Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-18

Commissioner Roosevelt Says Some One
Has Gulled Gen. Carnahan.

A STAR reporter called on Civil Service Com
missioner Roosevelt this afternoon in reference
TO an interview with Gen. ]. r. Carnahan of
indianapolis, published in morning paper, in
which he severely criticises the work
ings of the civil service commission.
Mr.. Roosevelt was found at his desk.
having just returned from New York
where he has been engaged in an examination
Of the affairs Of the New York custom house.
He expects to return some time next week TO
resume the examination. In answer to the re-
porter's questions Mr.. Roosevelt said:
81 have read in morning paper a stateme Mt
that Gen. Carnahap is reported to have made
In which he speaks OF the civil service law as IL
is at present administered a colossal fraud.
and gives two or three alleged facts on which
he bases his statements. l trust the general
has not been correctly reported, but If he has
been can only say that do not know where he
got his alleged facts. I do know, however,
that whoever told him of them has CALLED him
most numerically. He would do well here
after, think to be little less credulous and
not snap up and repeat publicly misceiIane-
GUS collection OF ridiculous Measurements He
says or implies that in an examina-
ton for admission to the naval
academy our commission. among other
questions, caused TO be asked the location
OF Bitter mountain. As a matter Of fact we
never do nor have examined any one for adj
mission to the naval academy, and Gen. Car
nahan would have done well to ascertain this
before making such a statement. Again, he says
man examined as a cOpyist was asked the
names and areas Of the five great lakes. Again,
the general would have done well to ascertain
the facts. for We never have and never do ex-
anime copyist in geography. and we never
ask such a question that about
areas Of any applicant whatever.
Then he states that a certain country
school master passed almost perfectly every
branch OF a mail carriers examination, and
when appointed made a failure because he
knew nothing of the streets or local geography
OF the city. As matter of fact a third
of the marks or Whereabouts in a mail
carriers examination are given on precisely
this subject of the knowledge of streets and
local geography of city, so that the generals
statement must be incorrect. III the general
has been correctly reported / would suggest
that he learn not only the places for which we
examine applicants but also the questions we
ask them before INDUCING in further criticism.
A man cannot speak intelligently on a subject
when he is ignorant of the documentary facts
OF which he speaks.
CIVIL SERVICE INCIDENT.
"And now let me tell you an incident that oc-
Cured this morning which is interesting as
showing how fairly the law is being admins
tered in letter and spirit in the pension bu-
reau under Gen. Raum. When L returned
here from New York this morning / was
introduced by Gov. Thompson to
South Carolina lady. whose son
had just received an appointment in the PEN
sion bureau. The young man had gone in alb
solutely without political backing had passed
a good examination, and then without hang
ing around to see about his appointment
went to New Orleans, where he had
a chance Of employment. As the mother said,
she had heard SO often that the civil service ex-
animation was farce and that political in
| fiuence was needed, that she was made to be-
| lieve that such was the case. The young
man had no influence, political or otherwise,
and in fact was of the opposite political faith
| to the present administration. So that when
his mother without any warning read in the
paper that her son had been appointed she
could hardly believe the news to be true and
came around here to inquire. 1t was very
great pleasure to me 70 be able to tell
her that it was true. 1t would certainly be diff
ficult to wish better instance of the good
working of the law and of the way in
which it entirely divorces politics from the
appointment of minor government employees
when administered by a thoroughly upright
executive officer of the stamp of Gen. Raum,
than this of the appointment purely on his
merits Of a young man differing in politics
from the appointing power and who never has
brought or esssyed to bring a scrap of political
influence Of any kind to assist him."