New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY.
FURTHER TESTIMONY GIVEN AS TO THE
WORKINGS OF THE LAW

Washington, May 22.-The Civil Service Commit
tee OF the Senate continued It's sessions to-day.
Several letters were received from chiefs of bu-
reaus. among others from Mr. Miller. Acting
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue who suggested
the propriety OF amendments to the Civil Service
ru,cs lie thought the number Of excepted places
should be increased. These exceptions should In all
cases include the chief deputies and cashiers OF
revenue collectors In the larger districts. lie also
suggested that the collector should have control Of
the selection Of large number Of his subordinates.
Patents Commissioner Butterworth expressed the
opinion that the rules recently extended and adj
ministorcd divorce duty and responsibility from the
executive and administrative authority essential 10
produce desirable results. He advocated change
permitting heads of departments 10 select their ex-
eoutive STATS regardless OF the recommendations OF
the Civil Service Commission.
The first witness Of tic day was Almont Barnes'
OF the Agricultural Department. Mr. barhes saio
there were employees in the Agricultural pepaft
mcnt who came in temporary per dlem en-
poyes and ha Re remained there as clerks without
passing the Civil Service examinations. nc ha' III
one case Informed the Commission Of the facts. but
was told that the Commission did not care 10 inter
fere "as Secretary Morton was pretty dincui'
to handle"
Albert Baker who was the private secretary OF
Public Printer Benedict said that the civil oer'ce
had proved a more desirable means OF securing en-
ployes than the old system OF appointment o' '"e
advice of congressman. ,,..u.
Harold Benedict. brother Of the former fupmc
Printer also expressed the opinion that the resuits
under the present system were 80 per cent pe''e'
than under the "spoils system" ,nr ,ov
Senator Ell,ins DESTROYS OF knowing now
MANY appointments had been secured py any pne .
member of Congress. and the witness
about seventy-five credited to REPRESENTING
Richardson. of Tennessee, chairman Oh , ~, 10
Committee Printing. and about two huhuicu ~
senator German. chairman of the Senate commit
j. l.. Kennedy. formerly Of the Printing OInoe.
exclaimed thai Mr. Palmer had made mary appoint.
ments during the time specified by M nsn1 hecn
because of 1.-THE hard times and 1t had peen
thought better TO give emplo! ment to man! , Tbn
part of the time than q few men constantly. nc
Civil Service law. he said failed TO pro,ect en-
poyes because did not prtyen; r,1 1nG, Once
put under the Civil Service law 30 hepuphc'i'' "
been discharged. 49,, .o ao,vsrv
service of the Postofice Department appeareo, 10
deny statements recently made by WINS scd y" q:
q noliticai instrument He explained that the
agents had been paid from the lump appropra, ,l
for the service and denied that they had been usso
for political purposes. Mr.. Machen denied that ne
he'd drawn money in the name ,S OF an aeen
had been assessed for Governor Campbells Ohio
campaign in 1895 asserting that about half of them
their own accord He admitted that the Civil Ser
vice Commission had recommended to POSTMASTER t
chief of the agents for receiving contributions bu:
explained that Attorney General Olney had held
that Mr. Bellman had acted as the agent OF t tne
amount Of their contributions. and forwarded II 10
the Campaign Committee at their request
John y. Hewlett, Il Washington constructor VINO
had taken an examination before the civil oerVice
Commission for supervising constructor IN one vi
the departments testified that the examination had
been entirely impractical having more 10 40 WI,n
Mr.. Hewlett who had been in business for forty
years successfully. had failed to pass me exa Ha,
The Committee adjourned for a week.