Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-12
representatives

WASHINGTON, March lit is claim ed
here upon what is considered good author
ity, that President Harrison has already
mapped out policy for his administration
to follow respecting civil service reform.
and in addition to what he had to say on
the subject in his inaugural address, the fol-
lowing points from an interview had with
him by party of Congressman who called
upon him are significant and interesting.
The visitors had presented the claims of GER
tain individuals of their choice for appoint
ments
81 have" said the President, determined
to live up to the plank relating thereto in
the Republican national platform and shall
select men to fill the offices from among the
representatives of the Territories themselves,
where fit persons may he found. In Alaska
there are no party organizations, and no
public press, which makes it necessary
that the Governor of that Territory
should be a man of such high character as
not to need such supervision as officials in
other Territories are subjected to because Of
the existence of political parties and the
printing of newspapers. shall endeavor
for this particular Office to find a man who
will not need any such spur to do his
| duty" -.....-
THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
The attention of the President was called
to the ineficiency exhibited in the railway
mail service because of the discharge of old
| and tried employees to make room for Demo-
cratic henchmen, whom the late admins
tration endeavored to protect by promul-
| eating ap order placing the service under
the provisions of the civil service rule.
81 shan't revoke that order" said the
President, emphatically, "but I shall modi-
| fy it somewhat"
This remark he repeated. 81 shall" he
continued, 'have the rule touching rein
statements changed where it is specified
that dismissed employe may be restored
within one year. 1 shall have the words
| within one year stricken out"
The President said that the order would
| be further modified so that it would take
effect on the 18th of June instead of the 10Th
of March.
One of the delegation expressed the opin-
ion that the present system of examinations
| for entry into the railway mail service was
not fair test of the fitness of candidates.
''Then the way to do," retorted the Presi-
| dent, sis to make them so they will be fair
tests" He said also that the different Su-
| perintendents should hold their subordinates
to a strict accountability in the performance
of duty. and inefficient men should be
weeded out.
REMOVALS FOR CAUSE.
On the subject of removals from the gen.
eral classified service President Harrison
said: ST have told some of my mugwump
friends that believe the provision relating
to removals should be changed SO that a
cause would not need to be specified.
would not have q man removed simply
because he belonged to one political
party or the other and there should be good
and substantial reasons for the dismissal of
clerks and officials generally, but 1 hold
that it is not necessary that the cause should
be specified or given in all cases. There
might be good reasons for following con-
trary course and Withholding informa-
| tion."
Respecting appointments generally the
President said he should follow the sugges-
tions of Senators and Representatives, the
men chosen by the people to represent
their wishes, and he expected those
| gentlemen to be conscientious in
the matter, and recommend only
good men for Office. The President, in con-
clusion, urged his visitors to go slowly and
not press too hard for the removal of the
present incumbents of offices. He said in
effect that he wanted to be sure he was right
in every case, then he would go ahead.