The times., 1897-09-08
The civil service Law.
the Editor OF The Times:

TIC the Editor of The Times:
Your issue Of Sunday contained a CON-
munication entitled The Civil Service
Order" The gist OF the article, eIab-
orateiy written, is that Congress, in the
enactment of the law, conferred the power
ofaDpointmenton the heads sofdepartments,
and. by inference, the power OF removal.
IN a question Of law it is dangerous to
accept anything by inference. The civil
service law is explicit enough not to mis-
lead, SO that lie who runs may read. In
the enactment OF this law Congress placed
the same pow er n the hands Of the PreS-
dent, to regulate the civil service as he
exercises in all other matters for the pub
lie veal The heads OF departments are
necessarily his creatures. and are re.
sponsble to him for their acts 1t is under
his authority that appointments are made
in the departments, by legislative act;
and under the operation Of the same law,
removals are also made. The preparation
and examination Of candidates for office
by the Civil Service Commission, and their
certification to the heads OF departments,
is not the only duty to be performed by this
important bureau. It's duty, after certi-
flying successful candidate, is to protect
MIN in all his rights as a man, and as an
employee CftheGovernment. Toackno wledge
the gnt of an executive officer to remove
at his pleasure the employees of the Govern
mert, properly certi fled by the commission,
is simply to abrogate or nullify the law,
and again opens the door to the spois sys-
tenn. The effectof such a system, by which
the power ard authority of the President
is set at naught, forces a conflict between
n TN nd hi ,l,,,..
ment made, that there is power in the
heads OF depar trEeilts, but not in the Presi-
dent nor the Civil Service Commission, to
appoint and remove: is grossly inconsist-
ent Tc argue further, in the line OF refu-
tation OF an impracticable theory, as set
forth liz the article referred to- is giving
the matter undue prominence. The right OF
the President in approving the amendment
OF rule 2, promulgated by the Civil Service
Commission. prohibiting removals except
for cause, TO be stated AMI adiudicated as
case must be in a law court, cannot be
questioned. 1t was never the intention
Of Congress to establish by any law two
sets ofeXecutlve officers. 1t was never the
Intention OF Congress to esta blish by any
law two sets of executive officers. It was
never the intention Of Congress to make
the Civil Service Commission merely an
examining board. 1t was never the inten.
tion cf Congress to invest the heads OF
departments with autocratic power, by
which they have the right to act indie.
penGcntly Of the Chief Executive of the
nation 1t was never the Intention of Con.
gress to reduce the clerk -anS' other en-
ploye Of the Government to state OF
servillty Which would cause, him the loss
OF his manhood and deprive him of the
right or self Justification before his fellow
man. There IS no grasp for power mani
rested by the Civil Service Commission III
It's persistence to exercise the right given
1t by Congress to find good material for
service In the Government offices, and to
protect such people against the enemies OF
civil service. ID. "A. B.