Evening star., 1897-04-29
The Attorney General Appealed to by
Public Printer Palmer.
EXTENT OF TEE CIVIL SERVICE Law
Does It Apply to the Printing
Office Employees?
EFFECT OF THE DECISION

The retention of civil service regulations
in the government printing Office will de-
perd upon an opinion daily expected to be
rendered by the Attorney General on the
validity of that law as applied to the great
printing establishment.
"A short time ago. said a republican
member of Congress to . Star reporter to-
day, Public Printer Palmer requested the
Attorney General to give him opinion
on the validity of the civil service law as
applied to the government printing Office.
In the opinion of a number of able law
yers the civil service law does not today
Apply to that office. and If this opinion is
backed up by the Attorney General, which
l am confident will be the case. goodbye
to civil service rules at the printing office.
From the talks 1 have had with the public
printer, from time to time l am satisfied
he would gladly be relieved from what he
regards as unjust restrictions of his power
as public printer, and to get away with
what a number OF republicans in the Sem
ate and House of Representatives regard,
IN its present method CT enforcement, as
very unjust law. The government print
ing office was filled with democrats, ami
then without competitive examination the
blanket of civil service law was thrown
over them.
Those lawyers who have looked into this
w:ll agree with them, base their opinion
that the civil service law does not apply
TO the government printing office, from the
fact tnat section - of the laws governing
puDllc printing, ETC., adopted January L.
1850, provides 1T shall be the duty of the
Pubic printer 10 employ workmen who are
thoroughly skilled IN their respective
branches Of industry as shown by trial of
their skill under his direction
The civil service law Was approved jan
uary III, 1888. and the law l have quoted,
approved January H. 1885, revokes The pre-
V!ous law in its Application to the govern
ment printing office. Puni, Priuter Dsne-
dlct placed his fore undar civil service
rules August l, 1895, Eeariy seven months
after the law revokiug the former law mad
been approved
Public Printer Palmer has received
numerous protests from representatives, in
congress regarding the law, which stands
IN their way when they attempt to provide
places for their frien1s in that establish
ment. He has replied To their objections
that ne could only act within the law, and
that until Inc Attorney General advises
him regarding the legality of the present
civil service regulations he can do no lore
than follow the course adopted by mis- pre-
decessor. The provision in section 45 of the
Fublic printing laws of Jannary II, ISIS,
providing thar trials of skill of employees
or the government printing Office shall b,.
under his direction" is looked upon as
conclusive evidence by these who consider
the application of civil service regulations
to the printing office as Illegal They claim
that examinations to test the skill of such
employees. conducted by the civil service
commission, cannot be saiI IL be under The
direction of the public printer. According
to this interpretation. IL the Attorney Gen
erai should decide that the civil service
law is repealed by the act of January u.
1885. it will still be. necessary for ap-
rcintees to places in the government print
ing office to pass examinations. but such
examinations would be merely for the rur-
pose of indicating their ability to do tie
work to which Trey would he assigned,
and will not make it necessary % select
the men who secure the nishess averages.
II would leave the doors of the governmen.
printing Office practically open to the
spoilsmen. and would make available haL-
GIeds of places now protected by the civil
service law.