New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-22
SOME or MONTGOMEEY'S TRICKS
EvADMG THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW IL TIL

EVADING THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW * THE
PATENT OFFICE
PROM THE REGULAR coREEsroSDEsr or TIE TRIBUsEl
WAsnINGrON, May 2l.-Wnen Mr.. Mont
gornery Was appointed Commissioner OF PATENT IN
March OF last year. there was much surprise pressed
at the selection. Mr. MONTGOMERY had hat NJ expert.
ence whatever patent attorney. 1873 praci hal
confined entirely 70 tho criminal courts Mlchl.
gan. But he was creature OF Don II. ID cklnson
and the Boss" then all powerful The result OF
the first years administration Of his Office by the new
Commissioner proved now Don VI. Dickinson hal i'm.
posed upon President SIX months after having
tered upon the discharge Of his new duties NJ,
Montgomery had decided single important
case on appeal The dockets OF the Office becam,
crowded. Patent attorneys practising before the Com.
missioner uttered loud complaints Business cams
practically to standstilI wne Mr. Montgomery was
engaged in acquiring parliamentary @noselgs Of
patent law.
The work OF the office was still further RETARDED
by the appointment Of Assistant Commissioner
Vance the brother Vance who TO the present
day wonld probably Ind 1t difficult to tell the difference
between q caveat and letters patent Indeed Instead
OF surrounding himself with men who could supply his
own deficiencies, Mr.. Mon gomery's principal OF q
seemed to take first OF his family and ;hen
fit might conveniently be done, Of the pubic interests
He appointed his brother, as ignorant himself
OF patent law his private secretary-an oice. by shs
way never heard OF before. and pro-
vided for by law. In order to crate
this berth for his brother Mr. Montgomery violated
Civil Service act the following ingenious amer
The appropriation bill provides for three fourtn-elas
clerks at $500 year. and twenty-eight nrslclass
assistant examiners at ike salary. The duties OF these
two classes are totally different. and yet tn, new
register shows only clerks paid as SUCH the third
place being filed by 4 first assistant examiner, 30
called, who performs the same clerical duties "a the
others, but. on the resignation OF first assistant
examiner was transferred 70 the examineFs roll. in
order that the Commissioners brother might recev
clerical appointment and the pay-sl SOO-attachedon
But this is not the only evasion OF the civil Service
law OF which Commissioner MONTGOMERY IS guilty. ut
long second assistant exs ner signed Tue meme
bers Of the Examining Corps naturally thought Here
IS chance for promotion though by TINS time they
have become accustomed seeing promotions made -
the result OF political influence, rather than upon merit
True enough the machnls has charge OF the repair
of models aud totally unsklled IN the examination Of
patents. transferred from his place on the payroll
machinist to the vacancy IN the Examiners Corps,
aud from Maryland appointed macnnIst
at $1,000. These changes only appear on
the face OF register In reality the OLD machnst per-
forms the same duties lac performed bef"rr me new man
hI- assl-tLnt. ant the pay roll only Is chan.e .
minus second assistant examiner thOngh this -
not supposed 10 be known OUTSIDE The olce
All this very significant IN view or no
fact that the COuml--lDuer has jlst succeeded In
woodworking the House Appropriation Committed IN
sstints the plea hat the business 81 ~ once j con-
sieraby behindnAni |; IS, no donDt out II OWING
aiming corps for political pnrpo'e. AMI not because OK
a increase Of the business OF the OH ~
could cite other instances I'm which the Commit
soner has violated law IN Ter to provide p ces
for political friends Thus mention only more,
the position OF messenger aud property clerk, salary
II 900, is gwen to outsider wlo Is placed IN an
Examiners room IN line OF promotion amt a mas
AT $500 to perform tn duties or property
states mat the salary paid for each specified
position Oeloug To the one prriorlhg the dlte+
The lower grade places not incl ded In the CLASSIFIED
services have been filled by women mostly from tho
Solid SOUTH who. OF course expect TO perfo IN to
OF oopyIsts. though they figure on tho
pay-rors "laborers" These lady laborers."
understand, have many Instances been
temporarily placed In examiners rooms, where they
are required to he Instructed duties pertaining 10
the desk Of an examiners clerk whose compensation
brings within the classified service snch favor
granted only those who stand well with the Com
missioner, but especially with his brother. who has
the reputation of being ladies' man. and
peculiarly susceptible TO the charms OF
the other When sufficient
number OF the Comm ssoners "favorites" has thus
been coached. special examination Il ordered. accom-
panied with the 6,re reform rumpets and
ing OF before the Civ ,eryur deyotre, WAC
taken in ny Mr.. Montgomery's su.ve manner. and
the cOntrsi for III. pos Examiners cerN IN tls
United states Patent Office begius. There be Bat
result OF course. Those wno have hal the benefit
OF the special instruction pass. outside comp tors
fail Thus the favOrites sneak INTO the classified
vice after having hrst displaced old ami trusted el-
ployes in the lower graies. Il vii strike most people
that COMMISSIONER Montgomery IS running Com.
missioner tck rather cio'e Ia hls eno!s
| also notice that the Legislative Executive ant
Judicial Appropriation bill increases the salary o the
Assistant Compls+ioner 10 s3,2oO II Is now onIy
$1,000. The Gd tiona $3.50 Is probably granted To IN
aDe Bob" Vance to take some instruction IN tn pra,
oe of patent law. lie needs t. AN told by attorneys
badly.