Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24
Lively Time at the Investigating
Committee Today.
lR. BAILEY MAKES A CHARGE
The Commissions Objected to His
Suggestions of Reform.
NJ r. PROCTOR EXPLAIN

the Maltby building. Members of the COM
mittee present were Senators Pritchard of
North Carolina, chairman, and Harris OF
Kansas Among others present were Lieu
tenant Colonel Alexander Mackenzie, first
assistant to the chief of engineers Of the
army; Commissioner Proctor. George R.
Wales law clerk, and E. D. Bailey, as
sistant examiner, and chief clerk of the
civil service commission; ex-Representative
Henry M. Baker, president of the National
Republican Anti-Civil Service League.
Mr.. Bailey of the civil service commits
sion went on the stand and was questioned
by ex-Representative Baker. His examina
ton was discontinued to allow Colonel
Mackenzie, first assistant of the chief of
engineers Of the army. to give his tcsti-
mony, which occupied only a few minutes.
Col. Mnckenzic'x Statement.
Before submitting any statement re-
gardfng the application of the civil service
law to the engineer department at large
1t Is proper to state,'' said Colonel Mac
kenzie that while l was for many years
In the immediate charge of engineering
works, my duties during the past two and
half years have been in the office of the
chief Of engineers, and my experience in
civil service matters has been to GER
tain extent theoretical, and l would state
further that, being without authority to
speak for the Secretary of War or the
chief OF engineers, any opinions expressed
by me must be considered personal.
while the issuance of the Presidents
order of May 9. 1895, was under consid-
Grafton l gave attention, at the request of
the chlef OF engineers. to the probable eff
rect OF extending the classified civil SER
vice to the engineer department at large.
In memoranda submitted, while express
ing most emphatically my firm belief in
the principles of civil service. 1 called at
ten1lon 10 certain restrictions of the law
which l feared would result in emba rrass-
ment to the important works being car
red on under the direction of the chief Of
engineers eng Later experience has shown me
that such fears were to a large extent i'm
aginary and resulted mainly from a mis-
understanding of the law.
When the Presidents order was pro-
mulgated Captain George w. Goethals,
Corps Of Engineers, and myself were de-
tailed by the Secretary of War for con-
suitation with the civil service commits
sion with view to formulating a system
s anu special regulations for applying civil
service law to the engineer department at
large. Many difficulties were at first ex-
perienced, but such have been to a large
extent overcome by the wisdom of the
commission and its earnest desire to make
civil service benefit to our work
The general system under which civil
service is applied to the engineer denart
ment at large is given in circular 1} is
"A
1897. This system is. of course not per-
rect. and as experience is gained modifi-
cations will undoubtedly be found neces-
sarS ana desirable. but 1T appears to me
comparatively simple, and, in my opinion
preferable to the method of appointment
IN erect previous to the application of
civil service,
Competitive Merit System.
There are few officers of the Corps
OF Engineers whose unfavorable impress
sions of the civil service law, formed In
advance of a full knowledge of its re-
quirements, have not been changed by ex-
perience, but correspondence with officers
leads me to believe that the large majority
prefer a competitive merit system of 60.
curing employees rather than one in which
personal opinions or wishes are to control.
Mr.. bailey Causes n Sensation.
When Mr.. Bailey resumed the stand Sen.
ator Pritchard read a letter received nv
MIN from the witness, in which the latter
SAID 1t had come to his knowledge that
some unpleasant suspicion had been
created by reason that he had been singled
out TO testify before the committee and he
wished statement made to show how IL
happened that he was called there while
other employees of the commission had NOT
been called to testify.
Senator Pritchard said that Mr. Bailey
had been called to testify at the request
OF senator because he was regarded as a
man of experience and ability in the work
of his office.
Mr.. Bailey said he did not know what
senator had requested his attendance be-
fore the committee. He said that some
things had happened which suggested that
others thought that possibly he had desired
TO go before the committee to give "testi
mony that might not be agreeable
Mr.. Pritchard-''Who made this intima-
ton to you?'
Mr.. Bailey did not reply to this question
directly.
Mr.. Pritchard-"When a witness is sub
poenaed before this committee l do not
think 1t necessary that he should go into
explanations to any one regarding how
such action came about"
Mr.. Bailey said the first knowledge he
had had of this suspicion was when the
president of the commission sent for him
to come to his office. Continuing, Mr..
Bailey said:
Il went there. and he stated frankly
that he had NJ desire TO influence my tes-
timony in any way, but he said the chair
man of this committee had not summoned
any one who was friendly to civil service
reform hitherto, and. while he did not
him what my testimony was to be, in
order that he might be prepared with any
correspondence or records which would
bear on the case. l told him very frankly
l did not know what testimony l was
going to give or what the lines of the in
vestigation would be. He repeated that
request twice. i was not impressed that
the president of the commission had any
intention to intimidate me or to influence
my testimony"
MIR. Bailey said that when he was en-
gagged in hunting up the record of Albert
Baker, formerly private secretary to Pub
lie Printer Benedict, the chief examiner
(dr. Serven) raised with him the question
whether he had any authority to diyulge
the records of the commission, and
whether he should not call upon the COM
mission for a statement of that case
When he made memoranda of his testi-
mony in the Baker case he submitted IL
TO Mr.. Proctor, and no objection was made
to having 1t given out.
After the second days testimony" said
Mr.. Bailey. Mr.. Proctor asked me for
copies of memoranda would present here
I sent him copies. and later in the day the
chief examiner stated to me he had been
comforting with the commission In refer
.ence to the matter, and he stated that
they were not pleased with what had
said. that they regarded my suggestions as
being on matters belonging to the admin
istration of the office and not to any
amendments to the law,Ran II seemed to
them as If my testimony was like fire in
the rear" =
His Duties Cuftailcd.
Mr.. Bailey continued to say:
He (Mr. Serven) stated to me further
that ha mil had dfroctod .hn%