New-York tribune., 1898-01-06
SOME CHANGES FAVORED BY MR. GAGE

mi
u the nomination as an indicato" '"d' tue ''''
7out desires his confirmation
SOME CHANGES FAVORED BY MR.. GAGE
PLACES WHICH He THINKS SHOULD BE TAKEN
OFT or THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
Washington Jan 5-Secretary Gage TO-DAY sem
y ron'v 10 the Senate resolution OF December ID
caIing upon the heads OF the executive uePd''
monte for Information as to what places shoud
he excep,ed from the civil Service laws and rules
A,boueh Treasury officials are reticent on the
subioct there are go3d reasons for the pehel Una,
Secretary Cages letter Is practically In substantial
occord with the views Of the President and II Is
,.,,o .ho. IN the absence of Congressional
ao,ior no will issue new rules which VIII carry
into effect the changes suggested by the Secre'a'E'
Mr. Cages reply IS in part ~ follows
''I believe that experience mas taught '"a' ~
order OF May s, 1896 was too sweep'Hs, anu "."'
there should be taken OF the classified service
- oo,si1erah.e number of places that were at that
time classified The most important or those places
are in the Internal revenue service Inc uii'ou'-
ties which the Department has experiehceu !" '"1
administration Of the rules as they now exist us
applied 10 the internal revenue service nave oe
come intolerabe ! believe that all places OF
deputv-collectors Of internal revenue shouiH De
made excepted places, subject. however. to non
competitive examinations. The collectors VINO ap-
point the deputies are personally responsio'e iof
the conduct OF their subordnates Ihis responsr
those subordlnates In their relation TO the Govern
men, hut extends TO a personal liability TO those
who may be Injured In person or in property py
inconsiderate malicious trespass committed py
such subordinates IN the course OF their duties IL
IS obviously wrong that a collector. after assum-
ing the heavy responsibility that he does. should
he tied down 10 an eligible list Uhe names on
which he NAV know nothing about from which
10 se,ect his subordinates. each Of whom Is or
Gc,ally his other self There is no desire on the
part OF the Department to make the test OF fitness
in the smallest degree less searching than 1t Is
under the system Of competitive examinations, but
believe that II IS desirable that the collectors be
free TO select their subordinates within the lines
which rigid of fitness Will permit from
among men concerning whose personal character
istcs and integrity they have knowledge.
another branch Of the service where experience
has demonstrated that classification was Had
vsod IS the custodian service in the public build
irgs throughout the country. There r. this
service a large number OF lOw-sa.ared places
where no academic test is required desirable
The service the entire country. II fire.
quent,y happens that a vacancy occurs without
there being proper eligible list. and the delays
and restrictions following the making OF tenn
porary appointments. the holding OF examinations
the displacement OF the temporary appointees and
the final installation % properly certified person
have been distinctly detrimental to the service. I
believe that II would be OF distinct advantage TO
elevator conductors nremen. dynamo tenders and
employees Of a similar character out OF the cass!-
fed service
The employees OF the lighthouse establishment
have been under civil Service rules since Nav 6
No Improvement has resulted. but, on the other
hand vexatious delays have occurred In filling
vacancies which. fortunately. so far have not re-
suited in serious disaster The clerical force al
ways small but excellent. might advantageously
remain under the classified rules OF the Civil Ser
vice. But FOR all other employees the best interests
will be conserved by removing them from the
classified service. and. hitherto with marked
success. be placed absolutely in the hands OF the
inspectors and engineers OF the various districts
subject. as before. to the approval OF the Light
house Board and that OF the Secretary of the
Treasury. The position Of the counsel before the
Board Of General Appraisers should. In my opinion
be exempt from the Civil Service rules Tho
place requires the services OF specially trained
lawyer, and no examination which be pre-
scribed is adequate test Of the fitness OF an
applicant
There Is also place in the New-York Custom
House known paymaster The duties OF the
place require The handling Of large amounts OF
cash Tho Collector IS responsible FOR the safety
and proper distribution OF this money. and the
same reasons which operate to exempt cashiers and
deputies having financial responsibility applics to
II would also exempt the places of Shipping
difficult duties % the Shipping Commissioners are
semi judicial. arbitratorS between seamen and
owners ana masters An eXamiraton can hardly
show the existence Of the judicial temperament and
SKIN in dealing with men. on the other hand 1t
must be stated that these Offices II used 10
party ends would become oppressive to ra her than
protective Of seamen AZ designed Sailors seldom
vote Sailors boarding houses and other resorts for
sailors may easny te favored By the Commis
siOners.
Il would further suggest such n modification OF
the rules as would permit when no eligible register
exists permanent appointment 10 be- made in the
discretion Of the head Of tn" Department. subject
= a non-competitve examination by the Civil Ser
Nicc Commission. one OF the chief difficulties IN
the administration 4 the law arises IN the volA-
minOus cores pOndence Necessary when an eligible
register does not exist and temporary appointments
are made pending the creation OF an eligible list
81 would also recommend that the rules be so
modified as 10 permit the head Of Department 10
transfer any person in the classified seiv vice OF one
branch OF his Department to the classified service
Of another branch, without regard to apporton-
ment."
SECRETARY WILSON'S SUGGESTIONS
Washington. Jan 5.-Secretary Wilson Of the
department Of Agriculture. to-day sen. the fol-
lowing letter 10 the Senate: The chief trouble |
find in the Department OF Agriculture exists In the
Bureau of Animal Industry between inspectors.
assistant inspectors. stock examiners and taggers
covered into the service without examination. and
the only marked ineficlcncy find in the work OF
any class 4 employees In The Department u among