The morning times., 1896-03-29
BROKE THEIR OWN RULES
Complaint That the Commission
ers Ignore Civil Service.
AFFECTS TENURE OF OFFICE
Clerk Appointed without an Exami-
Dation-Alleged That He Is Per-
sonal Friend of Engineer Com r. is-
sioner Powell-Good Plan Gone
Wrong and Old Employees Ignored.

The appointments and transfers as made
by the Commissioners on the 18th OF Feb
ruary last and the continuation of that
policy in similar action on Friday has
provoked considerable discussion in the
engineer department, and no small degree
of uncertainty is expressed as to their
tenure OF office under civil rules adopted
for the Ostensble purpose of making the
manag cement OF the District government
conform to that in the national depart
ments.
III other words, it is held that the Com
nlisSoners violated their order OF June IL
1895. which established civil Sc rvice
! rules in the District.
These rules, it is claimed, were held up
as challenge for the admiration of civil
! service advocates, as the nearest APP
| proach possible 10 the governmental policy
until Congress should intervene with en-
abling legislation for its Improvement.
1t is recalled, also, that applicants for
appointments were confronted with the
new civil service plan and were tod that
they could obtain appointments only
! through that door. Many were examined
! upon several occasions, and but few were
chosen.
WHEN THE CHANGE CAME.
On the 18th of February, however,
changes were made in the engineer de
| partment, as follows, under an order
which prescribed
That tie tOIio wing transfers and changes
OF employees on subdivisions of lands, high
way extension plans and street lighting
divisions and record office, OF the engineer
! department, to take effect February l.,
1886, are hereby made
m. c. Hazen, transitman, and c. p.
Williams, draughtsman, 10 be rated at
| S4.5 SO per diem.
1T. j. G. Bailey, clerk, TO be transferred
to raughtsman, at $4.50 per diem.
H. {. Gould 10 be draughtSman at $4 per
diem.
w. c. Allen, superintendent OF lamps, to
be transferred us clerk at 81 200 per an
mum.
y. B. C. shipman, inspector of electric
! lighting, TO be Inspector of lamps at 81 900
! per annum.'
This order, IL will be observed, will be
made retroactive, the appointments to date
| from the first day of the IN onth in which 1t
| was issued. Ii will be noticed also that
no mention is made of an appointment
| although II. C, Gould, who was made a
draughtsman at $4 per day, should have
come under that head.
GETS CLERKS PLACE.
Another order was issued on Friday in
| which Mr.. Gould was again the recipient OF
! favor, being appointed clerk, with com
| pensation al the rate OF 81 200 per annum.
| The appointee is u personal friend OF En-
! gineer Commissioner Z Dwell and halls from
! Sioux City, la. IL is claimed that he re-
ceived the appointment solely upon per
| sonal considerations and without an ex-
animation OF any kind a 10 his fitness for
! the position, and certainly not upon the
! competitive plan.
The merit system seems, therefore, TO
! have been knocked into a cooked hat
as the street phrase goes. Clerks who have
| Deeu in the employ of the District for many
years, and carried always on the per diem
/ roll, were entirely ignored, TO accommo-
date the friend of the Engineer Commits
sioner, and the reform system inangurated
by the Commissioners, which gave promise
| of so much in the interest OF meritorious
| service, has been rendered TO that degree
| valueless.
1t is charged that in order to effect the
transfer Of Mr.. Gould from the temporary
to the permanent roll, it was necessary for
| the Commissioners 10 make another trans
| fer, aud accordingly Mr.. Richard Doerfiing
| who held the clerical position, was made
| draughtsman in the highway extension
service at a salary of SIS per day.
The declaration is made that II some OF
the old employees who have been on the
| District rolls for years, and have rendered
! valuable and effective service, would be
permitted to talk they could tell of the
| arbitrary methods under the operation Ol
which they have been repeatedly furlouGhed
| in order to make room for some favorite
! of either a memlSer of the board or at the
! solicitation OF a Congressman with IN
| fluence"