Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-20

AIR. Evans-'That would disturb the ser
vice very much. 1 believe you ought TO
have a tenure of office, and every year
bring in about 10 per cent Of new blood.
That would do away very largely with the
abuse brought by some clerks staying in
the service too long time. They now get
cor the bureau justice. We ought TO bring
in new ideas and these coming in contact
with the experience III running the bu-
reau would result benefcially.'
Retiring Clerks.
Mr. Lodge-'I had a suggestion made to
he the other day by an officer in one of the
departments with a COCO deal OF expert
ence in civil service matters in effect That
there should be an arrangement similar to
the retirement boards OF the navy estab-
lshed during the war, by which means in
efficient clerks were dropped out occasion
ally The suggestion was made that re-
firing board III every department could drop
out a certain percentage of the least eih-
cient every year. the places 50 made TO be
nhed from the efficiency list That seems
to he similar to the idea suggested by YOU
Mr. Evans-.You have got TO do some
thing there Will be a very large civil
list OF pensioners. If a man upon entering
the service knew that his tenure of office
was limited. he would probably save some
of his earnings. while he would work bet
ter at the same time.
Mr. I.oige-'I was told the other day that
there was q clerk in the pension office so
broken physically and mentally that ne
could not find his way to the pension office
building, but had to be brought there and
could do 10 work. Do you know of any
such case
Mr.. Evans-"There is one clerk in about
that condition..
Mr.. Lodgc-'In cases like that the civil
service commission could not interfere if
the clerk were removed. could they?'
Mr.. Evans replied that they could not
-, No, kaY.
through the influence of sympathetic
friends
Like Lottery Prize.
Speaking of the general scope of the civil
service law. Mr.. Evans said ne would just
as lief run chance of drawing prize in
the Louisiana lottery as to get efficiency
through the civil service.
Il like II look a man in the face said
Mr.. Evans. before 1 employ him. And
You do. too a man may pass splendid
civil service examination, but when you
put him down to a desk he may be lmprac-
ticable ard inefficient.
MIR. Lodge wanted to know whether
there was any difficulty in removing this
class Of clerks after they had served their
probationary period, which was supposed
TO SHOW Just such conditions. and the COM
missioner answered there was not.
Mr.. Evans continued to say that he had
not drawn more than two men from the
civil service eligible list since he had been
in Office. He said that the best clerks he
had IN his office had never passed civil
service examination. Since he took charge
of the pension office he had reinStated one
hundred and five Old soldiers, who were
dismissed during the last administration,
and in doing so he had always considered
their ability to do the work as basis for
reinstatement
Mr.. Eyans-"Every person seems to think
he is the best clerk in the bureau me
result is everybody wants proIaoucn anu
they get their sena cors and representatives
ard use various methods of influence 20
secure these promotions There are other
men who hold their positions Just as men
hold positions in business life. and that is
because they are useful. / found the same
condition in the Post Office Department
when i was there
inefficient Clerks.
Mr.. Lodge-"The clerks who are unable
to perform their duties, 1 presume, are
mostly old mem"
Mr.. Evans-"Nostly old men and ladies
who have been there a good while But
there are a good many others who are
nuisances in the office because they are
quarrelsome and continually stirring I'D
strife and trouble. In removing a clerk
you do not like to charge incompati6ility
OF temper against them. But such IS the
fact. They are everlastingly stirring up
trouble among their neighbors."
Mr.. Lodge-"There is very little pressure
L presume. to get people selected from the
eligible list for appointment
Mr. Evans-The fact is the impression
is quite general that if man can pass
the examination of the civil service ctm-
mission he will get an appointment For
this reason l have great MANY people
coming to me to get appointments after
they have passed the examination"
FnvOrs Exemption.
Mr. Pritchard asked Mr.. Evans if he
thought special examiners in his office
should be classified.
Mr. Evans replied that they should not
be. in his Judgment. Sometimes, he said. il
is not desirable that it should be known
what men are special examiners This is
the case, especially, where criminal matters
are TO be worked up.
Mr. f'ritchard wanted to know if Mr..
Evans thought examining medical boards
should be appointed through the commits
sion.
Mr. Exams replied that they should not
He said that man might be efficient as an
examiner but might be personally obnox-
lcus 10 the soldiers and for that reason
Would not be efficient.
MI Pritchard: How should the chiefs of
divisions be treated in the pension office,
Should they be class:fied?"
Mr. Evans: Il think not. Men occupying
such positions should be in the special con-
bdence of the head of the bureau | never
from among the enemy. So far as politics
among clerks are concerned there is moth
ing III that They can change quicker than
an administration / would protect by thu,
civil :ervice Law the charwomen and la
borers in the departments. and would pro-
tcct all clerks up to 81 100 per annum. but
above that / would let them take their
chances
MI Lodge: Il understand you would not
abolish civil service, but that you would
limit its scope2''
Mr. Evans: II would not abolish it but 7
would limit it and reorganize it, | would
protect these poor charwomen and the la
borers. but | would not have it cover the
higher positions
CIVIL Service Commissioner Proctor asked
MI Evans d number of questions Mr.
Iritchard asked Mr.. Evans whether when
he went into the pension office he had not
found book or memoranda containing the
names OF employees in that bureau and in
d:cating the politics of each.
Mr. EV5ns-'l found such a book: inner
tied il. in fact"
Mr. Proctor asked the witness if ii would
not DE better to have all the chiefs of d.
visions in The pension Office of varied poll
ties instead of the same party.
Mr. Evans said he did not think so
" hen the people elected a certain party to
power he thought they intended that that
party should operate the government
through their own party friends.