The sun., 1890-08-13

THE CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY.
HH Roosevelt Thinks the Chinese RtnI
HAS Worked Pretty Well Here.

nar. Roosevelt Thinks the Chinese Plan
HAS Worked Pretty Well Here.
WASHINGTON. Aug 12.-In continuation OF its
inquiry into the general workings OF the Civil
Service law the House Committee on Reform
In the Civil Service called CommIsso ner Roose-
welt to the witness stand to-day
Mr.. Roosevelt thought tho administrative
officers OF the Government should be changed
when o new administration camo into power,
but that the persons who did purely tho oleri-
eal work should not bo changed. He said he
liked to see the employees of the Government
take en- interest In politics. He had talked
with Secretaries Window and Blaine. both Of
whom had been members OF the Presidents 3
Cabinet before the Civil Service law took effect.
They had both expressed themselves In favor
Of the lsw, as 1t relieved them from great deal
OF pressure from persons desiring appoint
ments. and for many other reasons. He IMr.
Roosevelt did not regard the present civil ser-
vice system as an ideal system; 1t had its faults
and Its shorteominGs but 1t would compare
favorably with the condition Of things under
the spoils system preceding.
In regard to the statement yesterday by Mr.
Lyman concerning the expedieney OF having q
single headed Commission, MIR. Roosevelt gave
It & as MS opinion @ tnat as an executive insirl- %
but he questioned whether II would be wise at
present TO change the make up OF the Commits
II would be hard to make the public think the
stnGle-headed Commission would be acting in
a,noI ,noIn-p6SrtSap manner IL there was & to tS S
Commissioner should be q Democrat whom q
Repubican Administration was In power. and
Mr.. Roosevelt submitted numerous. figures
showing the percentage OF retnoy ais, &c. from
the executive departments during several ad-
ministrattoDs And In certain OF the Post Onices
o. the country, In the last year and half Of
President Arthur's, Administration tho ap-
@ ana tbe Ismoyas 1Rs durnS the nst yen
were 25; in Mr.. Cleveland 8 Administration the
appointments were l,1O9. and the removals
dent Harrison's Administration the, appoint-
mSnts were S9Y. and the removals and restRna-
ponoss under I'D PsesSsnt iSs admns
tration. In President olsveland's Administra-
tion 8 OF the 87S appointees under the Arthur
Mr.. Roosevelt said that be did not favor the
establishment OF civil pension. list He
thought that speeial examinations for expert
tho places by influence.
The witness defended the examinations
each case they were formed to test the appli-
cant upon matters that he would be REQUIRED
edge Of the city delivery and his ability to read
auats force he believed it Would be an excel
lent thing to base promotions upon examine.
and remove them from political infiu-
ence. The Commission wished to get
rid Of back DOORS in the present sys-
tenn. Transiers from non competitive places TO
projected classified places should not 10 per-
mission itself which had classified its own
force, he should say that tho Government got
as admirable men through the present COM
petitiye system as could be procured
Mr. Roosevelt said that thers was much to be
said In favor OF the plan Of having a principal
Commissioner and two deputies representing
triumvirRte. but the public WAS not prepared
to see that Commissioner opposed politically
to the President