Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-02
DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS,
The Civil Service Commissioners Won
Talk, but Clerks Do.


The Civil Service Commissioners Won't
Talk. but Clerks Do.
Civil Service Commissioner Lyman stated
to-day to STAR reporter that while he had
very decided views upon the subject of Gen.
Rosecrans' plan for rating the efficiency of gov
eminent employees in the matter OF promo
tons he did not care to express those
views for publication. Mr.. Lyman said that
he withheld his views for the reason that be did
not think 1t proper in the present situation for
one holding the position he did to express
an opinion in such matter, and he
believed that his colleagues on the commission
would also decline to express their views upon
the subject. Commissioners Roosevelt and
johnson could not be found.
NO RECORD KEPT.
Several letters on this subject have been re-
ceived by THE STAR, and among them lone
Who Knows writes that sin some of the divi-
sions of the pension bureau there has not been
any record kept of the standing of the clerks
on the following subjects: Industry, accuracy,
aptitude, conduct and ability, since last April.
while in others they have been made up
since election on merely guesswork or
the inclination Of the chief. In the
last examination the efficiency record of
some clerks that submitted less than
fifty cases a month was higher than others that
submitted $50 during the same time. That ap-
pears INC IdNOrltelsm. III Will De the same In
the next examination unless there is an effort
made by the Secretary or commissioner to
give each clerk q rating according to the
amount OF work and the standing of
the clerk is made up correctly. l would sug
gest that the commissioner send for the daily
ana monthly records of each division and Sec
ton and turn them over to his examining
board and see for himself how the old thing
works. 1t is time the letter and spirit Of the
civil service law is carried out or abolished"
THE FAvoRITIsM SHOWN.
Sue Ferrer says The efficiency record ques-
ton is one that is of great Importance to thou
sands of clerks who have groaned under the
burden OF injustice for many years. Mr.. De
Land must at least have heard the grooming and
be sympathetic as to the cause.
He understands the question if he proposes
to take the supreme power of rating clerks
from the hands of the chiefs of bureaus or di-
visions, for favoritism is element in every
office. where few profit and many suffer.
Would there could be tribunal before
which the real grievances Of department clerks
might be righted by the rules of justice. A
faithful service of from fifteen to twenty years
in the $500 class has no recognition in some
offices.
The policy of the Office is not to promote
women. | have been obliged to hear many times
through many years OF toll and have seen many
willing drudges in this grade doing the work of
their own desks as well as that shirked by men
drawing 81 400, 81 800 and 81 800
When a 'acancy occurred in a higher grade
and hope and ambition almost dead revived for
brief instant in the breast of the $500 clerk, it
was utterly extnguished to find requsition
made upon the civil service commission through
the department for "a male clerk, who shall be
astenographer and typewriter"
1t is only very lately that the Secretary of the
Treasury has ordered a system of examination
by competition, and now the question arises as
IN IN his hall ha do u, ina&
The views of chiefs of bureaus will not settle
the question. The very fact that they are
prejudiced should remove from them the
balance Do they concern themselves about in
dividuals. unless a case may have u special in
terest? How do they get their information in
regard to the subordinate clerks, whom they
scarcely ever see and whose work
they know nothing about, since it
does not come directly under their obser-
walton. Do they ever think that the repre-
sensations OF chief clerks may be utterly false
and malicious? They have obligations 10
pay and grudges well. Does a chief clerk of
a division ever make it rule when he first
takes upon himself the burden and cares of an
Office to be unbiased, unprejudiced and judge
for himself the fellow creatures over whom he
has been given little brief authority?
The work of new conner in Office may be
very useful to the chief of bureau or division.
especially If she be expert typewriter and
stenographer. She is not weighted with years
OF drudgery and in Justice and can therefore be
very amiable, obiging. attractive and winning.
She finds favor with the powers that be. and it
would scarcely be human nature If her chief
did not rate her at the head of his efficiency
list, neither knowing nor caring how
others equally faithful and with
long record of service may fare. Mr.
De Land il quite right He knows
more Of favoritism than even he perhaps would
like to ventilate, and his system is certainly a
check upon this particular form of injustice, As
l am sure the rank and file of low grade clerks
will bear me out in saying.
There is special examination for special
branches. Stenography and typewriting should
be part of this. What opportunity has the
clerk of long service had to study these special
ties? There certainly would be little of justice
in inviting competitive examination. with a
foreknowledge that of the half dozen who might
accept one who possessed the skill of type
and shorthand writing would have a special
rating from her own chief that would insure
the promotion to her, longevity being at q dis
count as well as other qualifications So, with
all due difference to Gen. Rosecrans. and
Stunning that blindfolded he could balance the
scales with incest adjustment we coming TO
judgment will take our chances with the chief
examiner and accept his sentence with better
grace than that of any or all of the chiefs of
divisions.
SOME QUESTIONS TO MR.. DE LAND.
&c. A. r. writes rs follows: While Theodore
L. De Land. treasury examiner is in commu-
NEGATIVE mood perhaps he will be glad of an op-
portunity to explain how longevity came to be
considered an element in examinations for pro-
motion under an order specifying that promo
tions should be based on merit only. Perhaps
he will also explain why the compliment to the
soldier" of about per cent allowed under the
old system of promotion by designation was
changed In the late examinations by sort of
sliding scale from about per cent to nothing.
FRIGHTENED BY CRACKS.
Clerks In the Maitby Building Think the
Structure Is Settling.