Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16

a paper which 1 shall submit and have
Only to add to it that l inquired of the
librarian as to how much of his time was
taken up with the matter of applicants for
positions in the library. He said:
have given from eight to fourteen
hours a day to the library business and
very largely to applications for office. 9th
er work. such as writing my report and at
tending to large correspondence, was
dc ne at my home in the early morning or
late in the evening.
In other words the time of the superin-
tendent of this great library. which is
housed now appropriately and so well
in the noble building on the other side CT
the square. the time of the man in charge
of that important work was given up to
listening to applicants for these offices,
petty offices for the most part. twenty
eight for every place, and to trying to set
tie in that scramble who should have the
places.
MIR. President the duty of the superin-
tendent to the people who pay him and
put him in there and charge him with this
organizing the library. drawing his report
and giving his attention to that important
department of the government, and not
in deciding what applicants for places in
the cloak rooms should be selected, or in
listening to the appeals of various mem
bers of the House and senators and others
no desired to get places for friends and
constituents.
from the civil service the only way my con-
stituent or your constituent can get posi-
ton is by our going and trying to get 1t
for them. We are obliged to do it-every
one of us-and it Is the same with mem
hers of the House. 1 had nearly $50 APP
plications for places in the library. all OF
which I was obliged to submit for the con-
sderation of the superintendent. 1t seems
to me it would have been saving of the
peoples money and great saving of time
to their officers If he could have taken per-
sens for those clerical positions from the
registers already prepared and open to
him. Some of the principal places I know
of my own knowledge have been filled by
experts-most admirable choices-but have
heard complaint about some of the other
small positions that they were not prop
erly filled. and 1 understand that the super
intendent, almost in desperation. was
forced at the last to fill them as rapidly
as possible in order to be able to attend
to the work with which he is charged. l
do not make that statement on his au-
thority. He never said anything about II
to me. That Is merely what l was told. III
there is any truth in the statement. 1t Is
due to the system Of which the superinteno-
ent was the victim
Mr.. Gear rema rked that it took the IL
brarlan two months to fill places in the
library.
Ability of the AppOintees.
'In view of the Implication which the
senator from Massachusetts has made
said Senator Allison. that a portion of the
library employees are not suited to their
work, think it ought to be stated that the
librarian if making his selections uniformly
stated to those who applied for places. as
l was obliged to do. that he would select
no ore as respects the library who did not
come with approved knowledge and expert
experience in other libraries. So 1 do not
think that as a rule his employees are un-
suited to their work / am not antagon-
izing the senator from Massachusetts at
this moment. but l think under the civil
service we now ard then find an employe
who is not exactly suited to the particular
work which he is required to do. although
he may have passed a very good examina-
ton as respects the particular questions
propounded to him.
Mr. Lodge remarked that the criticism
was not his own. but one he had heard
others make. He said in reply to a ques-
ton by Mr.. Gear that he thought the civil
service commission better adapted to secure
good employees for the census than would
be got from appointments at large.
Il understood" interposed Senator Hale.
"the senator to say he believes. from his
observation and from information which
the best force could be supplied to that
work under the civil service rules. I wish
to ask the senator where under the sun he
has got that idea? ~
Mr. Lodge: II Rave got that idea from
the statements CT MIR. Porter, the super
intendent of the last census. in the cur
rent number of the North American Re-
view. in which he makes that proposition
precisely AS the one thing that is needed.
and from Mr.. Carroll D. Wright, the head
of the departm ant of labor, who proves by
figures. beyond doubt that it involves a
much greater COST to carry on the census
as it is proposed and as 1t was carried on
the last time So both he and Mr. Porter
testify directly on that point. and that was
what l introduced as proof"
Mr. Hale: II had either the good or ba
fortune to be chairman Of the committee on
the census which finished the work of 1880
and matured and completed the entire work
or 1850 The result of my Observable Is
that the work of the census can be much
better done. more cheaDly done brought
to an end much more quickly without the
interposition of the civil service That Is
my experience and it is my judgment"
Three Superintendents Agree
Mr.. LodSe-'The statement of both the
superintendent is the direct contrary. and
l know that was also the opinion. as nv
colleague reminds me. of Gen. Walker He
stated 10 me- and l have heard him state 1T
over and over again. that it would be an
immense saving of time to take the census
clerks from the civil service registers. Mr.
wright gives all the figures here and an
analysls OF all the expenses. All those three
superintendents agree as to a saving of
time and saving of expense"
Mr. Hale-"Mr. Wright had very little 10
DO with the great work of the census I re-
OF the census of 1890 began a determined
pressure was made by the civil service COM
mission TO put that entire work under the
charge of the civil service commissioners
They appealed to the President l was il,
constant communication with the superin.
tendent then in charge, Mr. Porter, and
neither he nor I believed that the work
could be so well done under the civil ser
vice commission as outside of it. His en-
tire attitude was in that direction If he
mas written any letter since which coutro-
verts that position"
MI Lodge-"The letter is published in the
North American Review"
Mr. Hale-'Whatever he has said is in en-.
tire antagonism with the position he took
| at that time: and President Harrison who
was not unfavorable to civil service, after
| considering the matter carefully and de.
liberately. decided that the work could be
better done outside of the civil service
| rules"
The Senate wandered into discussion OF
| the customs service. after which Mr. Lodge
came back to his argument.
Most Efficient System.
Il only desire to say in conclusion" h,
| said. that the points I have brought for
I ward have been with a view Of showing