New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-07

preserving the remnants Of good service against further
nundations and he gained the respect OF all who knew
him in the Office He surrounded, however. by many
ncomptents and he found IL necessary to resort ire
quenty to the practice Of letting consider able por
ton Of the judicial functions Of tho Office to commissions
specially created from the older and more exper
enced men OF the Examining Corps. These men. whose
official duties required all their time, were obliged 10 taKe
up details which ought TO have been within the easy reach
Of the assistant commissioner and law clerk; but while
these latter retained there seemed TO be no other
way doing the public business than that OF calling in
these examining officers TO perform the duties OF their
superiOrs. change FOR the made during the
administration OF Commissioner Hail. when, in july 1887,
Schuyler W. DuIyee displaced from the Office OF chief
clerk and was appointed for political reasons
who without experience and therefore largely de.
pendent upon his subordnate..
The appointment of the present Commissioner by Prosi'
dent Harrison made in pursuance Of sound business
principles. There several candidates for appoint
mcnt some of them retired Conge.snen, and many OF
with strong political backing; but the President
resisted this influence, and declared that the patent
bar would unite in accommodation he w0I!d appoint
the man they recommended. The present Commissioner,
Charles IL. Mitchell suggested. lie patent
lawyer Of experience and Of recognized standing with
large income from his profession, and his acceptance Of
the Office involved considerable pccuGiary sacrifice. As
asccrained that he would accept, the lead.
ing pat mt lawyers endayored his appointment
lie had their almost unanimous support thoroughly
well qualified for the position This Commissioner seems
to be independent Of political influences, and ha, begun
valuable reforms The President appointed 70 the Office
OF Assistant Commissioner in place OF Mr. Vance Robert
J. Fisher. who had been member OF the Board OF TX.
in Chief and who had been competing applicant
for the Comrs,ioner,hp This appointment was strictly
in the line OF Ci,n Service Reform principles. Tho
President the advice Of the Commissioner next pro-
NOTED, 10 the vacancy made by the promotion Of Mr.
Fisher, Soon W. Stocking, who also had begun a; tho
Lowest, grades and had the Office about seventeen
years tried examiner proved ability, upon whom tho
Commissioners in their terms had greatly re-
tod 1d cnp no Examining
competitive examination aud had risen through each grade
the way. and is himself typical fruit OF tho
competitive system Although ardent Republican he
had given the Democratic head OF the Office his bess
service. lie had come in under Civil Service rules and
considered pubic duty paramount u mere party claims
The Commits .ioner also ieappOintod as his chid cerH
Schuyler W Duryee. " excellent executive cap'c'
itv Tho also changed the law clerk, SUPER
seding him by rockingham change for the better
Your glad report from information IN
their possession derived they believe from ustWorhy
and political Sources that there has been deciced
improvement efficiency Of the Office since the oppont'
ment OF the present Commissioner.
In the history Of this office, not only how bene-
tho civil service system has been in giving Increased
efficiency in this important Office the grea: advantage OF
IN, general public but also how II i possible n0,"iho
standing the civil service Law FOR head Of bureau who
E, not in sympathy with the purpose Of that law. to 20
very far toward dcmorqnz tho ureau. This was done
w filling tho places above and bow those covered by tho
law with political fayorits. and BY making exceptions
the rule, and bachdoor entrances tn classified SEP
vice: and lastly how u mainly the good
n ts OF the civil Service rules acting upon those places
% which il applied that saved liberalization from
being complete.