The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-09
THf CIgIL SERVICF.
ills Approved by TIVE Majority of Leading
Men.

Men.
WASHINGTON, Oct S-special.-The
| classified system or merit system, as it is
some times calied, has come to stay. For
years IT was unpopular with all the poiu-
clans, and IL is not approved by certain
| Congressman and others to-day. Never
theless the majority Of leading men in
both great political parties believe in it.
IL has been pretty thoroughly tried in the
Postofiice Department and in many
branches Of other departments and few
intelligent people would vote 10 abolish it.
Even private secretaries to Cabinet Of
ficers belong. in a certain sense, TO the
classified service.
When a Cabinet official retires his pri-
vate secretary does not necessarily go out
with him for the private secretary's tenure
is not affected by the retirement OF the
man who happened to appoint him. one
Of the civil service commissioners remark
ed to a representative of the press yester-
day that Internal Revenue deputies placed
in the classified list by an order Of the
President Of the United States should GER
tainly have as secure tenures as private
secretaries
BRADY IGNORED CIVIL SERVICE.
This same commissioner said: Collector
Brady. Of Virginia. and other collectors
who have ignored the civil service law
may think they have influence enough
with the administration TO have their own
way. But they are mistaken. President
Mckinley is not going to allow that sort Of
thing. II remains to be seen whether or
not the commissioner IS right.
Future of the colored race? Well. that
Is a big question. II Is TOO much for me.
said Arthur Simmons. of Newberne, y. c..
one of the oldest dOOrkeepers in the White
House and one Of the blacklist Afro-Amer-
leans hereabouts. Simmons boasts OF his
pure African blood and Of his Southern
birth. lie draws 200 per year for guard
ing the private secretary's door. Next 10
the duties Of the doorkeeper 10 the Presi-
dent Office. those performed by simmons
require more skill and tact than the duties
OF any OF the other petty oihcials on the
government payroll.
AS ne expresses il. Simmons Is buffer
between the President and the Presidents
secretary on the one side and visiting hosts
that cali az .he White House on the 9TH
er."
yes. sir. the question is TOO much for
me-" repeated Simmons as he stood with
his hand on ne door knob. Il believe the
colored race has made good deal OF pro-
aress i'm what is called material way
Colored people have made COOL deal OF
progress too i'm education ] hope they
trouble Is nearly all the colored race who
form the upper set I'm large cities have
a GOOD deal Of white blood IN their veins
Take il here IN Washington. There are a
great many bright negroes; quadroons'
who are almost white so far as the color
Of the skin goes. ,,.,..
ssYou seldom ever see pure African
like myself i'm what some OF my race
call the best society. \ real piach per-
son. no matter how intelligent or up
right he or she may be- Is almost oslra-
cised i'm some circles l do not alloW any
of them TO ostracise me. for ! consider
mveeIf as good as any colored person.
;.As n matter of fact | have more priv
ueses in white circles than almost any
other negro in the national capital. For
instance I can do what no other colored
man I'm Washington can. 7 can go 10
Chamberlain's and get a meal whenever
/ feel like it, .,.,.
Not i'm the regular dining-room with
white people ] said.
"Oh no: certainly not" said Simmons.
but | am ushered into a priNdte room
and there ! am well served. But no other
negro but me. tell you. can De serEeu al
! Chamberlain's at All. | only tel TINS ~
| show that although | am blacker III eoior
tban those who mt on q lot of style, /
stand
and better than this upper-ten crowd.
Door-keeper simmons is popular with
the newspaper men and Congressmen; tor
he knows his place when he is on duty.
! His boasting is simply amusing. he does
not claim to be philosopher, but If what
he says about the way the upper-ten Try
to draw the line against the negro OF
urmixed blc..i IS true. the oni''"E 'or
the race is not hopeful. Here is a ques,
ton. at any rate. for the soclolosist ana
Christian philosopher and well-wisher oil
the negro race generally to look INTO.
The Royal order Of Scotland, a branch
| of the Masonic society. holds us arn ..,.l
meeting here on Monday oct Is me
degrees will be conferred in the afternoon
and the banquet will he served at night
Rev. DR.. Hartley Carmichael. Of Rich .,-
mond, is the Grand Chaplain Tor the
| United States. &C.,,
! Mr.. Grayson Burruss ana MT SeorEe
| c. McGiNray. two former Richmond gem
tlemen, are here from New York adjust
ing the losses by the burning Of the great
power-house on Pennsylvania avenue.