The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-25

appointed a clerk in a posioffce the day
before the Office was classified, and i'm
mediatcly after the office was class fed
he was transferred 10 a good place IN the
departmental service ~ Washington. He
never served a day I'm the postofiics, ana
being brought in by inclusion instead OK
examination he was not even required TO
serve six months probation. bat was
transferred az once. Another case 81 tho
same sort WAS that OK "A young lazy ic-
siding IN this city.
at the Instance Of q congressman
she was appointed 10 "A position IN post
office Just before the Office was cldssl-
fled. and then in the same way was trans
ferred 20 a position In the departmental
service here she did not have 10 leave
the city u accomplish this result, ana
pref xt was found for avoiding nom
competitive examination. Nobody knows.
except these In authority 90 what ex-
tent this back door has been used, but 4
is known TO have been extensively used.
l am told that men have been appointed
TO the position OF postOfilce inspector "
this process. .,.,
I'm one instance an examination was
held I'm accordance with the request OF
department. but the man whom me DE-
partment wanted went down SO hady
on the list of eligiOles that ms h'ihe
could not b. reached. The whole eN-
time IL was held allowance was MADE TOT
experience By this process the ue-
parlment got the man that 10 wanted,
Experience IS generally the unknown
quantity IN the problem 10 Wnlen WY
value may be assigned which Is neces-
sary 20 produce the desired result. \ u'
partmfnt asked for an examination anu
requested that credit be given lot lH-
wi.iar'ty with the topography or AiashA,
The work 10 be done In the once haa
81
China, but the man who was wanted hau
been to Alaska. while the oth"f app.
cauts had not been there. or course ln'
department got MS man.
I'm another case "a department made
temporary appointment for three mon nS
under tho emergency rule ana h2n lne
time extended another three months,
which Is the limit allowed. Wien III
examination was held for ihis piac' 'i,
allowance was made for exp Renee an"
as the only competitor VINO hao any ~
perienoe was the temporary appV.n',
he of COURSE. distamcei mt nus IN"i7.
No eXp. rltnce was required 20 secure
the temporary appointment without on
animation but b. served q eo'H P''f
90 require 10 in the examination.
THE TRANSFER RULE.
"A young woman was 0fused transfer
from tho position or stenosrdphtl aiiu
typewriter in the government pi .
office to the some position ln one W
government printing office was NOV ~.
same kind 0f work as I'm the deiiil-
rnenfs. and hence. it was held, the afai7-
fer rule forbade the transfer nul uuu'5
tho same rule "A man was Ith7 t't ~"
from the position Of attendant in me 'h-
Sane ASYLUM 90 the position of compost
tor in the government printing ONCE
Compls't0rs should take steps 10 as'eI-
tain from the Civil Service commission
where che resemblance lS between lit'l
work and the work of "a man VINO teh.'
care OF crazy people I'm am insane hsN i"nl.
"a man appealed from the marks given
him bon nis examination hy one OF Nh'
commissions local boards OF 'N"iN,
The commission wrote 10 inc loCal .vgtt'
for fuU statement of the way lu VINO,
they marked this competitor. wv 49,.
board replied that they marked nun p'ttt
lv ON the information obtained lt'ul pr,
examination nHucrs. partly ON " g tt
interview which the board had WV" ~.
and partly ON Information ie'elNtnn NV
outside parties. or course a,wg,ii,i, An
kind of marking 70 is not alineG.'
make un 800 eligible register 20 SUM Nt
most faefdIoue appointing otn'tI' l,,
this kind of marking when Mn'n ,,.'l,,,6,,
10 promotions and reductions. pio"u.,7
curious results which the uninitiated cam
DIE TO DEFECTS.
"Thfso instances mr." nor que ~
defects of the merit system. bur ip Ih'
defects Of the admin sirotion OFT n. re
commission has only 80 plant itself
sorqrelv ON the law which provides .pr
opon fair and honest competition as Nir
only fost for entrance fn the service. ana
am these quihhle- and receptions ahd
cvasiOns would he swept away, ltil
when the commission eet7 itself to me
study of methods 90 urlfifv The demand
of Mace hunters and becomes party ip
schemes for cheating the law. Y dis
credits and dem0ralizes the whole system
IN rs the knowlodge of these defects nf
administration which keeps alive inc op-
position TO the law Tie is not a tue
friend Of civil service reform VINO Neths
20 hide these evaslOne instead or exposing
and donouuciug them.
"cerfino1ff0ue have hoeu made on
MONIES which do not stand at ihe head
of the eligible lists within the pa3t
two years pretoxts have boon found FOR
ekiuuiuq names and certifying others
lower down ON tho list The practice be-
gam in 90 very innocent sort OF way.
under what seemed 10 DE plausible COM
difious. but. once begun instances hove"
NOT been wanting in which resort has
been had to this privilege when no just
apology could be made for &c. When 1n-
uiirnnfs go into m connection ON certain
conditions and hv the terms Of those con-
dftious They win in n fair competition
nobody hae ouv rirht to DENY them the
fruit NJ their victory ON any preteNt
whatsoevc~.'
The present civil service commission
consists of John r. Proctor John +.
Harlow and W g Hrnwor They have
declined 20 talk for publication.