Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-06
THE ENATlON'S N'SCAPITAL.
Odlcials Who find Civil Service
az Aid.
Final Arrangements for The Presidents
Visit East.
The Pension Agent for Augusta Among
Ysstsrdays Nomination..

WASHINGTON. Aug 8.
The Post today prints an interview with
Secretaries Window, Proctor, Noble, aud
Attorney General Miller, in relation to the
workings of the civil service Law. The
following questions were asked the cabinet
officers; DO you think the enforcement Of
the Law has improved public service?
Do you not think tina, YOU, NJ head Of your
department, are better qualified 10 select
clerks with specisl reference 10 the work
required. than suy body elsep The respon-
sibility Of properly running the department
being upon you. would you, II there we've no
civil service Law, select men you did not
believe were qualified, solely for political
rsasonsy
Secretary Window unheststingly asserted
in response 10 the first question that he be-
lieved the enforcement II the law hal i'm
proved the public service. To the second
question he replied IL would not have time.
aud much prefer TO he relieved OF the no.
cessiy. Would be dependent in great
measure on the representations Of tho sspif-
ants themselves, or their friends. l would
have countless appeals made to my sympathy
by needy persons incapable of self support
in other walks of lite, and would have TO
correct mi,takcs Of my own max.
ing" To the third question: mo sir,
would not" cmphatesliy rcjolncd the secrc-
tary, mo person ut to occupy any official
position would do that"
Secretary Proctor thought that the Law had
Improved the public service, lie said he
had known very little of the service previous
20 the existence Of the law. lie thought u
he were obligcd.to select all clerks Of the wAv
department he would have very little time for
ANYTHING else. "if the law were repealed l
should feel i, would be something Of a
ealsmity to have the work Of the civil service
commission dcvolvc on me. Ia regard To
my exlsficf &C and feelings for the civil ser
wee isw, endeavor To obey It TO the ex-
tent thai understand 1t with sincerity. AZ
to whether We can get along without II, l
,au only say that In the census bureau,
where the statute required the secretary Of
the interior to make arcgnlaton with the
assistance at the superintendent of census,
We have insnpurs,cd "A system of rules Of
"a mi alton w tclieve will give just ~ good
,. suAe undcr our direct care a- II 1t had
an outside experimenting board l shall
continue to obey the civil service Law as
tar as believe il goes, and an not inclined
10 surrender a single point to the commits
sion on any prrtentiop they may make. l
81 not feel prepared to say tha, th. public
service has been improved by the work Of
he civil service commission ="
In answer 10 the question: "If the appoint
neDt of employees IN your department de-
solved upon you, would you Ill vacancies
because of political affiliations or would
our selections be based On the merits Of
iandiia,es." The secretary replied, That
= hypothetical case, l cannot answer
= You don't suppose you are going to get
cabinet officers to answer this question: do
four' wa, Attorney General Millcr's COM
DeDi, "my business is to interpret law,
do not want 10 discuss IT," See.
re,ary Kusk preferred to say nothing at this
lime.