Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-02
CHANGING OF CLERKS
Less Excitement Prevailing Among
the Treasury Employees.
new DUTIES APPEAR DIFFICULT
Mr.. Pugh Will Superintend Collect
ing the Income Tax.
LOGAN CARLISLE CRITICISED
New DUTIES APPEAR DIFFICULT
LOGAN CARLISLE CRITICISED

The treasury is settling down after the
intense excitement caused by the reorgani-
zation under the Dockery law, which took
effect yesterday. The ninety men and wo-
men who have been placed on the tenn
porary roll are merely awaiting develop
ments, while the more fortunate ones who
secured permanent positions by transfer
TO other bureaus from those in which their
services were no longer needed are en-
deavoring to adjust themselves to their new
duties. In many cases this is a difficult
task, as most OF the transferred clorks
have been for so many years at one kind
Of work that they do not easily become
adapted 10 new routines.
Scmi-OmciaI Consolation.
The unfortunate ninety are being con-
soled to some extent by the announcement
that is semi-officialy made that Secre-
tary Carlisle has given orders that in I'LL
ing vacancies that may occur during the
coming three or four months preference
shall be given to the most efficient OF those
on the temporary roll. Major Kretz the
| appointment clerk of the department, said
to a Star reporter today that he believed
| fully fifty clerks will thus be taken care
| OF, leaving but forty 10 be dropped when
the $4,000 provided for this roll. has been
exhausted. With all ninety drawing pay
| from the fund IL will last about three
months; but Major kretz estimates that
! il should last somewhat longer than that,
inasmuch as the fund will be saved by
/ every transfer from the temporary TO the
permanent roll. These transfers will be
made from time TO time, as fast as the va
| cancies occur.
There are now upwards Of twenty-five
clerks needed in the various bureaus, most
/ ly in the internal revenue Office, where
p-epara tiOnS for the collection of he in
come tax are being made
Superintendent Of Income Tax Ap.
| pointed.
The most important step in this direction
was taken today. Secretary Carlisle desig-
mated Mr.. VIM. Pugh Of Ohio late COM
| missioner Of customs, who was legislated
out Of office by the Dockery law, TO be su-
perintendent of the income tax at $500.
This is a considerable promotion. so that
the ex-commissioner of customs cannot be
said to have suffered from the change. He
is spoken Of as thoroughly qualified for the
new post, which will inevitably be one OF
some difficulty. He is a lawyer and made q
good record as commissioner of customs
he VIII be subordinate TO the commissioner
Of internal revenue.
The compensation was fixed by the Secre-
| tary under the authority of the tariff act
which gives him discretion in the matter by
allowing him TO make proper provision for
the collection Of the tax. Ii will be remem-
bered that a supplementary act was passed
by Congress, making an appropriation for
this purpose.
Civil Service View OF the Changes.
There is a great deal of discussion to be
heard to the effect Of these changes
under the Dockery law upon the future Of
the cause of civil service. Two different
opinions were to be had today Said an
enthusiastic believer in this reform to a
Star reporter: These changes have mainly
been unjust and discriminatirg The plea
that they have been based on efficiency
records and that sort of thing is all bosh.
There hasn't been-and / know whereof /
speak-for one moment a serious effort on
the part of the treasury officials to pick out
the men who should retain their places on
any other ground than their political aftilla-
tions. They do not convince anybody by
their Claims and their twadde about
watching the records and efficiency and
capacity. That is why it hurts the cause
OF decent government so badly now. But 1
am sure that The present bad effect OF the
injustice that has been Gone viii, in time,
produce reactionary result.
DoubIc-Ediscd Sword.
This is two-edgei sword that Logan
Carlisle and his associates here are swing
ing. 1t cuts bo,h ways; and the day is not
Tar away when The people will awaken to
the truth tnat under all this pretense Of
being fai- and square is a total disregard
for the law and its meaning Then will
come the votes that will bring about the
reform for whicI. We have been SO hard at
work.
But opposed to this optimistic view is
that Of an equally ardent believer in a re-
Termed civil service, an eN-chief of division
In the treasury, who said: Il fear this will
greatly postpone the coming of true reform.
You see, all these mea who have been dis
placed and reduced have their friends and
their strong republican influence. should
there be a change of ADMINISTRATORS L
believe Their" VIII be-these men will de-
mand. and, / think, secure, reinstatement.
That will necessitate the removal of the
men who take their places now, and so IL
will go. each administration trying to even
up on the other, until, fear. there viii be
the same bad state of things that used TO
exist"
Secretary Carlisle's Son Logan.
Some of the dsgruntled people, who have
gone on the temporary roll, or have been
reduced. are saying harsh things about
Logan Carlisle, the chief clerk. 1t is now
being broadly stated by those who claim 10
be speaking from a knowledge OF facts.
that the soE has practically taken charge
OF the department, superseding lis father
in many matters that-d rot fall within the
functions Of chief clerk. Said one of
these clerks to the reporter today: The
Secretarys decisions about Office matters
go whenever LoGaa wants them TO 'go'
III they don't please him. Logan oVerTules
them ana MS ruling Is always M al How
he squar IS il with his father. 1 can't say,
but L hear rrmors OF some very lively
times"
How the Victims Feel.
The impression seems to be very general
that in making up the list OF ninety u go
on the temporary roll. well as the forty
dismissed some time ago. and the rejluc-
tions. the chief clerk has had the greatest
infiUerce Of any of the officials. 1t is he at all
events. who is being mainly mathematical
by the victims. whether rightly or wrongly
1t is now announced officially that there
viii be no more dismissals from the treas
ury account of the Dockery changes
There will be the current cases of resigna-
tions Of both sorts. and Of discharges. an
pointments. promotions and reductions but
no more clerks Will be dropped on account
of the reoi ganiZation. beyond those who
cannot be taken from the temporary call
and whose official lives will expire with the