Evening star., 1897-05-15

BENEDICT for some reason, unknown 20 him.
While those men were practical ami highly
efhcfent, they might not be able to pass a
theoretical civil service examination. and
ne Is debarred from reappointing them.
Senator Lodge put him through an ex-
animation to try to learn why these men
were turned out, but Mr.. Palmer did not
know the cause of their removal. Senator
Lodge drew the inference that they were
discharged for political reasons. and then
SAID that the system under which they
were removed was the one Mr.. Palmer
desired to restore
|, In answer to a question Mr. Palmer said
1t would be practically impossible to run
a great government office without politics
entering into the matter.
"On the whole do you get better men
through politicians or through civil serv-
ice ruies?' asked Senator Lodge Mr.
Palmer replied that under the old system
he had a wider range to select from and
more latitude in his choice of men.
Emergency Appointments.
An important fact was brought out at
this sta gc by President Procte- stating that
| tie public printer mas right 20 appoint men,
without cer,ification, under an emergency,
for thirty days employment. He said also
that the rule about filling state quotas
aces not apply to the public printing Office.
DO you think it is impossible to get good
men through civil service rules?" asked
Senator Lodge.
powers. For instance. there were certain
iocs ltfes where there are better bookbind-
ers than in the average of states. He would
nke TO have the right to choose from these
localities
Mr. Palmer added that men might be
skilled mechanics of the highest grade and
yet not be able to pass the educational ex-
| animation. He said some of the finest
pfesSmen ne ever saw were dsmis sed by
MI Benedict, and he does not possess the
discretion tc reappoint them.
AT this point President Proctor expiained
in answer to a question that the .xamina-
ticns for the public printing office are pre-
pared by a board OF public printing office
en- nployes. These men are supposed 10
stand high in their trades, and to be able
to prepare practical questions This beard
can establish any kind of examination il
deems necessary to bring out the oualifica-
tons of the applicant
In response TO request. President Proc
ter detailed the cause of bringing ahou.
clvll service in the government printing
| office. He said the Columbia Typographi-
cal Unfcn had really brought about the
cnsHse. he said there was nothing to pre-
vent the public printer and the civil sery-
ice commission from establishing a sys-
tenn or examinations which would give hin,
me the mSst practical men. He understood
country favored civil service in the poy-
ernment printing office.
Difference in Hours of Work
Mr.. Palmer said the civil service conn
mission had refused to give him authority
10 select his own cashier. He wanted a
| man put there in whom he could have alb
solute trust He himself is under practi-
callv $2n.o0 bond, but the cashier does
not give bond to the government The
cashier handles between s3.Oo0ooo and
s4.UU'Voo year Mr.. Palmer said if he
could nave the selection of his examiners
IL would go great way toward correct
ing the present condition of affairs In
the course OF the examination it was
shown that the clerical force of tho office
work six and one-half hours a day and the
mechanical force work eight hours day.
Senator Elkins wanted to know IL this was
just system, especially in view of the
Iact that the clerical force were paid more
Mr. Palmer said these clerks followed the
general rule applying in the departments
He had not changed the system because
| he did not think himself wiser than all of
his predecessors and heads of departments
Senator Elkins remarked that no head of
| a corporation or commercial establishment
would work part of his force of employees
less time than another part He would not
deprive himself of that much labor
President Proctor read the law requiring
clerks IN the departments to work seven
hours day. Senator Elkins said the clerks
only work six and a half hours and the
government is losing something like 5000
hours day clerical labor. This means a
loss OF over $1,000 a day in salaries. He
thought the civil service commission SHOULD
Notifications Suggested.
Mr. Palmer said he was willing to give
civil service a thorough trial, but with
| some notifications of the rules that he has
suggested. He would omit from civil serv-
ice rules the following classes OF employees
Assistant doorkeepers, boxers helpers,
captain Of the watch, chief charwomen,
messengers. assistant messengers. stable
men, wagon masters, yardmasters and
watchmen.
Senator Elkins said it was evident from
the law that the public printer can say
what shall constitute unskilled laborers
Senator Lodge said he was in favor of
keeping the government printing Office
under the civil service system, but he
thought 1t was absurd to call stableman,
charwoman, a boy who carries forms,
watchman, a skilled laborer. Senator El-
kinS concurred with Senator Lodge. Sena-
tor Lodge said il was absurd to raise the
salaries of those helpers eight cents day,
as had been done, in order to put them in
the classified service as skilled labcrers.
Senator Chiffon and President Proctor
cited the law and contended that Mr.. Bene-
dict had not put those people in the classi-
fled service by raising their wages eight
cents day.
In answer to question by Senator
Pritchard, Mr.. Palmer said he could desiy-
nate a board of examiners that would pre-
pare a system of examination which would
be satisfactory to those skilled mechanics
WHO were ulS1nlSSeQ Dy the last aQmlnkStra-
ton and who are not willing to take the
civil service examinations.
why He Did Not Act.
Mr.. w. H. Collins, chief clerk of the gov
ernment printing office. was then examined.
He went into the Office as apprentice
boy in 1867. He was questioned by Senator
Elkins as to his failure to act as a men,
ber of the board of examiners. Mr. Col
Inns said he construed the intimation from
the private secretary not to act on The
board as an order from the public printer
to that effect. He Thought 1t the part of
discretion to obey that order.
DO you think this advice was sent to
other members of the board:' asked Sena-
tor Elkins.
Mr. Collins did not know.
Capt. Brfan's Testimony.
Capt. Brian OF the government printing
office was then examined. He was not in
favor eff repeating the civil service rules,
but thought they should be modified SO as
to give the government printer more lati-
tude in the selection Of his employees. He
said tLat some of the best printers in the
country probably could not pass the civil
service examination. However, the average
of the employees selected under civil serv-
ice rules was equal TO the average of men
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