Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-08-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR.
Woshinoton, Auoatst 10.


missioners Lyman and Thompson,
had an interview with the President
regarding several important changes
in the civil service rules. The con-
| ference 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 classi-
fed service, thus providing that the
changes that occur in these positions
can only be filled by promotion or
by certifcations from the commits
sion. 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
qualifications for any responsible po-
sition. They are men of some po-
| litical 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
selected from the most valued clerks,
who thoroughly understood the par
ticular work of the division. With
| the Cleveland administration came
great pressure for office that was
especially strong as to the chiefships,
| they being outside the civil service
rules. One Col. Faulkner, appointed
chief of division in the pension bu-
reau, became famous for phenominal
ignorance. He remained in the bu-
reau four years, departing this spring
after vigorous attempt to be re-
tanned, with the reputation of being
the most densly ignorant man that
ever drew pay from government.
He once spoke of the corridors of the
building as "corduroys," as Arte-
mus Ward says, "He was an 'amos-
in cuss." Another division of the
same bureau had chief of about a
like calibre, who is still retained as
clerk at 81 800, and who had the i'll
grace to object to being reduced. In
his former years as chief he simply
never made any attempt to under
stand the duties of his position. He
feebly looked over and signed re-
ports and smoked, and read news
papers and entrusted all work to a
sharp clerk detailed for the purpose,
who during his administration was
assuredly the power behind the
throne.
The republican chiefs selected have
been in many cases of no better met
tie. The chief of whom l have just
spoken is succeeded by the brother
of western congressman, who man
aged to have his imbecility overlook
ed by the appointing authority. This
man threatens to emulate the dough-
ty Col. Faulkner. The new mans
hobby is excepting time' and spying
about to detect stray newspaper read
ers 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 he 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 meaus
exceptional cases, and one may say
with perfect confidence that the av-
erage chief is of lower order of in
telligence and ability than the aver
age clerk working under him. This
is 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 secreta-
ry Halford. The party will be join
ed by Marshal Ransdell tonight and
will 60 to Indianapolis to the laying
of the corner stone of the soldiers
new monument. The President will
then return to Deer Park, where he
will remain until the latter part of
September.
The Heather Chinese are not so
peculiar as Bret Harte found them
in California. 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 infu-
ences of the western worlds civiliza-
ton. They go about in society, chat
with pretty girls, ride in well built
drags and drink champagne with !