Evening star., 1897-03-26
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
President Proctor Says He Will Welcome the
Proposed Investigation.
Some Instances Referred TO I'm the
senate Debate Answcred by the
Records Of the Cases.

The civil service commission Is looking
forward to the proposed investigation of its
methods with good deal Of interest. Mr.
Proctor. president of the commission, speak
irg to Star reporter today, said:
We will welcome the investigation, for
Il Is not facts, hut misstatements regarding
the methods OF the commission, that tend
to hold II up to ridicule before the public.
When the facts are known It will be found
that the commissions methods have been
such as are calculated TO promote the good
of the service.
Take the criticisms of the commission
thar were made in the Senate the other
DAY when the Allen resolution was under
consideration. One thing is fortunate, and
that is every act Of the commission is
matter OF record. Senator Allen wanted an
investigation of the alleged political re-
morals from the government service al
South Omaha. Here is minute book
continued Mr.. Proctor, producing one of the
records CT the commission. 'and IL show
that seven days before the introduction of
that resolution the commission ordered an
Investigation of those charges. 1t instruct
ed one of its inspectors to stop at South
omaha and make the investigation. Con-
eress did not give the commission the aG
d:uonal appropriation IL requested for such
work and We have to accomplish the work
as best we can. and il was for that reason
that the inspector was instructed to stop
a. South Omaha when he could do so in
connection with some other work and MAKE
the investigation.
1T was charged in the Senate on the
occasion of another debate that the en-
gineer department Of the army was very
much hampered in its work by the rules
OF the civil service commission. Now, IL
must be remembered that the commission
did not classify the War Department. Tha;
was done by the officials of that depart-
ment, ard they placed under the civil serv-
ice law such places as were believed TO
be benefited by that classification. Ii is
provided that laborers shall not be within
the ciaSSlhed service, and in case skilled
iabcrers cannot be secured by a board of
examiners provision is made for the tenn
porary appointment of men without refer
applying 10 the engir e.r corps of the army
were suggested Or approved by officers of
that corps, and they are what they regard
as beneficial 10 the service.
Senator Hawley lately stated that a
superintendent Of construction was lately
called for in his state of Connecticut and
the commission sent a school tea cher from
Rhode Island. We have the records TO
snow The practical character of the oXanl-
NATION That was held for that place AMI
the records also show that the mol Sc
lected Were SO valued by others that they
both declined the appointment at 81 ..sGo per
annum. one of them since securing a Pace
at S2,Eoo per annUm at Phl2 ielphia tnG, /
the supervising architect of the treasury
One after another of the charges made
aLout the manage fnent of the commission
can be readily answered by a reference TO
the records. and an investigation VIII tend
L mink 10 DO the commission much good.
IL Will be found that our system of ex-
aminations is practical and calculated to
discover the fitness of the applicant fer the
place sought and hot inclined 10 call forth
mere literary ability