The Van Buren press., 1897-03-20
Offices and Oilice-Seekers.
From the Washington Post.

From the w dtnluKtOn fOht
The new administration is having
some rather startling and disagreeable
surprises in connection with the civil
services rules. Secretary Gage was
astenished yesterday to discover that he
cannot select the man to fill such an
important office as superintendent of
the bureau of engraving and printing,
which Is now held by Claude NJ. John
son. of Kentucky, and pays salary of
81 800 a year. Mr.. Meredith, of
| Chicago, held the Office under the
Harrison administration, and Is a
candidate for re appointment, but Mr..
johnson cannot be removed except upon
charges, and his successor must be
selected by competitive examination.
The same rule applies to the two chief
engravers in the bureau, who receive
salaries Of 80 900 each, to the assistant
superintendent who receives 81 200,
and TO the chief clerk. 1t is perfectly
proper and reasonable that the
subordinate officers of this bureau
should be appointed by competitive
examination, but the superintendent,
who occupies a very delicate and
responsible position, and has charge of
all the government money, should be
selected by the head Of the department.
He gives no bond, and Mr.. Gage must
be responsible for his conduct and
honesty, although he has no voice In
his selection.
A similar discovery has been made
at the postoffice department, where
Postmaster General Gary Is amazed to
| find that his legal adviser, the assistant
attorney general for that department,
must also be appointed by competitive
examination. There are a dozen OF
more candidates for this Office, as there
are for chief Of the bureau of engraving
and printing, and when Postmaster
General Gary made selection in the
person of gentleman in whom he has
confidence he WAS informed that the
present incumbent could only be re-
moved upon charges, and that his
successor must be certified after ex-
animation by the civil service commits
sion. John l.. Thomas, OF Missouri,
the present assistant attorney general,
Is regarded as perfectly competent,
although to Mr.. Gary he Is an entire
stranger. He was appointed because
he il Democrat and by political in
huence, and was placed in the civil
service classification at his own request.
He can be dismissed for inefficiency or
dishonesty, but he is not inefficient or
dishonest. He has done good service
under the last administration, and is
highly commended by both Mr.. Bissell
and Mr.. Wilson, who were Mr.. Cleve-
land 3 postmasters- general. Mr.. Gary
finds additional consolation in the fact
that Judge Thomas is a sound money
Democrat, and did some vigorous writ
ing and talking in Missouri ON that
issue during the last campaign, and in
support of the Republican candidate.
Secretary Alger has discovered that
he has not influence enough in the war
department to appoint his own private
secretary. Everybody within sight is
under the civil service rules. He
brought a man from Detroit who has
long occupied confidential relation to
him. and desired TO continue him in n
similar capacity during his official
career. But there is no position in the
war department open to such a person
without entering the regular competi-
ton throgh the civil service examin
alton. II Gen, Alger keeps him he