The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-08-23
washington Letter.
tf'rom cur regular correspondent,

! W ASHlNtIpN. ~ ~ EuS. IL, iSo"'
On Saturday Civil Service Commission
ers Lyman and Thompson had an inter-
view with the President regarding several
important changes in the civil service
rules The conference is understood to
have been harmonious and favorable to the
changes contemplated, and as soon as the
changes are perfected the President will
approve them. One Of the rules to be
amended will place chiefs of divisions
within the classified service, thus providing
that the changes that occur in these posi-
lions can only be filed by promotion or by
certification from the Commission. This
change will certainly be for the good of
the service, especially if such positions be
filled, as they probably will be, by promo
ton. As it is at present, dozen of chiefs
are appointed who have not the requisite
qualifications for any responsible position.
They are men of some political influence
who know nothing of the work to be done
and who are too incompetent to learn
new business in less time than decade.
Before the civil service rules went into
effect, chiefs of division were selected from
the most valued clerks, who thoroughly
understood the particular work of the disi-
sion. With the Cleveland administration
came great pressure for Office that was
especially strong as to the chefships, they
being outside the civil service rules. One
Col. Faulkner, appointed chief of divi-
| -, Dapcior Rtraa,1 hnna mo fapaous for
phenomenal ignorance. He remained in
the Bureau four years, departing this
spring, after 4 vigorous attempt to be re-
tanned, with tho reputation of being the
most densely ignorant man that ever drew
pay from government. He once spoke of
the corridors of the building as seerdu-
roys;" us Artemus Ward says, ''TIe was
an 'amoosin' cuss." Another division
of the same bureau had chief of about
like calibre, who is still retained as a clerk
at 81 800, and who had the i'll grace to OBJ
| ject to being reduced. In his former years
as a chief he simply never made an attempt
to understand the duties OF his position.
He feebly looked over and signed reports
!
trusted all work to sharp clerk detailed
for the purpose, who during his admins
tration was assuredly the power behind the
throne
The Republican chiefs selected have
been in many cases of no better metal.
The chief OF whom have just spoken is
succeeded by the brother of Western
Congressman, who managed to have his
imbeclity overlooked by the appointing
authority. This man threatens to emulate
the doughty Col. Faulkner. The new
mans hobby is keeping time and spying
about to detect stray newspaper readers in
the toilet rooms. OF the work of the divi-
sion he does not try to know anything AS
to whether or not the division is keeping
up its record for quality and quantity of
work he does not appear to care. This
man could MOI have passed an examination
for 5000 clerkship, and that is why he
was made chief of division. These
are by no means exceptional cases, and one
may say with perfect confidence that The
average chief is of lower order of intell-
gence and ability than the average clerk
working under him. This is an abuse that
President Harrison does well to eradicate.
The President and Mrs. Harrison de-
parted for Deer Park on Saturday, accom-
panied only by Private Secretary Halford.
The party will be joined by Marshal Rams
dell tonight and will go to indianapolis to
the laying of the corner stone of She sol
der's new monument. The President will
then return to Deer Park, where he will re-
main until the latter part of September.
The Heather Chinese are not so peculiar
as Bret IIarte found them in California.
Commerce has opened up their ports and
travel has widened their lives. The mem
bers of the Chinese legation stationed here
are especially susceptible to the Influences
of the Western worlds civilization. They
go about in society, chat with pretty girls,
ride in well built drass and drink cham
payne with RELISH The rules of the
household Of the legation are about the
same as those of moderately strict board
| ing school, but many fine midnight finds
two or more of the junior attaches, dis
guiscd in American clothing and with their
pig tails carefully wound up under derby
hats, taking in ''the rounds A police
man whom know, recently received $50
for allowing two members of the Chinese
legation to escape during the raiding of a
dive. One daring and wealthy almond
eyed diplomat has outdone his brothers in
| the race for pleasure. lie recently pur-
chased cosy home in the northwest, and
the deed was made in the name Of former
Treasury widow who was once the mistress
of President Of the United States and who
has not yet outlived her beauty. 70 this
| gilded cage goes my lord diplomat every
afternoon, and the neighbors arc amazed at
his oriental audacity.
The appointment of Col John NJ Will
son as superintendent of the Military Acad-
envy at West Point is regarded as particu-
larry feieitous. During his residence here
as Commissioner Of Public Buildings and
Grounds Col. Wilson has greatly endeared
himself TO hundreds of personal friends.
| WEsroN