The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-06
Gage on Civil Service
Regulations.
THINKS THE 1896 EXTENSION
SHOULD BE MODIFIED.
His Ideas Believed To Be in Accord With
Those of the President-Some of the
Offices He Thinks Should Be Exempted
from the Classification.

from the Classification.
Washington, January 5.-Secretary Gage
today sent reply to the Senate resolu-
ton of December 49, ealing upon tho
head of the several executive depart-
ments for information as to what posit-
ions in their respective departments
should be excepted from the civil service
laws and rules. Secretary Cages reply,
which it's believed to be in accord with
the Presidents views, in part is as fol-
lows:
81 believe that experience has taught
that the order of May 6, 1896, was too
sweeping and that there should be taken
out of the classified service a considerable
number of places that were ats that time
classified. The most important of these
places are in the internal revenue service.
1 believe that all positions of deputy col
lectors of internal revenue should be
made excepted places, subject, however,
to non-competitiye examinations. The
collector who appoint the deputies are
personally responsible for the conduct OF
their subordinates. 1t is obviously wrong
responsibility that he does, should be tied
down to an eligible list (the names on
which he may know nothing about) from
which to select, his subordinates, each of
whom is officially his other self.
Another branch of the service where
experience has demonstrated that classi-
fication was ill-adyised. is the custodian
service In public buildings throughout
the country. believe that twill be
of distinct advantage to take all positions
in the custodian force, including elevator
conductors, fremen, dynamo tenders and
employees of similar character, out of
classified service.
"The employees of the light house es
tablishment have been under civil service
rules since May 9th. The clerical force,
always small, but excellent, might ad-
vantageously remain under the classified
rules of the civil service. But for all
other employees, the best interests will be
conserved by removing them from the
classified service.
81 would also exempt the positions of
shipping commissioner at the, various
ports.
II would also recommend that the rules
be SO modified as to permit the head of
administrations to transfer any person
in the classified service Of one branch
of his department to the classified SER
vice of another branch, without regard to
SECRETARY WILSON HAS TROUBLE
Washington. January 5.-Co1nplying
with the resolution of December Is, re-
garding changes in the civil service law,
addressed to the heads of all the depart
ments, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
today sent the following letter to the Sem
ate:
'.The chief trouble find in the depart
ment of agriculture exists in the bureau
of animal industry between inspectors,
assistant inspectors. stock examiners and
taggers, covered into the service without
and the only marked in
efficiency 1 find in thes 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 ex-
animation. These matters can be RENE.
died by the President, by exempting GER
tain positions from the classified service,
or by the head of the department through
examinations"
SHERMAN'S VIEWS.