The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-09
Finance cOmmittee win recommend that

Finance Committee will recommend that
1t be retained as the nucleus of a fund
with which to erect a convention hall.
dors of the State Department where office
seekers can scarcely avoid being con-
fronted with the Information, are neat
p:acards decipherable at considerable
distance, setting forth the fact that but
nine positions in that Department are
excepted from the Civil Service regula-
tons. namely:-Three assistant secre-
laporerS below classification, one private
secretary to the Secretary of State, and
the right to appoint one additional con-
ndential clerk without examination. This
Ist which greetS the man out of job
with dismay has already. dwindled down
to two places, the first and third assist
are capable men of long service; the
private secretary has already been APP
pointed, the authorized confidential clerk
mas never been and is not required, and
Mr.. Adee has been continued indefinitely
as second assistant. The notices, al
though dated June 10, We're printed March
retary Sherman has ruled that they are
70 stand. so the office-seeker departs dis
consulate.
A similar condition of affairs applies
in the War and Navy Departments where
the explanation is vouched that no va
vSancles are apt to occur in desirable
next lower grades is is The sole method tai 'os Of
appointment. Under these circumstances
the rush for places has already ceased IN
ihese departments and strong contrast
IS presented to the conditions which usu-
ton.
Twelve years ago when the Democrats
nrst appeared for twenty years and the
slogan was Turn the rascals OUT the
business of these departments was de-
moralized for months by the terrific on
siaught OF yictors after spoils. Eight
years ago the effort was almost as gen
eral complicated by the efforts of the
outs for reinstatement. and when Cleye-
land returned in 1898. hundreds of appli-
personally pressed for few weeks. Now.
however. the ineffective rush has come
and passed altogether within three days
ana the machinery Of the great depart
friction. nor is any disposition eyinced
by the authorities to have it otherwise.
me only vacancy IN the Navy Depart
Iira1 mems. mat z, Of chief clerk, has been
man whom Senator Don Cameron assist
ed to a 81. 200 clerkship sixteen years ago
ana his old place is to go to a naval
% Ilset9hosrapher t9nr OF ten years service, the
wee commission to designate short
hand writer of merit without political
conslqeratfon. An Assistant Secretary of
the Navy to succeed Mr.. McAdoo is Sec
retary Longs only patronage concern for
administration.
~ tne war department General Alger
mas taken as private secretary the stenog-
rapher of the Fortiflcations Board. and
the Assistant Secretaryship now filled by
General Doe. is all that is left at his dis
posal, for which he is truly grateful The
only possibility in these three depart
ments for rewarding political workers
lies In the highly improbable action of
President Mckinley by executive order
abolishing the extension of the classified
service to clerical positions.
The Consular service to which the party
workers have hitherto looked for COM
pensation is also included in the class to
which examinations are prerequisite as
Tar as concerns all consulates or COM
mercial agencies, the salary of which is
not more than $500, including fees, or
less than $1,000. these amounts including
nine-t tenths of them. Elaborate circulars
detailing all the orders and regulations
affecting the permanency of the consular
service and the restrictions tc entering
it. are being distributed freely by the
State Department through Congressman
and those who claim to have influence
with the effect of totally deterring the
greater portion of applicants who have
had dreams of foreign travel and so
journ, and those who personally seek
Secretary Sherman lead additionally that
he intends not only to enforce these reg
ulations but gradually to extend them
above and below their existing limitations.