Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
BOOM FOR HARRISON.
Secretary Tracy's Speech at a Boston
Republican Dinner.
SOME GOOD WORDS FOR HIS CHIEF.
The Administration of ALI the Departments
Is Commended.
CONGRESS- GETS ITS NEED OF PRAISE


years was the first dinner OF the Republican
Club of Massachusetts held in Music Hall
this evening. Covers were laid for 80, be-
sides the guests and speakers, and, with the
spectators in the gallery. more than ], 900
people were present. President Roger VOL
colt sat at the middle of the head table.
On his right were Secretary B. f. Tracy,
Lieutenant Governor William Halle, Hon.
Joseph Fl. Walker, Congressman Eli iah A.
Morse and Ex-Governor Oliver Ames; on
his left sat Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, Of
Rhode Island, Ex-Governor J. @. Bracket,
Congressman Henry Cabot Lodge, Presi-
dent Henry II. Sprague of the Massachu-
setts Senate, Congressman F. 7. Greenhalge
and General n. P. Banks.
BWhen President Wolcott introduced Sec
retary Tracy. the latter was greeted bv rls-
ing and cheering. Tine Secretary, after ex-
pressing his thanks for the welcome ex-
tended him, paid high tribute to the Re-
publican party and the present administra-
tion.
Good Words for the President.
He recognized as the underlying power of
the latter the clear intelligence, the firm
will and the high conscientiousness Of pur-
pose of President Harrison. He spoke of
the diplomatic triumph OF the Secretary of
State. He spoke of the great work of Sec
retary Window in the Treasury Depart
ment, and made a feeling allusion to the
last scene in his life. He described the
good work accomplished in all the other de-
partments of the Government and defended
the FIfty-frst Congress against the charge of
extravaganza.
The Secretary then gave a detailed account
of the work in which the Navy Department is
at present entangled, and concluded as fol.
lows: ''One last point in naval affairs remains
to be considered-the question of the employ
ment of labor at the navy yards. For 50 years
this has been the one weak spot in naval ad-
ministration. Whatever the party in control
of the Government, it seems hitherto to have
been powerless TO exclude political influence
in the employment of navy yard labor. 1t is
not enough, apparently, that the mechanics
and workmen in the Government shops should
be Republicans or Democrats-they must wear
the collar OF the ward bosses who run the local
political machine. The practice is an ulcer on
the naval administrative system, and propose
to cut it out tApplausel.
The Secretary Outlines His Policy.
"The details of the system which propose to
adopt are being prepared. and in a short time
will be in full operation. Its essential features
as aDpleu TO LQe new yarQS, are.
"First-The appointment at each yard of a
Registration Board, to register all applicants
for employment in the department of unskiled
labor, to be selected as required, on the princi-
pie of first come first served preference only
given to those who have had experience in the
class of work for which they apply; to those
who have served in the army navy; to those
who have families to support, and, where all
other considerations are equal, TO those possess
ing superior physical Qualifications.
''SaCOnd-l'le replS1ratlOn QDnlICantS
for positions of skilled labor who can give evil
dence of experience at their trade, to ba certl-
fed in the order of their application under the
same rules of preference, and their employment
on trial for a period of probation after the
necessary test of proficiency, to be ultimately
graded or discharged according to their merits;
ana
"Third-The selection of foremen upon a
competitive examination, so conducted as to
bring out their fitness and qualifications for
the positions they seek, open to all corners who
can show the requisite experience. The boards
will consist of officers of the navy engaged in
conducting the work of the yard.
Three Objects to Be Secured.
II propose to carry out this new system, and
so to regulate it that three ends shall be
secured: First. free and open competition;
second, employment upon grounds of merit, to
be determined by non-partisan experts engaged
in and responsible for the work; and third, alb
sOlute publicity of every detail. And having
begun in the way have indicated, do not
propose to stop until the principle of efficiency
and worth is the only test of navy yard en-
poyment. am satisfied that such a system
will be in the interest. not only of the work,
but of the workingmen; that it can be
carried out SO that it Will removs not only
all machine politics from the navy yards. but
all suspicion of machine politics; thai the
economy and efficiency of the work will be
promoted, while the community will be sure
that navy yard in its midst, instead o" being
a focus of local political intrigue. Is the place
of employment of body of Independent and
workingmen, whose only road
to promotion lies in good work, and in whom
slackness Incidence or bad habits will surely
lead to discharge.
Results of Civil Service Reform.
"Whether the present civil service law is the
best that could be devised to improve the civil
service of the country do not know. But this
l do know, from personal observation in my
own department-that the persons appointed
under the system are unQuestionably more
efficient as whole than those selected under
any system OF pure patronage; and know,
further, that no Republican charged with the
responsibility of administering one of the great
executive departments of the Government can
be true to himself to the faith of the Republi-
can party, or to the people of this great nation.
whose servant he is, If he fails 10 employ any
and all means within his power to elevate,
purify and render more efficient the civil Ser
vice of the country"
Senator Aldrich was the second speaker. II
see throughout the country" said he, "evi-
dences of a reaction in public sentiment in
favor of the Republican party. Democrats
have claimed their economic policy superior to
that of the Republican party, principally on
the ground of the latter's tariff pol.
icy as against the interests of New
England. The attitude of the Demo-
cratic party on the silver question was
lightly referred to by them. One Democrat,
who has been President. has written a letter on
that subject, but it remains to be seen whether
the man is more powerful than the whole
organization. If reelected he could not fail to
"a rrv ont its reouestsD