Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-17
REFORM IN CIVIL SERVICE
National Association Finds Fault with
Existing Order.
SUGGESTIONS FOR GOVERNING COLONIES
Papers Read on Economic Subjects
and ResoIutiOn Criticixlng the
Administration OTered-schurz
the New President.

SlVll service dSSOCldllOn III CouNSH-
tiol here at It's second days session, de-
voted almost the entire morning to dis
cusslon OF the report OF the committee on
resolutions, which charged the present ma
tional administration with a violation o.
the spirit II not the letter of the civil serv-
ice rules.
The resolutions were as follows:
First-The National Civil Service Reform
league congratulates the country upon the
entire failure Of the attack upon the merit
system which was advocated at the last
session. a result due to the advancing senti-
ment Of the nation and to the irm attitude
OF the president in that crisis.
Arrnigns the Administration.
second-The league, however, has heard
with concern the report that it Is the inten-
tion OF the president to withdraw from under
the civil service rules important positions
and classes OF positions. We believe that
such action. II taken. would be contrary to
the interests OF the public service and We
can but repeat the convictton already re-
spectfully expressed to the president that
such changes would be accepted as not only
a "step backwards but as proof that the
system Is not regarded by the present ad-
ministration as "here and here to stay" and
would inevitably awaken doubts as to the
sincerity Of the repeated declarations Of
the past. that the law establishing it shall
be thoroughly and honestly enforced and ex-
tOiutu WueIeNtT
Third-There are none in the country who
have wished more earnestly for the success
Of the present administration in carrying
out its declared principles with regard to
the reform Of the civil service and none
Will have been more Zealousy anxious that
, in this particular Its record should be con-
sistent and unimpeachable. The league.
however. in the discharge Of the duties OF
watchful and impartial critlcism-a duty
more than ever imperative at this critical
y,ari In hn oil nf ntir Irnt picfra
tive system-is forced to recognize certain
grave departures within the present year,
from strict observance OF the civil service
law and the principles underlying it. As to
these 1t can be shown by detailed evidence.
That the order OF July q, 1897, regulating
the method OF removal has been violated In
both letter and spirit in various branches of
the service and that in many localities the
whole system OF civil service has been dis
credited In consequence.
That Internal revenue services and in the
Offices OF United States marshals appoint
ments have been made altogether In viola
tion Of the law, and that such appointments
have been made openly for political con-
sideratton. Appointments have been made
for the same purpose In the land Office In
the Forestry department and in other
branches OF the Interior department. That
through appointments and removals for po-
Mtical reasons the efficiency Of the Indian
service has been seriously affected and that
certain Of such changes have been made
against the protest Of those engaged most
earnestly In the work for Indian improve
ment.
Nullihed in Pension Bureau.
That the operation OF the rules in the
pension examining force has been nulified
by an adroit system Of evasion practiced by
the commissioner OF pensions, against the
protests of the civil service commission and
Of many prominent individual surgeons in
terested In the honesty and efficiency Of this
particularly important service.
That in certain custom houses and in the
departments at Washington many persons
have been employed without examination as
laborers" and assigned to various kinds Of
classified work.
That through these and other methods the
proportionate number OF persons appointed
in the classified service under this admins
Grafton under full conformity with the civil
service rules when compared with the num-
Der not 30 appointed has not so materially
decreased.
That hundreds of appointments to civil
positions In the Washington Office of the War
department and certain bureaus Of the
treasury were made during the war without
reference to civil service rules. although the
lists OF the commission contained several
thousand persons eligible for appointment
and within easy call; and further that the
persons so appointed were in many cases
ultterate and otherwise incompetent and un-
At.
oOnsuinr examinations Ineffective.
That changes In the consular service have
been more sweeping than at any previous
ume exceeding in number those made under
the preceding administration and amounting
IN the salaried grades to total OF 237 out
OF 272 or nearly 80 per cent Of the whole.
ana that the system Of nom competitive ex-
aminations established for certain grades OF
ehe consular service has been 30 modified as
TO be practically ineffective
The league also calls attention to the fact
that the pledge Of the party now in power
In the national government. ito extend the
system Wherever practicable" Is yet to be
redeemed with regard to the assistant most
masters at free delivery Offices the fourth
class postmasters, employees of the congress
sionai library. the municipal service In the
DISTRICT OF Columbia; and by registration,
the laborers; In all OF which branches ex-
tension II not only practical but urgently
required. 1t Is the profound conviction OF
the League that the rule Of outlying depend
enoies by the United States would eventually
result In disaster and disgrace to the nation
II conducted on the plan of political spoils
ana that such an experiment would be i'm
possible without strict application OF both
the spirit and mode Of the civil service
system.
The following additional officers were
oiected: President. Carl Schurz; vice presi-
rents Charles Francis Adams of Boston.
nehry Hitchcock OF st. Louis. Augustus
~SNAoobn vi NEW 1Ork, II. y. Lea or
Philadelphia, Franklin MacVeagh of Chi
saso, Bishop H. c. Potter Of New York,
Bishop p. H. Ryan OF Philadelphia, Will
liam Potts, New York.
Economic Problems Considered,
The afternoon session was taken up with
she reading OF papers, the first OF which
was The Need and Means of Providing a
Stable and Competent Civil Service for. Our
New Dependencies" by Dorman B. Eaton.
This was followed by paper on the "Mur.
rain OF Spoils In the Indian Service" by
Herbert Welsh of Philadelphia. secretary OF
the Indian Rights association
Dorman Eaton said in part
The question whether the United States
can govern the Sandwich islands, Porto
RICO. Cuba or the Philippines-if the latter
must come under our control-with honor
20 itself or advantage to such dependencies
Is but another form OF the question whether
we are capable Of bringing and are re-
solved to bring, worthy and competent men
Mt representatives OF the best character
and capacity-into the official leadership OF
the people Of those islands.
Eve must establish governments so wise.
20 Just and stable that they can be made
WINTER or USE