New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-25
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM DEFENDED.
COMMISSIONERS REPLY TO CRITICISMS MADE IN
THE SENATE.

COMMISSIONERS REPLY TO CRITICISMS MADE IN
THE SENATE.
Washington March "a (SpeciaD.-Senator Allen.
of Nebraska. elated. no doubt by the seeming sup
port which his attacks on the Civil Service law
received yesterday in the deiberative branch in
troducei to-day bill to repeal all existing Civil
Service legislation. The Nebraska Senator's
SADIE need not be taken seriously; for, though he
and a dozen other sposmen both sides of the
chamber are always ready TO engage in BUSH
whackng warfare minor features OF the pres
ent system not ten of them would venture to 20
on record as voting 10 repeal the Civil Service law
in its entirety. Outbreaks like THAI Of yesterday
are not infrequent in Congress. but they mean
little or nothing and usually passed the
harmless ebullitonS of fdst-disappearing spirit
of political blgotry and dcmagogy. Mr.. Aliens bill
was referred the Committee on Civil Service and
Retrenchment and will probably not be heard Of
again In this Congress.
The factious criticisms aimed yesterday In the
Senate at the hop, skip and jump" test applied
TO applicants for certain places in the Civil Ser
vice were met good-naturedly to-day by the Civil
Service Commissioners Said Commissioner Har-
low:
We know what the facts are and that the charge
is ludicrously wrong. We print blank for de-
partmental and Government Printing Office appli,
cants In the Railway Mail Service the physica!
requirements strict, and medical examination
is required For the use oil apP carts IPr o ms
asked and Question 81 is: State the frequency OF
the action of the applic' nts heart; when standing
wher sitting: when standing after brief exercise
Uhc applicant should he required to hop on one
foot the distance Of about twelve feeD. That IS
the "hop. skip and jump question. II H. required
only OF applicants for the Railway Mail Service.
and on the blanks that now using that fact
Is stated clearly and conspicuousiy. ON some or
tho old blanks. however, II was not so clearly
Trey were obliged to 20 through this medical ex-
animation for the departmental service.
Some printers also choos" 10 take TINS eFamina-
ton and pay s. for IT make their cases all the
there is a reson for the hop. skip and jump" ques-
ton in the fact that the railway mail service l.
of great strain upon the physique, ana me
Government is entitled 10 have men VINO are per-
fecty sound and equal 10 its require ments.
Commissioner Rice. when his attention was called
the matter said:
There is a reason for the questions In the medical
examination OF railway mail applicants. In the
first place. the Commission Is not responsible for
all the requirements forth in that list OF ques-
poyes should be physically sound. They have told
that we may examine as much as we please 4
who is less than five feet four inches I'm
height, but they will never appoint such man.
They have also told us that we can certify "a
much as please q man weighing less than i2j
pounds. but they will never appoint such an APP
pcant They insist upon these requirements be-
cause tn cases into which mail has to b. thrown
of certain height In order to accommodate
the great number of classiicatiCnS necessary. and
a must he high enough to work with them.
steady his feet and equal 10 the severe work or
sorting mail train under full Roadway AMI
throwing him about from side TO side aud end T.
end Of a railway mail Ger.
In no other examination Is the hopping require
ment thought Of and in this instance II Is only
suggested In order TO give the physician q chance
TO judge OF the applicants heart. II might be re-
CURED that the applicant run around the block. bat
the hopping Sort distance serves the purpose.