The morning times., 1896-04-22
THOSE IT WOULD AFFECT.

see law enacted making IL mandatory.
He was perfectly satisfied with the work
ing OF the principle.
THOSE 1T WOULD AFFECT.
A list of the clerical force under the
control of the Commissioners. exclusive
OF the police and fire departments. shows
that of 267 employees now on the rolls, %
are Democrats, drawing aggregate annual
salaries of $15s.139, and 142 Repubiica MS.
drawing annual aggregate salaries OF
S152,T09.
In the police department. Col. Truesdell
said. the applicants were first given "a
physical examination, and then turned
over to the Civil Service Commission Tor an
examination as TO educational competency.
This work was performed voluntarily by
the commission.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Siddous,
Col. Truesdeii said the force OF laborers
was largely composed of Colored men, but
these would not be effected.
Major Powell thought the pending bill
would include laborers, Ind suggested an
amendment making it applicable only to
permanent employees.
Col. TruesdeiI said he had made no com
putation as to whether the District gov
ernnent could be more economically ad-
ministered under the civil service. but he
curing of more efficient aud capable men. to
the material benefit of tie pubic service.
President Edison, of the District Reform
Associat ton, said the people OF Washington
are very earnest in this matter, and be
had not heard OF a single protest on the
subject. The board of trade, the Civil
Service Reform Associa ton and the Civic
Center had all unanimously Endorsed 1t.
The President, said Mr.. Edison, had
Il
the law would not permit him to extend
civil service TO the District, and suggested
the framing of the bill under discussion.
INIQUIPY OF THE sPoILs SYSTEM
Mr.. Edison referred to the iniquity of
the spoiis system, and practical politics
as applied to the allotment of office, and
believed that civil service would virtually
abolish corruption. He called attention
to the fact that the citizens unanimously
favored the bill, no protests were on
file with the committee, and no one was
present to antagoniZe the proposed measure.
He referred to the adoption OF the merit
system i'll Chicago, and its successful in
PRODUCTION and working there.
In reply to question, Mr.. Edison said
he understood that the recorder or deeds
and register OF wills did not altogether
approve of the bill, but he believed their
opposition was based on political reasons.
Replying to a question from Mr.. p Pitney,
Mr.. Edson said the chief opposition to
civil service came from practical poliu'
clans and not the people who favored
good government. In the event that
civil service became universal he cid not
believe the government employees would
organize for the purpose OF influencing
legislation in their own interest. He
had never heard OF such an orga niZation.
ia
bill, then explained Its provisions, and the
object sought to be attained. He severely
criticised the management of the recorder
of deeds office, and said 1t is the worst
conducted establishment of the kind In
| the country. This state OF affairs Is
| due solely to the miserable spoils system
RECORDER OF DEEDS OFFICE.
| When The present incumbent took charg,
| of the Recorders Office, said Mr.. Siddons
numerous astonishing and serious error
| were made. Since the employees have
| became more familiarized with their worl
| these errors have somewhat decreased, bu
/ nevertheless the property interests of th
| citizens are constantly ieopardiZed an6
Il condition Of chaos is likely TO follow
every change in administration.
| The office of register of wills is no
so bad, but would be improved by beini
included in the bill
Mr.. Siddons referred to the Constan
| pressure brought TO bear upon the Distric
| Commissioners by politicians who seel
positions for party workers, and said tina
one of the Commiss toner's, In order 4
| retain an efficient employe, was compelle
to declare that his own resignation woul
be rendered before an order should
issued for the removal of the employe.
Continuing, Mr.. Siddons made brio
but eloquent plea for the extension @
municipal civil service to Washington.
There are, Mr.. Siddons said, from eigl
teen to twenty employees In the recorder c
deeds office, most of them being wcme,
The copyists average salary of $40 pt
month. Recorder Taylor's policy is to di
tribute the work as far as possible anon
the largest number of applicants. As
result the deeds are copied In all kinds Q
handwriting, sometimes entirely illegib
even to lawyer. and errors are frequer
and dangerous.
FAVORED BY LABOR.
The knights of Labor, Mr.. Siddous sal
favor the utmost extension of the civil Sc
vice.
President Woodward of the board {
trade spoke of the unanimity with whiC
the citizens of washington had indorse
the pending bill. believing 1T to be for tf
material interest of the city.
DIR. Mackay Smith told of the workin.
of the New York Civil Service Refor
Association and what had been aeon
plished in the metropolis. He is intereste
IN the movement, he said as an Anne rica
and compared our administrative system
with those of European nations past al
present.
Ex-Commissoner Lyman spoke in fave
of applying the merit system to the Di
trict, and said this should be made a mod
government as 1t is model capitol al
city. A government, in order to alta
the highest efficiency, must be intelligel
from top to bottom and non-partisan.
DR.. Willetts spoke for the Civic Cent?
and advocated civil service for the DistriC
first, because the system has been apple
to the country at large. aud no exceptit
should be made of the District; second, s
as to relieve Senators Ind Members from Il
opportunities OF officeseekers.
President Proctor said he did not belle,