Evening star., 1896-11-16
No, in Accord with Mr.. Donath.

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
The civil service, the government print
ing office and the heartburnings caused by
the periodical removals Of the employees by
those holding opposite views from the IN
coming administration every time there is
a change may all be very we'll for Mr.. Do
.nath In his goodness Of heart to depreciate.
He probably wishes to be placed on record
as opposed to the system. l agree with
him. am also opposed to Ii, but. at the
same time l am utterly opposed to one
party placing the government printing
office in the classified service after having
removed some 1000 or more Of the old en-
ployes and put in their places others of
their political family without any civil ser
vice test wha tever. Then they tell a would
be employe that he will have to test his fit
ness by passing a civil service examination.
even after having woEked therein for years
and proved his ability. 1 would not CON-
plain If every one were treated alike by the
present administration, but it is not so.
The persons put in the places of those dis
charged were not required to pass any
thing. All they had to have was the re-
quired kind of influence and the people in
charge would do the rest. Under such cir
cumstances, L should not be blamed to use
all the means in my power to get my sit
uatfon back again. 1t Is nothing but a
farce-this taking of an examination by
ex-employes every time name Is sent for
certification: The newcomer is selected and
the old employe is turned down. no matter
how competent for the selection is left to
the ones who recommended his discharge
in the first Instance. There may possibly
be few exceptions, but in their cases they
had the right kind Of influence at their
back. g.
The new. public printer, If he does right
to all those whom the present incumbent
discharged g,OOO or more) will require
those put in their places to go before the
civil service commission and test their fit
ness by passing the required examination;
and no doubt he will have places vacant to
which he can appoint all corners he desires.
l fuihiied the required test, and was noti-
ned by the commission that 1 was on the
eligible list. Make all those in that office
from the foreman down to the laborer,
take the required examination, and then
there can be no Complaint by those who
pave passed the required test. If the thing
is not done, the agitation for the abolish
ment or civil service as far as the govern
ment printing office Is concerned will not
cease until the accomplishm of the fact
through the instrumentality Of the L T. U.
and kindred organizations.
Inc TACT of person being rated as a
foreman in that establishment doesn't
prove that he is the. most competent man
1or the place. He passed no examination
TO prove his fitness. He secured the place
more through influence than executive
aoshty nine times out of ten and they have
to consult their subordnates for required
n1ormat1on, which they very often lack,
and for which they receive the credit Put
them to the test Of civil service, and see
now many of them will fail, and let those
who have the knowledge and ability be pro-
NOTED to their places If civil service is to
be continued. EX-EMPIOYE
10 the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Mr.. Donath is out of the printing bus-
ness now. and possibly it may have in
fiuenced his opinion. I worked in the gov
ernment printing Office for over twenty
years, from an apprentice to a journeyman,
and still had to pass the required exami-
nation before the commission. and was no.
titled that I was eligible for appointment,
which never came, and feel will not until
the new printer takes his seat, which will
soon happen after Mckinley takes. his place
in the White House. :
EDWARD J. DUFF.