Evening star., 1897-07-31
General Approval Expressed of Presi-
dent McKinley's Deliverance.
VIEWS OF WASHINGTON BUSINESSMEN
Establishes a Better Basis and In
sures Future Confidence.
ITS EFFECT ON THE CLERKS


| memory of the oldest resident of Washing
tan, caused more intense qualification than
] the recent one of President Mckinley in
relation TO the future treatment Of govern
ment employees whose positions are includ-
| ed In the classified civil service.
To the thousands of clerks who make up
| such q substantial portion of the popula-
| ton of the national capital it comes as a
boon of a most beneficent character. 1t
has lifted from every one of them, men and
| women, the cloud of uncertainty that has
always heretofore hung above them. They
have teen made aware on the highest au-
| thority in the land that efficiency in their
work and faithfulress to their duties will
| assure them permanency of employment,
and that they will be no longer subject to
| the whims or dislikes or enmities of their
superlors who have been placed over them
oy the fortunes of politics, and have been
told in plain words that they will have
| every opportunity afforded them to know
ana answer any charges which may be
| presented against them in relation to their
| official or personal integrity.
| The order will have, it is thought dou-
| bic effect in improving the morale of the
| pubic service, and in improving the busi-
| ness conditions of the city by establishing
| greater confidence between the merchants
| aid their customers in government employ
| What business Men Say.
The interviews which follow, and which
| are the result of visits made this morning
| by Star reporters to many of the we'll
known business men in Washington will
| Illustrate the universal approval which
President McKinley's order has inspired
Mr.. James F. Oyster, 500 Pennsylvania
avenue was very glad to learn of Presi-
| dent Mckinley's civil service order. 1t
ONCE holders coming under its provisions
in their remaining in government employ
as long as they do their work properly
They will probably buy their own houses
hereafter IN greater proportion than before
because they need not now fear losing
| their equities by being suddenly dismissed
and having their incomes stopped. l think
the results of the order will be of advant-
age to business in Washington in every
way"
Saks & Co.: president McKinley's order
meets necessity that has long been appar-
ent to every one. Its effect will he beneficial
| to business here without doubt Anything
that makes citizenship in the District per
manent cannot help being advantageous in
| a substantial degree"
w. H. Hoeke: 1T is an admirable act
| It's effect upon the moral Improvement of
the public service will be great"
Mr.. R. Harris of R. Harris G. Co., jewel
ers:
THE order of President Mckinley ought
| TO exert an influence in improving business.
Now that department clerks are assured
OF retaining their places during efficiency
they can look upon their incomes as settled
ana can consequently be more generous to
themselves in their expenditures"
Good General Effect.
S. Kann, Sons & Co.:
There can be no doubt that President
McKinley's civil service order will have a
very good general effect, both in improving
the public business and in assuring more
confidence between merchants and govern
ment employees
f. r. Sale. 9O2 Pennsylvania avenue:
president McKinleys order will be of
great value to Washington business men in
the lorg run. Clerks will now regard them
selves as fixtures in Washington as long
as they do their work right and conduct
themselves properly, and permanent cti-
ZenS are always better buyers than tenn
porary SOiournerS
Lansburgh Bro: What the effect
OF Pre- sident McKinley's order will be
elsewhere We cannot tell, but SO far as
Washington merchants are concerned 1t
Will be most advantageous to them. De
partment clerks, knowing that their posi-
tions are to be permanent will spend their
money more freely"
M. Goldenberg: 1.-The effect of President
Mckinley'S civil service order will be bene-
ficial In every direction. 1t Is positive an
nouncement that merit among government
employees will insure permanency in their
positions. 1t will improve the morale of
the classified service throughout the coun-
try. Merchants who do q credit business
will have, naturally, more confidence in the
settlement of accounts by clerks, who will
now have fixed incomes instead of doubtful
ones. To firms like ours, who conduct their
business on a strictly cash basis, good re-
suits will also ensue, because persons who
can look ahead to definite receipts every
month are more inclined to make purchases
than those whose finances are liable to be
at any time jeopardized by the sudden loss
of the positions they hold and are depend
ent upon. President Mckinley has solved
a very bothersome problem by his order"
A More Stable business.
VIM. Hahn Of VIM. Hahn & Co.: "Presi-
dent McKinleys order regarding clerks un-
der the civil service will have very salu-
tary effect in establishing a better under
standing between the permanent employees
and the local merchants. No private en-
ployer ever thinks of dispensing with the
services of old and tried employees, and
there was never any reason why the gov
ernment should have done otherwise. The
order means, in my opinion. an important
increase in the stability Of business in
Washington. There will be an establish
ment' of confidence between customers and
merchants that cannot fail to have gen.
eral good effect"
w. P. Van Wickle. manager Bradbury
Piano Company. 1925 Pennsylvania avenue:
II am a member of the board of trade
and have brought up the matter of the
order regarding civil service a number of
times. In our business the purchases are
up in the hundreds of dollars, many of the
sales being installments. Just before the
change of administration sales will fall of
nearly one-fourth: but it did not happen
last time as people felt more secure.
Take piano costing $4OO, for instance.
on the installment plan. So much is paid
down and SO much month, to cover
period of over three years. Toward the end
of an administration person in the gov
ernment employ will hesitate about buying
an instrument and will simply rent it. Per-
manency in Office is one of the questions I
think of the greatest vital Importance to
the business interests of the city of WASH
fngton.
There is another point. When persons
come in they have old scores to settle at
home. and it takes some time after the
change before they can settle up these and
spend money here. Thousands OF dollars
are sent from the city after each new aJ-
ministratiOn by the new persons coming
in"
Against Spells System.
s. A. Reeves. grocer, 100 F street:
I'm my opinion the government should be
run as business and not on the principle
fCnrfip,,oI -, USI<xhth D,c-,,