Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-10-24

! not so efficient as his assistant, and we have ordered both of them up for competitive examination. Then it has happened that the chief has come to me and said that he did not want to be examined-that he would rather forego the examination and exchange places with his assistant; but he has been told that this would not be permitted. Then he has said: Suppose 1 am examined and fall behind the other man-shal be permitted to take his placer And to that we have replied that he would be permitted to occupy the place for which he showed himself fit
 "Twenty-four law clerks were or dered to examination to prove their fit ness. One man came to me and said: Here is my resignation. l can't pass the examination. have never studied law and I should fail on the first ques- tion.' 1 asked him how he came to be occupying the position. He replied that he was appointed to it, and when he said that he knew nothing about law they told him he would soon pick up all the knowledge that was necessary. He told me that he had read some law since his appointment; but he was really not qualified for the position hs held, and as he realized this from the first he had felt that he was in false position. He was glad that the exam ination had been ordered, because he could not reconcile his position with his conscience.
 ''We did not accept his resignation, but we found for him place for which he was fitted. His salary was cut from &, 2,2oo to $1,2o0, but he was perfectly satisfied.
 "A great many people, both in and out of the government service, have lost sight of one thing in the civil serv- ice law and in the last order of the president-that it is not the individual which the civil service law protects it is merit only. Let no employe of the government lose sight of that fact. The clerk who does efficient work will re- ceive protection and earn promotion, but the clerk who is lazy and inefficient will earn discharge. There is nothing in the presidents order which protects clerk whose work is unsatisfactory. All that the order requires is that the chief of division recommending the mans discharge shall state in writing his reasons and furnish a copy of the charges to the clerk The clerk has the right to file an answer; the papers are then laid before the head of the de- partment and he determines whether the man is to go."
 "You don't anticipate the difficulty in making removals that the police board in New York city found after the Lexow investigation, when the courts reinstated the men it had de- posed? ?"
 Not at all. It is not necessary that the clerk who is recommended for re- moval should be proved a criminal If he is charged with being inefficient or inattentive and the head of the de- partment believes the charge to be true. he goes out and without re- course"
 .sDoes the head of the department himself consider every case?"
 Unless the papers are vo1uminous; he may, however, delegate the duty to some one in whom he has confidence"
 Don't you think that the protection thrown around a man by the civil serv- ice law encourages idleness 2''
 Not so much as the security given by political influence. When a man was appointed and kept in place by in fluence he felt independent of every au- thority. We found some of those po- litical appointees in the department when we came in. When I undertook to remove one of them, half dozen senators came to me to protest I said to them: Gentlemen, this man is in- competent and he cannot stay Then they urged me to find something elsa in the epartment-someth ething for which he was fitted; and that said I would do. The only differences I have had with public men have been over the questions of appointment and re- moval. So far, however, have found them amenable to reason. They real ize that I am a trustee for the people and that they are in the same posi- ton and will not argue that the peoples money be paid out to men who do not render an equivalent" |"
 But do the clerks render an equiva- lent9" I asked. Do you get as eff cient service from them, for instance, as you did from clerks in your bank ?'
 "No," he said, "their work is not so efficient as that of clerks in a business establishment
 Many public men have condemned ofiee-holding as an occupation. In fact, every public man whom I have questioned on the subject has held the same views. Mr. Gage says that he would not advise any young man to en- ter the government service,
 "And yet, he added, eff young man feels that there is nothing creative in him-that'he was born not to command but to serve-there is much that is at- tracive in the public service. The gov ermment pays good salaries. Good stenographers and typewriters can be had for Sq00 q veaY-;the very hest for