Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
MIA LYMAy s1:.a TALKING.
He Enlightens the Civil Service Com
mittee on Many Matters.

He Enlightens the Civil Service Com.
mittee on Many Matters.
now TEE PLANTATION SYSTEM has WORKED
II TIE sArLwAY NAIL AND CUSTOMS sERvIcR-
BE Is ASKED ABOUT RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS
ATTRIBUTED TO CIVIL SERVICE ExAMISTRs-
The committee on reform in the civil service
continued their investigation into the workings
of the civil service this morning, Mr.. Seymour
going on with his statement
Mr.. Lyman explained the work Of the ap-
pointment officers and the full reports which
they we're compelled to make to the commits
sion.
THE RAILWAY NAIL SERVICE.
In regard to the railway mail service Mr.. Ly-
man said this branch came under the civil
service on March Is, 1889. This service was
put under the system by order of the Presi-
dent, said Mr.. Lyman, who then gave An ac-
count Of the work Of prefacing the rules and
the holding Of the first examination for this
branch 1t was the idea of President Cleye-
land that these rules should 60 into effect on
February Is, but by inadvertence the 18th OF
March vas put on the order. 1t was, however,
impossible to preface the rules even by March
10, and President Harrison issued supple
mentary order naming May 1 as the date when
the rules should 20 in effect.
a Il.
Lyman said that the first formal suggestion Of
putting the railway mail service under the
civil service came from the commission In
letter sent more than year before the action
vas taken by the President. He thought no
formal suggestion had come from the head OF
the Post Offce Department.
THINKS THERE HAS BEEN IMPROVEMENT.
Mr. Lehlbach-Since the service has been
under the commission have you noticed an i'm
provsment in the service?
Mr.. Lyman-The time has been almost too
short to quite tell, but in my opinion there has
been q gradual and marked Improvement.
Mr.. 9reenhslge wanted TO know whether the
present thorough system of marking the merits
and dement's Of the clerks or their service was
IN vogue before the service was classified, and
Mr.. Lyman said that it was.
Mr.. Lyman said that putting the railway mail
service under the civil service had not inter-
fered with the discipline Of the service in the
slightest as. the same system Of examinations
used in the probationary period as was
formerly used. Putting the service under the
system merely made sure OF competent men
and removed the appointments from political
influences.
TROUBLE IN CLASSIFYING THEM.
The classification OF the railway mail service
was considerable of problem, as to the regis
ter especially, continued the commissioner. II
was at FIRST thought best to make a register for
each mail division, but il was finally decided to
make a register for each state and territory.
IL is the policy of the department that these
employees shall live on the line of the road on
which they are employed, and as often eliglbles
resided clear at the other side of the
state from the line of the road
this created considerable trouble Finally
through the President the rule of certifying was
changed so that the commissioners should GER
tify the highest elgibles residing in the coun-
tres bordering on the line of the road. This
plan has worked fairly well. Ii there should
be no eligible from these counties an eligible
from the nearest county would be certified
and If there should be no eligible from the
state one from the nearest state would be GER
tilted.
In illustrating the manner of filing vacancies
Mr.. Lyman said that il on the Missouri Pacific
a vacancy arose in 3 crew running from ST.
Louis to Kansas City the position would IN
dosbtedly be given to Missouri
Apportonment among the states has nothing
10 do with the railway mail service. said Mr.
Lyman. The idea is TO obtain the clerks as
near to the line of the railroad as possible
Mr.. Lyman continued in regard to substitutes
in the service. One substitute was chosen for
each regular. The examination and certifica-
ton in these cases were the same with regu-
lars, and the time in which they serve in the
place of regulars is counted as part of the pro-
dictionary stage. The substitutes are appointed
to regular positions as occasion arrives and in
the order in which they have been appointed
substitutes. This 10 an inducement to men to
take these Positions.
In case of emergency the department can
call into service temporarily men who have
hitherto been in the service.
Mr.. DISQUALIFICATION many employees are
there in the mall serviee2
Mr.. Lyman-Just about c, 900
AN ExEMPTED CLASS.
Mr.. Lyman said that one class Of men who
handled the mail en- route were exempt from
examination; these were the men handling the
mails on steamboats,. In these cases the labor
was light and usually the clerk OF the boat
handled them. Mr.. Lyman thought that of
the 5000 clerks in this service between 800
and 900 of this number had been appointed
through the civil service, the greater lumber
Of which he thought had been appointed on
account OF increase in the service.
The witness was asked if there was any phys-
zeal examination for these positions. He an
swered that there was none except the certif-
cate from physician which was required
From eighteen to thirty-fiye was the age limit
Tor appointment. The work was very laborious.
Mr. LODGE NOT IN IT.
Considerable amusement was caused by Mr.
Greenhslgs asking why in an examination
paper young lady had been asked Who was
Henry Cabot Lodge and what memorable acts
has he porformed?"
Mr.. Lyman answered that while the commits
sion had the highest regard for Mr.. Lodge and
his character and the actions which had marked
his life, no such question as this had ever been
asked
Dir. Hopkins asked If the entire commission
agreed with this estimate Of Mr. Lodge and il
was suggested that Gov. Thompson. who was
sadly looking out of the window as if in search
of his native state, be heard from.
Mr.. Greenhalge said that il was believed BY
number Of members that this question had
been given. 1t was at first though that il was
. joke Of the tyrsnt Of the House, Thomas
Bracket Reed, but he had denied il, and now
the commission had denied IT,
Some member here suggested that the story
mast have emsnated from Mr.. Lodge himself.
QUESTIONS MIsREPREsESrED
Mr.. Lyman said that speaking in all serious
ness he had read and heard of many foolish
questions which il was charged the commission
had asked on various occasions and be was able
70 say that In every one of these cases no such
questions had been asked in any examination
One examination, which was for junior pro-
lessor and naturally of very technical char
seter, had been published as . specimen of
the usual examinations Of the commission
Mr.. Hopkins said that he had been told that
In a letter carriers examination in Chicago the
question had been asked, give the states
bordering on tide water, their areas and the
distance Of their capitals from Washington"
Mr.. Lyman answered that OF course no such
question had been asked and remarked that
neither the present commissioners nor their
predecessors were blanked fools
TIE CUSTOMS SERVICE
Mr. Lyman then continued with his state
mont, taking up the customs service All the