Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-08
QUESTIONING MR.. LYMAN
The House Civil Service Committee Con.
tinues its Inquiry.

| tinues its Inquiry.
| THE COMMISSIONER EXPLAINS TIE NArrRA OF
| APPOINTMENT ASp OTHER TAINas-oNE lxAsoy
/ WHY PRIMERS ASSISTANTS AT THE BUREAU OF
ESaRAvINa AND PRINTING WERE CLASSIFIED.
Examination papers enough to mako any
poor applicant for a civil service position sicA
were scattered around the long table in the
| committee room on reform in the civil service
this morning. Other papers we're there, too
application papers, certifcates-and, above all,
the expounders Of all these mysterious docu.
ments, Messrs. Roosevelt Thompson and Ly.
man, the three commissioners.
| A quorum of the members Of the committee
however, could not be obtained II was de-
eided, however, to take Mr.. Lyman's further
statement and afterward have it taken into the
record.
MR.. LYMAN RESUMES.
Mr.. Lyman continued his statement by cor
recting two OF the figures given by him yester-
DAY. he said that up to June, 1890. he now
estimated that 20, 600 persons had obtained po-
! sltlons by means of the civil service examina-
| tlons, snd that the exact amount Of the sala-
| ries of the employees of the commission was
$50, 400. Mr.. Lyman then submitted copies Of
system.
THE APPoRTIoNMENr.
At this point both Mr.. Greenhagle and Mr.
Hopkins arrived, and quorum being now
present testimony could be regularly taken.
MIR. Lyman gave an account of the manner
OF making the appointments among the sew
eral states, and described how at times some
states fell behind on account of the lists of
applications from these states. The necessity
Araah cd .I,o a..
apportionment in places, it being required that
such soldiers be certified even when the state
from which they hail shall be ahead on the
apportioument.
In order to keep the apportionment, said Mr..
Lyman 1t IS necessary that every state should
have eligibles, and IN order TO obtain these ex-
amInations are periodically held in every state
and territory. Mr.. Lyman at this point sub
mitted copies of the examination papers used
Schedules are made up usually in November of
each year giving the time and place of holding
the various examinations, which schedule is
published at the time.
NOT APPoRTIoNEp.
Mr.. Lyman continued, saying that there was
one class Of appointments in the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing which were not ap-
portioned. This was the grade of printers
assistants. These appointments were not ap-
portloned, as the work was done by women at a
salary of S1.25 per day, and it was thought
that women would not come from distance to
fill these positions.
Mr.. Lehlback wanted to know why it was that
plate printers were not under the civil service.
while the assistants were. Mr. Lyman said
that it was an impractieable thing to examine
In plate printing.
CLASSIFIED TO SAVE THEM FROM TEMPTATION.
Mr.. Lyman continued that the assistants
were classified also on account OF the low SAL
aries paid women who came from a distance to
I'LL these positions; they were especially ex-
posed to temptation. Formerly these appoint
ments were not made for political purposes
Mr.. Greenhalge asked if these women were
exposed to any more temptation than other
clerks and Mr.. Lyman said that on account of
the low salaries and the desire to dress well
such women were he thought, SO exposed
Mr.. Greenhalge asked if a large class of women
clerks IN the Agricultural Department did not
also come under these temptations and Mr.
Lyman answered that this class of clerks es-
pecially illustrated his point.
Mr. Greenhalge remarked that this was a
most damaging inuendo.
Mr.. Lyman said that the plate printers were
classified, but exempted from examination.
THE CLAIMS OF PLATE PRINTERS.
Mr.. Lehlbach said that it was claimed by the
plate printers that the assistants were put
under the civil service to throw discredit on the
present system of printing. That as they were
some say in the appointment of their assistants
Reference was made to the recent trouble at
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ON &C.
count of a colored assistant Mr.. Lyman an
nounced that since the old system the plate
printers had absolutely nothing to do with de-
Gliding who their assistants might be.
1t was brought out In an informal discussion
which was not taken down. that according to
the experts the old system of appointing the
assistant plate printers, simply through the
M yra ha1, ya1, 4
alizing to the department.
PROMOTIONS AND REINsrArEMExrs.
Mr.. Lyman continued in his statement by
saying that in some departments examination
was required for promotion and in others it
was not. He then described the law in refer
ence to the reinstatement OF employees He said
that the commission had been criticised for the
rule that persons discharged for cause should
not be examined again within year and should
not at any time be relnstated. This rule, Mr..
Lyman thought, was Just and right for il SIM
ply kept the man from being appointed in anv
way within one year and from receiving at any
time privileged appointment At the end of
one year the man Is on the same footing as any
one else and can be examined, certified and ap-
pointed the same as any one else.
Nr. Lyman was asked il in case a clerk was
discharged for theft or some such crime if this
man could be examined after one wear and
certified and reappointed.
MIR. Lyman said that the commission was al
lowed certain discretion in certifying, and
that at any rate this point would be brought
out, as the applicant is required to state under
oath whether he has been discharged and for
what cause and other such questions
In regard to promotions Mr. Lyman said he
had always been in favor of promotions being
made only by examination, which examina-
ton should include q daily record Of the eff
cheney of the clerk. This would remove pro-
motions from the political influences which now
almost solely regulate them. MIR. Lyman said
that this power rested with the commission,
but had never been applied on account of lack of
clerical force. He thought also that all clerks
coming under the classified service who had
been appointed before the civil service system
was started should be examined as to their
efficiency.
1t was asked how it was that the commission
could classify grades outside of the law. Mr..
Lyman said that the President had power to
classify. In regard to the assistant plate
printers the commission had been called upon
by the head Of the department to make the
classification and examine the grade The
question was brought forward as to whether
the President had this discretion. Mr. Lyman
said the law was evidently intended
to mean that persons appointed by the Presi-
dent and mere laborers were exempt from ex-
animation. while all the intermediate grades
were intended to fall III the classified service
The question, OF course, was as to the con-
struction to be placed on the words mere la
borers. At this point the committee ad-
journed until tomorrow.
Mort AoDd1,, 4, U;,fy;ct d,,,s A., IL.