Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-01-06
OFFICE IS THE TOPIC
OF Most Of the News That Comes
from Washington..civiI Serv.
Ice Reform Modification
sHERxATsv1EwsoH THE SUBJECT.

Hs wonld Exempt Seven Positions in His
Depastnept - Gage Proposes to Turn
Looss Several Reconsideration Ex.
Peeted 10 Order the Suggested Changes-
Points Of the Medication Bill Framed
by Republican Representatives.
Washington. Jan. 6.-Secretary Sher.
man yesterday sent to the senate his
response to the resolution asking the
heads OF departments for suggestions
as to changes in their respective de-
partments. Sherman recommends the ex-
emption Of the heads Of bureaus and the
chief clerk Of thestate department from
the operation OF the civil service law.
i FOUND" he says in his statement,
upon entering my duties as secretary
OK state that the entire clerical force of
the department. including the chief
clerk at $500 and six chiefs of bureaus
at ss,1o0 each, were under the civil
Service law under a presidential order
extending its operations so as to en-
brace those officers. My opinion is that
these seven positions should be ex-
eepted from the operations of the laws
governing the civil service, and 1 so
recommend should any changes of the
civil service law be contemplated.
would Make Seven Places Exempt.
These officers should be either an
pointed by the president by and with
the advice and consent of TIE senate. or
the secretary of state should be as for
merly, acting for the president, en-
powered to appoint them. All these
officers bear . close personal relation to
the secretary of state in the conduct of
the departments Of the business. It is
through them under the assistant sec
retaries that he is enabled to transact
his official duties. and it would seem
TO be the part OF prudence and dis
erection that they should be in SYM
pathetic touch with the head of the
department TO insure cooperation and
harmony Of action
Does Not Complain Of the Ircumbents.
The secretary concludes with the
statement that he makes no complaint
against the present occupants of these
offices. but he thinks that upon general
principles the sccretary's hands should
not tied" This freedom of action on
the part OF the secretary of site which
should never have been curtailed," he
says. would. 1 believe. promote the
public interests. 1t should certainly in.
still into those officers a desire TO rem
der the best poss. BILE service to the &C.
partment and stimulate their highest
endeavors TO discharge their official
duties in harmony with the wishes of
the secretary of state"
Gage Would Exempt Thousands.
The letter written by Secretary Gage
suggests changes in the civil service
regulations which. IL made, would take
between 1900 and 5000 appointments
out of the civil service classification
and place the selection In his hands or
In those OF the president. 1t is the gen.
erai understanding that whether or not
congress acts upon the suggestions of
the heads OF the several departments.
In conformity with the suggestions. the
president will make most of these
changes by executive order. Wilson. OF
the agricultural departments says that the
chief trouble in his department is with
employees covered into the service with
cut examination.