The times., 1898-01-19
Commissioner Harlow Thinks II
Would Cause No Hardship.
THE CAUSE OF DISCONTfNT
He Believes tie short Day Govern
ment Employees Work Makes Per-
SONS in Private Employ Dissat.
isfied What AboIishinC Lunch
Time Would Save.


form laws nave been duh and prosy
Yesterdays meeting was an exception
and was enlivened by tilt between
Chairman Prilchard and President
Proctor. OF the Civil Service Commits
sion
Mr.. A. R. Severn, chief examiner
of the commission, had concluded
his testimony and had been turned ovel
to Mr.. Proctor for cross-examination
on behalf of the commission, and To ex-
Representative Baker OF New Hamp<
shire, who appeared on behalf of the
National Anti-Civil Service League
Mr.. Proctor had asked some ques-
tions that drew from Mr. Severn hear
say evidence, and this was objected to
by Mr.. Pritchard. with some warmth.
President Proctor retorted chat Capt.
Pratt, OF the Indian school, had been
permitted to offer hearsay evidence in
The shape of statements made Ia him
by Indian agents all over the country.
and when he GProcter) asked Capt.
Pratt to give the names of theSS
agents, Capt Pratt declined.
Senator Pritchard resented the init
nation of discrimination against wit
nesses and replied 10 the effect that he
and not the president of the commits
sion was running the investigation.
You will see." said Mr.. Pritchard.
with a marked show Of impatience, by
an examination Of the record that /
stated to Captain Pratt that hearsay
testimony was not competent, and that
I so ruled. i am conducting this inves-
tigation not with a view To aid anyone
but to get at the facts and the truth.
and to do ii / shall follow the rules laid
down for the admission of evidence.
I propose that this investigation shall
be conducted as if by court Of justice:
the rules governing the admission Of
testimony by a court were applied to
Captain Pratt; they shall be applied TO
You and TO everyone else
i beg also TO suggest, continued
Mr.. Pritchard. that YOU are here bv
the courtesy of the committee. and /
hope you viii not abuse it. / am Try
ing 10 do my duty and propose to do
ii as best / know how. 4 simply told
you in a respectful way that the evil
dence You sought TO bring out was
not competent"
The examination then proceeded with |
out incident. Mr.. Severn is an expert
in his line. All that Mr.. Proctor drew /
from him was favorable to the merit /
system, and Mr.. Baker was unable to /
ttNtibl' diN Ntt4llS iii6i NdS uIlEdNOFa-
bic. Mir. w. II. Houston, an examiner
WAS also examined.
Commissioner Harlow was also heard
and submitted to the committee z VOL
luminous typewriter statement con-
sistins Of questions and answers. He 4
said, among other things. that il was
not always possible TO distribute the ap-
pointments with mathematical exact
ness among the States upon the basis
l.gs
were required it some
times happened that the State whose
turn might be reached in certification
might have no eligible on the list
There was. he said, an ineauitable
method OF distribution of appointments
under the old system and that was
one Of the objections to it; these OBJ
iections did not apply to the merit
system, now that the extensions of
The classified service in Washington
was practically complete. Mr. Harlow
believed il would be advisable to take
Z census of ths classified employees In
his city, asCertaining their present le-
gal residence as Well as their legal
residence at the time of appointment
and charging to each State The legal
'esidents OF that State SO that the dis
ribution of appointments hereafter
nay be based upon the results of that
inquiry.
Discussing the question of the hours
# labor, MIR. Harlow said the empIoyes,
we're expected TO put in at lsast seven
lours. Out of this one-half hour daily
vas allowed for lunch. Mr. Harlow said
did not appear to him that this prao-
ice was authorized by the law. which
provides that there shall be at least
even hours OF labor. and the aalf
lour given for lunch ought not. from ,
lis point OF view. to be considered
s part of the hours of labor Mir
Harlow said that of the $1,000 employas
n the city only 5,SS3 were required to
York the full seven hours. These were
hiefs and assistant chiefs Of divisions. 9
passengers. watchnsen. workmen and {
lborers. persons employed in the me, 1
hanical trades, and not to exceed LOCO u
the 1900 classified clerks. Leavine
ut those engaged upon PROFESSIONAL ,
schnical or scientific work. whose
ours were frequently extended and |
no frequently did night work. Mr. 1
Larlow said there were fully g eOab ,4tu {
oyes in this city who could with profit o
} tie Government and without injury b
} themselves work the full time re | n
uired by law, if there was sufficient !,
ork for them to do. If this increase -
time were enforced il would result
the Government in a gain of $500
ltra hours each day. which would be =
luiNalent to the services of 643 en-
Dyes each year working seven hours Il
day. As the average salary of clerks
Washington is S1,250 year, Mr..
arlow showed that this would be
uiValent 10 saving to the Govern V
ent of over 100000 a year for clerk in
On the subject of sick leave the Com w
lssioner said there was hardly anv M
lestion that there was considerable ri
'use OF that privilege The applica
IN OF Civil service reform rules to the an
partments had had the effect of of
eatly reducing the absence on ac- W,
unit OF alleged sickness. Fully Is per -
mt OF the abuse of this privilege has
sappeared, Mr.. Harlow saws since
g inauguration Of the merit system
Il there is, he said. still room for inn
oNement. The evil has been checked III.
two departments by the adoption AT
e suggestion Of the commission. of a
stem OF ratings in determining ouali-
auons for promotions, of absence and Dl
her matters not heretofore consid
ed
IN the matter of salaries, Commits -
'neT Harlow said he believed many TT
illons would be saved If the depart-
'nts were managed like any success Qt
business house or corporal ton with
nilar hours for transacting business n,
III reclassification of salaries ac-
riding to duties, with the discontinue hf
ce of unnecessary work and the lop-
lg off of unnecessary positions. The ~
uble with the present salary classi-
atlon was that the bulk of the en-
yes were paid out of all proportion
the Importance of the work upon T.,
len they were engaged. while others
ng the responsible and most diff ~
work, requiring the greatest n