Evening star., 1898-01-05

Senate: 1.-The chief trouble l find in the
Department of Agriculture exists in the bu-
reau of animal industry between inspectors,
assistant inspectors, stock examiners and
taggers. covered into the service without
examination: and the only marked inef
ficiency find in the work of any class of
employees in the department is among the
above mentioned employees of the bureau of
animal industry and in certain of the state
statistical agents who were also covered
into the service without examination.
These matters can be remedied by the
President by eXempting certain positions
from the classified service. or by the head
of the department through departmental
examinations.
Secretary Shcrman's Views.
Secretary Sherman of the State Depart
ment replied as follows:
Il found upon entering upon my duties
as Secretary of State that the entire clerical
force of the department including the chief
clerk at $500 and six chiefs of bureaus
at 81, 100 each, was covered by the civil SER
vice law under presidential order extend
ing its operations to embrace those
officers.
My opinion is that these seven positions
should be excepted from the operations of
the laws governing the civil service, or the
rules established by the civil service COM
mission and l so recommend should any
changes or amendments to the present civil
service law or rules be contemplated.
These officers should be either appointed by
the President. by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. or the Secretary of
State should be. as formerly. acting for the
President, empowered to appoint them.
IAN these officers bear close personal
relation to the Secretary Of State in the
conduct of the departments official busi-
ness 1t is through them, under the assist
ant secretaries. he is enabled to transact
his official duties. and 1t would seem to be
the part Of prudence and discretion that
they should be in sympathetic touch with
the head of the department to insure CO.
operation and harmony of action. 1t is
probable that the Secretary of State may
not wish to exercise the power conferred
upon him to make removals and appoint
ments in these particular positions, but
his hands should not be tied or his au-
thority limited whenever, in his judgment,
the best interests of the public service de-
mand a change. This freedom of action
on the part of the Secretary Of State,
which should never have been curtailed,
would, believe. promote the public inter-
ests. 1t should certainly instill in those
officers a desire to render the best possi-
BILE service to the department and stimulate
their highest endeavors to discharge their
official duties in harmony with the wishes
of the Secretary of State.
Il may say frankly that my recommen-
dation for a change in this respect is not
based upon any want OF fidelity on the
part of the gentlemen who are at present
pocAsAcAAS
because of desire to remove any one of
them and appoint his successor. They have
uniformly shown a commendable spirit of
energy and fidelity In carrying forward the
great volume of the departments work
which l cannot fail to recognize and ap-
preciate. I have made the recommendation
solely because believe the persons compe-
tent to fill these necessarily quasi conf
Dental and important positions should be
instantly and freely subject to change by
the President or the Secretary of State /
think the service would be benefited by
excepting these seven positions from the
operations of the civil service laws
In Accord With the President.
Although the treasury officials are reti-
cent on the subject, there are good reasons
for the belief that Secretary Cages letter
In response to the Senate's civil service
resolution is practically in substantial ac-
cord with the views of the President, and
1t is altogether probable that, in the alb
sence of congressional action on the sub
ject. he will issue new rules which will
carry into effect the changes suggested by
the Secretary.
Others Not Ready.
Only three replies were sent to the Senate
today, the others not being ready.