The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-01

Writes in Favor of Modifying the Civil
Service Law, SO That He And Others
Can Get In.
To the Editor:-Reform of the civil
service regulations is the all-absorbing
topic Of the day in the National capital.
The Republican, administration finds it.
self somewhat handicapped in the matter
of appointment to office, by reason of the
Cleveland extensions of the civil service
to the following and other places: SUI
pervising Architects office, Treasury De-
partment, craftsmen under the Bureau
of Construction and Repair, Navy De-
partment, Junior Engineer. inspectors
and surveyors grades in the engineer
department at large, cadet in the Rev
enue cutter service, marine hospital ser
vice. light house service, Navy yards,
pension agencies, mints, assay offices and
sub-TreasurieS, postoffice inspectors,
secret service, United States Land and
Surveyor Generals office, custodian SER
vice, life-saving service, pension examin-
ing surgeons, special agents, inspectors
of the Treasury Department, office archi-
tects Of the Capitol, Ordnance Depart
ment at large, government hospital for
the insane, shipping commissioners, pen
tentiary service, internal revenue and
customs house service, government print
ing office, Agricultural Department. Cen
sus Bureau, mailbag repair shops, watch
men, messengers. skilled labOrers in the
departmental service, including certain
grades Of the consular service, and the
clerical force and employees of the White
House. Mr.. Cleveland might have as
logically included candidates for the
Presidency. presidential electors, Cabinet
officers, United Staes Senators, Repre-
sentatives in Congress, members of State
Legislatures county officers, voters and
farm hands. Congress will doubtles mod
ify the service in many respects. Chiefs
Of divisions in the departmental service
should be in accord with the admins
tration, upon whom the heads of the ex-
ecutive departments must chiefly depend
for their reports of the doings of their
respective departments. Internal rev.
enue and customs house officers should
be. flor similar reasons, in accord with
the party in power, and not in antagonism
with the Congressman from their respec-
tive districts and the United Senators
from their State. The government
printing office and the Census Bureau Of
the Interior Department were needlessly
put in the service. as were manyother
places. These will doubtless be taken out
out of the service.
President Mckinley is moving cautious
ly along his line Of duty, and is conducting
the affairs of his office in a patriotic way,
by the guidance Of the light of the whole
people without regard to racial elements
or geographical sections. When his ad-
ministra ton shall have been completed,
the indications are that it will take high
rank among those of his illustrious pred
eceSsOrs.
Senator pritchard is working like a
Trojan for ,North Carolina Republicans.
There can be no doubt that the civil ser
vice regulations have been in many ways
abused and the intent of the law vio-
lated to subserve partisan ends. The Civil
Service Commission, however, is not to
blame for these abuses. 1t has tried to
prevent violations of the law, and it is
safe to say that abuses have occurred
only where it was powerless to act. 1t
has kept close watch over the service in
order to prevent violations, but it has
not been able to always detect the purpose
and act Of those who have taken advan-
tage Of the law, or violated it to subserve
what they regard as party needs. Its
examinations and certifications for APP
pointment to office have been both fair
and impartial and is highly commendable.
JAMES w. POE.
Station B East Capitol Street.
Washington, April 30.