The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-05
FAR REACHING IN EFFECT
An Experts Opinion of Mr.. Nc
Kinley's Civil Service Order.
GENUINE REFORM In SIGHT
and Discipline Estab-
Iished 90 q Firm Basis-A De-
cided step in the Desired Direu-
tion--Vievs OF Sec retary McAneny
OF the National League.

Mr.. George McAneny, secretary of the
National Civil Service Reform League, has
pi epared statement relative TO the re-
cent order OF the President amen ding the
civil service rules. Mr.. McAneny says:
The new rule requiring that no re-
moyal shall be made from a position sub
ject to Competitive examination except
for just cause, and upon written charges.
of which the accused shall have full notice
and an opportunity TO make defense, WIN
have far-reacfdng application. 1t Will
apply to every officer and empioye in the
departments at Washington, excepting Of
Ulcers confirmed by the Senate, certain
attorneys il. tie Department of Justice,
FEW pirate secretaries and the Common
laborers-
In the great local offices, such as the
New YORK custom house ana postoffice, it
viii apply to all between the extremes OF
officers confirmed by the Senate and la
borers, except the principal deputy or as
sistanJ and the cashier. In the case OF
each office or employment affected il VIII
mean that the incumbent shall not be re-
moved except for reasons having TO Go with
the good or the service, that have nothing
to do with politics or religion, and that
may be safely put in writing. An officer
having the power to remove viii hesitate
to assign reasons that are frivolous or un-
Just, and the officer OF enploye, of what
ever rank, wiiienjoy reasonable deSreeof
security so long as his services continue TO
he meritor!ous On the other hand, it is
mistake to suppose that the discretion OF
the department. head is 10 be unduly limit
ed or that there Will be the slightest diff
Guilty in getting rid of an Objectionable sub
ordinate.
The new rule provides for no form OF
trial Nor is the action OF the depart
ment officer subject toreview byany other
executive authority. All that is required
is that the reasons for his action shall be
a matter OF record, and that If the per son
removed wishes TO he heard before his
case is finally adjudicated he may have
fair opportunity. Unless the reasons are
sufficient the department officer VIII hest
tate to file them, and ifthe person removed
knows that they are good he VIII hesitate
to disp tie them. This is a very simple
plan compared with the courtInartial OF
| the Army or Navy, or the elaborate and
some what bothersome trial system OF the
municipal police and fire departments.
| That It'll quite sufficient, however, beth TO
| protect the meritOrious employees and to
| permit the maintenance Of proper disci-
| pine has been proven by experience. A
| similar rule mas been in operation in the
Postoffice Department, applying to clerks
and carriers, for three years past. There
| il has worked with absolute satisfaction.
1.-The new order has the force of law,
and It goes into effect at once. Any officer
who disobrys / & must. under the provisions
of civil service rule No. 2 be dismissed from
| the service. The Immediate result viii be
| both to prevent all removals for political
reasons, ard to put stop to the practice
of putting out one man merely to make u
place for another who may happen to be
eligible either for Qualification under the
rules or for reinstatement. The Admins
tration has sinned a little in each of these
respects, but the action OF the President,
coming thus early in his term, is the strong
est possible guarantee for the future
THE new order viii protect certain
number OF political appointees OF the pre-
ceding Administration, bat not nearly so
many as most people suppose and none as
all who are incompetent or unfit. The ex
tensions OF May 8. 1896, covered 30.082
positions; 5,063 of these were employees
OF the navy yards who had been placed
under merit rules by Secretary Tracy, in
1891, and whose Classification as part OF
the general system was mere Formally;
! 5,o25 We're employees OF the lighthouse and
| life-saving services. and other Treasury
/ branetes, tn 1T had been previously subject
to separate examination systems, and were
non-pe,itical: 2.o61 We're Indians employed
in the Indian service and excepted from
competition, $3.50 were mechanics, engi-
neers, eto., in the engineering and ordnance
| bureaus of the War Department, also non
political, aid 4.l20 We're pension examining
| surgeons, PAID by fees.
''Of the remaining $500, many other
| classes had not been affected by political
/ changes. II may safely be said that not
more than 5000 officers on the entire list
had been appointed for political reasons,
| and then classified, including the division
| chiefs or the positions ella ssiffed before
May, 1896, the most Important were those
In the Governm ent Printing Office. Sixty
| nine per cent Of those in that offica at the
/ date Of classification had been left there
! py the prec eding Republican ublic Printer.
I Mr.. Palmer. 1t is well that these facts
should be understood clearly, not only be-
! cause it is fairer to Mr.. Cleveland, but in
| order that it may not be charged against
| Mr.. Mckinley that he has given his pro-
lection to any considerable number of en-
| ployes who, from one point OF view might
not be entitled To &c.
1.-The fact that President Mckinley has
extended a reasonable protection to these
appOintees of Mr.. Cleveland who do re-
main in the service, as well as to all
Others, seems TO me in the highest degree
/ creditabe The whole subordinate service
is now in a fair way to reach the basis
| of permanence and good discipline that
/ is essential 10 the best administration
| and the President, in adding to the sys-
tenn of appointment for merit the guar
antee of retention for merit, has made
that basis possible. He has done, In fact,
what MT. Cleveland, toward the close of
| his first term, declined to do During the
4 latter part OF 1887, revision of the rules.
changing the plan of classification and
extending its scope, was prepared by the
/ Civil Service Commission. When this re.
| vision was submitted to tho President it
Contained the following:
! Whenever a dismissal from the ex-
eCutire civil service is made, written
statement OF the cause Of the dismissal
must be filed In the depar tment or office
| from which the dismissal is made, and
become part of the records of such de-
partment or office
1.-THE revision was approved with the ex-
| n rOl IN rr-h{n n