Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-27
CIVIL SERVICE TALK
Senate Committee Hold a Session
Hear From Witnesses.
A CHANGE IS ADVOCATED BY SOME
Which will Permit Heads of Departments
to Select Their Executive Stans
Regardless of Recon-
mendRtioIs-

Washington, May 24.-The civil serv-
ice committee of the senate continued its
sessions today Several letters were re-
ceived from chiefs of bureaus, among
others one from Mr.. Miller, acting COM
missioner of internal revenue, who sug-
gested the propriety of amendments to
the civil service rules. He thought the
number Of excepted places should DE in
creased These exceptions should in all
cases include the chief deputy and cash
Ter of revenue collectors in the larger
districts. He also suggested that the col
Iector should have control of the selec-
ton of large number of his subordin-
ate.
advocated a change permitting heads of
departments to select their executive
STATS, regardless of the recommendations
of the civil service commission.
The first witness of the day was Mr..
Almonte Barnes, of the agricultural de-
partment. Mr.. Barnes said there were
employees in the agricultural department
who came in as temporary per diem en-
ployes and have remained there as
clerks without passing the civil service
examinations.
Albert Baker, who was the private sec
rotary OF Public Printer Benedict during
his term of office, said that the civil
service had proved a more desirable
means Of securing employment that the
old system of appointment on the advice
of congressman.
Harold Benedict, Of the printing office.
brother Of the recent public printer, also
expressed the opinion that the results un-
der the present system We're so per cent
better than under the ''spoils system
According to the witness, Public Print
err Palmer had begun making appoint
ments Immediately after Mr.. Cleveland $
election in 1892, and during the eighteen
months thereafter in which he had been
in Office mad made appointments at the
rate of fifty a month until the office was
greatly overcrowded. Four-fifths of the
| appoir tees were Democrats, appointed
| by Mr. Palmer, although a Republican
to secure the friendship of Democra tic
congressman.
Senator ElkinS was DESTROYS of know
iiig how many appointments had beer
secured by any one member of congress
and the witness answered that abou
seventy-five were credited to Represen-
| tative, Richardson of Tennessee, chair
man of the house committee on printing
| and about 200 to Senator German, chair
| man of the senate committee.
Mr. ]. L. Kennedy, formerly of the
| printing office. explained that Mr. Pal
| mer hal made many appointments dur
| ing the time specified by Mr.. Benedic
| because of "the hard times'' and it haC
| been thought better to give employmen
| to many men part of the time than a few
| men constantly. The civil service law
| he said, failed to protect employees be
| cause it did not prevent their discharge
Mr. Machen, superintendent of the free
| delivery service of the postoffice depart
| ment. appeared, to deny statements re
Gently made by a witness. Mr.. Hill, ina
| the secret service force had been used a:
| q political instrument. He denied tina
| the agents had been assessed for Gov.
| ernor Campbel's Ohio campaign of 1895
asserting tilat about half of them ha6
| heid meeting and agreed to contribute
| of their Own accord.
| The committee then adjourned for on.
| week.