Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-10
Secretary Bliss and Commissioner
Evans Reach an Agreement.
EFFICIENCY RECORD IN PENSION OFFICE
It VIII Rule in Making Future
Promotions.
REDUCED CLERKS COMPLAIN

The employees of the Department Of the
Interior, and especially those of the bu-
| reau Of pensions, are much worked up
over q struggle that has been going on for
several weeks between Secretary Bliss and
! Commissioner Evans. 1t has all been over
the question of making changes in the off,
cial force Of the pension office. 1t has not
been accompanied by any stormy meeting
between the Secretary and the commits
sioner. On the other hand, they have
come together with the utmost show of
good feeling and conciliation, but they
have had different views about the way
the civil service law should apply to the
official force of the pension office. and they
each have been persistent in the enforce
nnent of his views.
Commissioner Evans has insisted upon a
reorganization of his office and upon deal
ing with its employees as he would in any
great establishment where the object
would be to accomplish the best results in
turning out the work at hand. Secretary
Bliss has feared that the commissioner
was making too many changes. That
caused the clash of authority, but a peace
full way out has been devised and will be
followed In the near future.
When Commissioner Evans was appoint
ed he was given to understand that he
would be unhampered in his work. AS
soon as he took the oath of office he ap-
pointed as chiefs men who he believed
would help him in his work and he gave
them instructions to proceed with a plan
Of reorganization. This plan was to right
wrongs that had been done capable re-
publicans in the last administration, to
put r1en In places where the government
would profit most by their work and to
push the adjudication Of pension claims,
especially original claims. Not many men
drOnnod 400 cha in f.
ing were ade. This meant the reduction
of 200 clerks and the promotion of an
equal number. The clerks who suffered
from this stirring UP began to kick.
They appealed to Secretary Bliss. and the
ladies who were reduced were especially
persistent in making their appeals. The
Secretary was besieged. The Secretary's
friends reminded him that he had been
a member Of the Civil Service Reform
League since its beginning. They wanted
an explanation.
Secretary Bliss then issued an order that
no changes should be made in the pension
office until he had seen reasons for each
Individual change Then he received sn-
other batch Of changes, accompanied by
the reasons In documentary form. 1t wocld
have taken him a month to go over them
all and to pass judgment.
About ten days ago Commissioner Evans
vas taken i'll, and the whole matter was
allowed to rest for the time. Commissioner
Evans returned yesterday afternoon to his
office for short time and Is now on duty
as usCal, and the case is again TO the
front.
Secretary Bliss today set machinery to
work to accomplish what he wants and
what, it Is believed, will allow Mr.. Evans
an opportunity to push things along in mis-
bureau to his own satisfaction. The plan
is to establish a system Of making promo
tions throughout the Department Of the
Interior by the keeping of efficiency rec
ords. This system is now in force in the
Post Office Department, and was originally
n sod hui atr-fI
will be revised to suit special conditions in
the Department Of the Interior, and 1t Is
thought it can be put in full operation
within two or three months. 1t will leave
the commissioner free to make reductions
but will regulate promotions. 1t is believed
1t will result In a peaceable settlement of
the trouble between the Secretary and the
commissioner of pensions by satisfy ing the
civil service principles of the former and
allowing the latter to place the best clerks
In the most important places.