had the presidential election re-
suited differently, our steps in this matter would
have been much more active than they have BEEN
me commission Is unanimous in the opinion that
IL would not be becoming or proper to move ac-
lively in the matter on the eve of change OF ad-
mln1stration As said at first, there is no nten-
ton. nor has there been, of endeayOrtng to extend
the application of the civil service rules"
Docs not rule 10, to which you refer, exempt
from examination both chiefs of bureaus and diyi-
sionS?" asked THE STAR reporter
1T does" was the reply, 'sbut some chiefs
OF bureaus are nominated by the President
ana some are not. It Is the lack of uni
formity OF classification which rendered the
use or both titles necessary to indicate one
grade L nave no doubt that this confusion of
ttltS mas led the public to believe that because
chiefs OF bureaus q mean those nominated by the
Piesldentl were exempt from classification, there
lore, chiefs OF divisions were alike exempt when
In fact, they were simply exempt from exarnina-
ton. l believe that the classification In all the
departments has included all the higher grades OF
cerkshlps which are not filed by presidential ap-
pontment 1t also includes all the lower grades
OF clerical nature although they are not exactly
alke IN all departments. In one, for Instance. the
lowest grade cerkship Is $780, while in another it
Is $50 III is uniformity, as near as practicable,
that we are aiming at and while there may be
some differences In the classification On the whole,
they 90 not interfere with the general plan fol-
lowed. The whole thing, In a nutshell is then
not an extension OF limits, but simpler arrange,
ment within those limits is the thing sought"