The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-04
HOPE FOR THE OUTS.
CleveIand's Civil Service Order May
be Lawfully Eyaded.

E2Washington, June 3.-Presldent Cleve-
lands civil service order will not prevent
the appointment OF Republicans to post
lions of chief of division in tho executive
departments. 1t can be lawfully evaded.
This will be good news to the anxious Re-
publican people who want office, and It
will be particularly gratifying because
the positions which are to be available
are all especially desirable. The salaries
are 81 800 up to So, 900 per annum.
There is a Democratic law clerk In one
OF the executive departments who is
learned i'll the law, and he has discovered
the method which will enable the hungry
and thirsty to be fed and watered. ALI
other Democrats in good positions will he
displaced, but this shrewd fellow will re-
tain his place. He shuns notoriety, but
this evening said: "The7e is law on the
statute books which cannon now give
you because it would attract attention to
myself, but it il perfectly clear, and will
permit the appointment of Republicans
without civil service examinations. If ]
should designate the statute by number
certain people would know that had been
talking, although number of law clerks
have been fearful for some time that this
law would be invoked. 1t provides that
where the civil service commission has
no names eligible for appointment to any
particular grade, the Cabinet officer In
charge of any department may make u
temporary appointment for three months.
In the mean time the civil service COM
mission will he asked To hold examine.
tions for the position, and, of course,
there will he many applicants examined,
but they will have no show of appoint
ment
''The law provides that IL the clerk tenn
mr. for chnt
demonstrate his fitness for the position
the secretary may appoint him perma-
nently without n civil service eXamina-
tion. The law presumes that If the man
temporarily appointed shall have practi.
| cally demonstrated his fitness, it would
be superfuous to ::.uke him pass an ex-
animation to prove his ability to continue
to perform the duties which he has salts
factorily performed for three months.
"For example, II the chief clerk of the
Department of Justice shall have success.
fully and alphabetically met with Sena-
tors and Representatives daily for three
months, and transacted business with
them it would be folly to make him pass
an examination in astronomy OF mathe-
matics You will find that before the
first of July this law will be invoked aud
| chiefs of departments and chiefs Of divis-
ions will be appointed. The Democratic
incumbents who have been feeling secure
| will be outside the breastwoIks because
no examinations have been held for the
positions of that character; and hence the
civil service commission has no names on
the eligible list for ttose places. The
bars are already let down, for I know oil
two meu who are selected for the appoint
ment in my department and, OF course,
there must be many others. The Presi
dent and every member of the Cabinet is
fully advised and ready to take action"
This will let in assistant postmasters,
assistant collectors, chief clerks of post
offices, chiefs of custom and internal rev.
enue offices, and altogether abont ten
thousand places Of value because of their
excellent salaries.