The times., 1897-05-16
94l Pa. Ave. NJ. w.
charge, and proper appointment was

As AVSs e1n -
Charge, and proper appointment was
absolutely essential.
The rules of the civil service az applied
to a great manufacturing establishment
like the Government Printing Office were
cumbersome and complicated. Mr. Palmer
stated that it was his belief that his own
personal observation fitted him TO learn
the qualification and efficiency of the ein-
ployes much betterthan any board in charge
of technical examination and W which prob,
ably knew little about the business. The
period OF probation required was an obstrlc-
tion in the office. Competent nell W ho mad
been in the office W hen he was there be-
fore had been discharged. He knew these
men to lie the very best that could be Sc
cured for their particular branches OF the
business, and yet he was confident these
men could not pass the examinations to
which they were subjected by the Civil
Service Commission
Senator Lodge wanted TO know if these
men were SO efficient why it was mat Mr.
Benedict, also a practical printer, had re
moved them, 10 which Mr.. Palmer replied
that he could not tell the working of the
mind OF his predecessor.
Mr.. Palmer said these men had occurred
employment elsewhere, which was guar
antee of their efficiency.
IF that is the case" asked Senator
Lodge, Mr.. Benedict probably knew of
their efficiency, so that their discharge
must have been for reasons other than a
want of efficiency. is not that, then,
fair assumption?'
Yes; that is an inference one may
properly draw" replied Mr.. Palmer.
IF they were good men, they were
probably turned out, then, for poiiti al
reasons?''
Very iikely.' replied Mr., Palmer, iacfn-
ically.
And il is your idea that we should
return TO such systern?' asked MI
Lodge, who had artfully laid the ground
work of this question.
MI Palmer met it firmly, however, by
saying: II shold certainly do SO if ! had
the power
nd that, you think, would be an ad-
vantage?'
1T undoubtedly would be in the Gov
ernment Printing Office While it is true
there is politics in it, still, politics is only
an incident The old system gave the head
u
which to select his men, and the results
were much better than under the present
cumbersome method of securing employees
Mr. Lodge asked Mr. Palmer if he
thought it impossible to secure good
rIen through the present system of ex-
aminations
MY Judgment is that it limits me too
much'' replied Mr.. Palmer. Il have no
prejudice against the system. What l
want is results Some OF the best men,
as / have said, were discharged under
the old system, and l cannot get them
back by any examination. The hest men,
mechanics. for instance, may be those
who cannot pass examinations In arith-
metic, geography, and the like My idea
is that no such examination can secure
for me such good men as practical
test of hours, or weeks, or months, VIII
provide"
At this point President Proctor, If
the commission, made a sta atemeHt, as
follows.
1.-The examination in the Printing Office
is gotten up by q commission OF skilled
employees in the office itself, under the
supervision of the commission Three men
passed examinations In the Printing Of
flee recently and secured high grades
who could not sign their names. The
board of examiners at the Printing office
can use any sort of examin alton it THINKS
fit
Mr. Proctor admitted that helpers were
required to he examined and Mr.. Palmer
retorted that such men Were simply un-
skilled laborers who required as n oondi-
ton precedent for good work only muscle.
yes" replied Mr.. Proctor, ''but the
examination is a very simple one
Mr. Lodge-What is the attitude of the
trades uniens with regard to the examina-
ticns?
Mr. Proctor Most favorable Thay
brought it about 1t was at the instance
of the typographical and other unions that
we agreed to classify the people in the
T rinting Office. ! understand thar type
unions throughout the country
are in favor of the application of the civil
service rules.
Mr.. Palmer insisted that the cashier. who
handled large sums of money. should he in
the excepted class. He wanted man of
his own choice appointed.
Senator Elkins called attention to the diff |
ference between the clerical and laboring |
forces in the matter of time of service. He |
emphasized the point that clerks should re |
required to work eight hours day and, as |
the resul. of calculation, endeavored tos how |
that 5000 days labor are lost to the Gov |
eminent in q six and one-half- hour day in |
the departments. He merely referred to this |
subject today. intending to call it up again |
before the investigation is concluded.
After extended discussion the members |
of the committee came to the conclusion,
at Mr. ProcteT's suggestion, that the Pub |
lie Printer had the authority under the
present law, if he so desired to rearran2e
the lists of skilled labor, omtting stable
men, the woman in charge of charwomen.
assistant doorkeeper. messengers, wagon |
masters, wagon messengers, watchrien,
helpers, and others. This pleased Mt
Palmer as he hat been under the impression
that he did not possess such authority.
Senator Lodge asked Mr.. Palmer IL lie
had examined the whole system thoroughly.
Mr. Palmer had not He stated that the
powers he had under the present law were