The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-31

SEATTLE. SUNDAY. JAN. Fl.


There is considerable merit in an amend
meat offered by Representative Baker OF
Se~ Hampshire. 90 the general zppropria-
ton bsTi which amendment Is designed 20
permit the heads OF the various executive
departments to rssppoint or promote any
former ernploye % those departments who
was dismissed or reduced IN rank for
causes not affecting his efficiency or moral
character. and providing that such prior
service shaH BE- held 10 ne equivalent to
civil service certificate 81 eligibility
The manner In which ne present admin
istratton has eyaaed the civil service laws
and has succeeded in SLING the depart
menss with political favoritss can hardly
commend Itself 70 any honest advocate OF
civil service reform. Neither can It be con-
slderea as q step in the right direction to
proceed V MI some particular branch OF
the public service with partisan appointees,
and then 10 extend the mantle OF civil
service rules over such branch TO compel
the retention of sucn employees. Yet this
s. what Mr. Cleveland and the heads of
departments under him have done In many
instances.
In support OF hts amendment Mr.. Baker
brought % the attention OF congress some
data showing how some of the depart
men4s. In violation Of the spirit u the civil
service rules. have been packed with polit-
zeal or personal friends of the administTa-
ton. The administration Of the department
OF tbs Interior under the recently retired
Hoke Smith affords the grossest instance
OF this abuse. In that department there
we're, during AIR. Smiths term. los appoint
ments made from the state OF Georgia
alone, or about one-thirtieth of the whole
number OF clerks In the department. As
there were but N7 appointments altogether.
q would seem that Georgia Jared extremely
well In having a representative IN the cabi-
net. or these appolntees forty-slx were ex-
soldiers There were SIG dismissals. OF
these bat six were from Georgia, and there
were beside 10 ex-soldiers among those
dismissed OF the number Of men reduced
g. pay there were 1870 ex-soldiers or 81 per
eeni Of the whole number.
Taking the departments together. sc-
cordlnR 10 Mr. Bakers figures. a majority
a. an the ex-soldiers who we're en-
came ingo Office nave been discharged or
reduced in pay. Ia one OF the auditing
Offices 81 the treasury department there
we're. on March 3. iS93. 200 employees. OF
whom one-afth had rendered services dur
ing the war. within one year all but four
OF these ex-soidiers had been discharged
ans every ex-Conteaerate Ia the buresa
had been promoted.
Ticking up the secret service division OF
The treasury department. It appears that
every Republican smpsoye but one has SUI
fsred dismissal. and that. WITH this single
exception. every present employee OF that
division Is now q Democrat The civil
service rules have recently been amended
TO AXE In this division.
With the showing 50 made. there seems
GOD reason why she proposed amendment
should be adopted. II competent men have
been dropped from the public service sim
ply 20 make room for Democrats who stood
upon iae list of eligibles under civil services
rules. there seems 40 good reason Why the
dismissed men should no, 5s reinstated.
Tee records they made while 81 Office Ger
tainly should be accepted as more certain
ami conclusive proof OF their qualifications
than tire ability 20 answer any set OF ties,
questions which might be propounded
There would be no violation OF the spirl,
o. civil service reform IN rcius;atinx men
o. dismissed The violation came when
they were arbitrarily removed