Smyrna times., 1889-08-21
For The Smyrna Times.
Washington Letter.

On Saturday Civil Service COmmlS-
siOners Lyman and Thompson had an
interview with the President regarding
several important changes in the civil
service rules. The conference is un-
derstood to have been harmonious and
favorable to the changes contemplated,
and as soon as the changes are per-
fected 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-
tions can only be filled 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 promotion. AS it is at
present dozens of chiefs are appointed
who have not the requisite qualifica-
tiOns 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
a new business in less time than a
decade.
Before the civil service rules went
into effect, chiefs of division were Sc
lected from the most valued clerks,
who thoroughly understood the par
ticular work of the division. With the
Cleveland administration came u great
pressure for Office that was especially
strong as to clerkships, they being out
side the civil service rules. One Col.
Faulkner, appointed a chief of division
in the Pension Bureau, became famous
nh
mained in. the bureau four years, de-
parting this spring, after Il vigorous
attempt to be retained, with the lepu-
tatiOn Of being the most densely ignor-
ant man that ever drew pay from a
government. He once spoke of the
corridors of the building as 'cOrduroys," ,"
and as Artemum Ward says, she was
an 'amoOsin' cuss." Another division
Of the same bureau has chief Of about
like calibIe, who is still retained as IL
clerk at $500, and who had the i'll
grace to object to being reduced. In
his former years as a chief he simply
never made an attempt to understand
the duties of his position. He feeblv
looked over and signed reports and
smoked, and read newspapers and en-
trusted all work to a sharp clerk de-
tailed for the purpose, who during his
dminlstration was assuredly the power
behind the throne.
The Republican chiefs selected have
been in many cases of no better mettle.
The chief of whom have lust spoken
IS succeeded by the brother of West
ern Congressman, who managed to
have his imbecility overlooked by the
appointing authority. This man threat
ens to emulate the doughty Col. Faulk-
ner. The new mans hobby is keeping
time and spying about to detect stray
newspaper readers in the toilet rooms.
OF the work of the division 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
ne does not appear to care This man
could not have passed an examination
for a 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 con-
hdence that the average chief is of "A
lower order of intelligence and ability
than the average clerk working under
him. This an abuse that President
Harrison does we'll to eradicate.
The President and Mrs. Harrison
departed for Deer Park on Saturday.
accompanied only by Private Secretary
Haltord. The party will be Joined by
Marshal Randell tonight and will 90
to indianapolis to the laying of the
corner stone of the soldiers new monu-
ment. The President will then return
l..
until the latter part of September.
The heather Chinese are not so pecu-
liar as Brete Harte found them in Cali
fornia. Commerce has opened up their
ports and travel has widened their
lives. The members of the Chinese
legation stationed here are especially
susceptible to the influences of the
Western worlds civilization. They 90
about in society. chat with pretty urls.
ride in well-built drags and drink
champagne with a relish. The rules
OF the household of the legation are
about the same as those of under
rately strict boarding school, but many
hne midnight finds two or more of the
Junior attaches, disguised in American
clothing and with their pig tails care
fully wound up under DERBY hats.
taking in "the rounds"
The appointment of Col. john NJ.
Wilson as superintendent of the mill
'ary academy at West Point is regarded
as particularly felicitous. During his
residence here as Commissioner of Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds, Col. Wilson
has greatly endeared himself to hun
dreds Of personal friends.