Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-13
LOCAL CIVIL, SERVICE.
Commissioner Proctor Replies to DR..
FnrdOn's Objections.


Considerable comment Is to be heard to-
day on all sides In regard to the action of
the board OF trade last evening in refusing
to take action upon resolution submitted
favoring the extension of the civil service
to the District offices. AS will be seen by
references to the report of the meeting of
the board in another part of today's Star,
objection to this report was first urged by
DR.. A. +. Pardon, who based his protest
mainly upon the argument that in case Of
such an extension the District would get
only very minor share of the appoint
ments. calculated on the basis of the pres
ent ratio OF the District in the departments.
1t Is thought somewhat remarkable that
not voice was raised at the meeting in
favor of the resolution. At the civil serv-
ice commissions office 1t is thought that
perhaps this action was taken a result
of the Misrepresentation of the circum-
stances. Said Commissioner Proctor to a
Star reporter: DIR. Fa,don was wholly
misinformed to the premises. 1t would
not be true, as he alleged, that the people
of the District would not get their share of
the places under the extension.
That will be governed by the simplest Of
automatic influences. In the first place the
examination for such positions must neces-
sarily be held in this city. That would
necessitate the presence of the applicants
in Washington, and II is out of the question
to suppose that more than r very s,na II
fraction of the candidates would come here
from other cities. The expense of such at
tendance upon an examining board from a
distance is considerable, and, Ia addition,
the candidate must maintain himself while
waiting for his position. presuming that he
might pass the examination. | doubt very
much if there would be / per cent of the
candidates come from outside of the Dis
trict of Columbia. In tie case of the de-
paItmental positions, this is entirely differ
ent. The quota of the District being full
aminations for such positions held in this
city, but they are scattered throughout the
country at large centers, so that candi-
dates are put to the minimum of expense
in their efforts 20 secure appointment, for
they can easily reach the place of exam
nation and after he trial return to their
homes and so live at much less cost than
If they had come TO Washington. So it is
more than probable that the seeker after
o government position, confronted by a
choice between the District offices and the
general departmental service would choose
th.. former if he live here-as indeed he
must-Gnd the latter if he be resident Of
some other city.
Then another fact will tend to insure
the selection of great majority of District
people whenever the municipal offices shall
have been placed under the operations of
the law. The same rules that govern ap-
pointments in the departments would pre-
vail in such an event and upon the appli-
cation of the Commissioners of the District
a w
should certify to them as we do to the
heads Of other departments three names
of eligibles from who they might choose
one. 1t is practically a mathematical i'm
possibility that all these three names
should be those Of foreigners Presenting
that but one Of the three should be a Dis
trict man, it stands to reason that the
Commissioners would select that one for
the position, presenting all other matters
were equal n E
THE power of remova, for cause or in
efficiency would, of course, rest with the
Commissioners of, the District Just as it
does today, and 1T Is inevitable that in
time the daad-wood would be weeded out
and the places thus made filled by efficient
people. 90.
10 thoroughly controvert the argument
Of DIR. Fardcn-with- whom, by the way,
l have no acquaiiitance-it is only neces-
sary to point to the case of the city post
office which is under the operation of the
law. The examinations for these places
are held in Washington and are open to
Washington people l believe am perfect
ly safe in saying that a great majority Of
the incumbents are residents Of the Dis
trict. OF course many may be credited to
the District who come from elsewhere but
still the great prepondersnce is in favor of
the actual citizens Of Washington. No one
need fear, however, that any halt oil Dis
trict appointments will be called because
of an excess of such in the case of Dis
trict offices. There will be no such thing as
a quota The matter will regulate itself
without the necessity of intervening a
rule"