Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-01-10

Washington, Jan. 6.-The presenta-
ton of replies Of the members of the
cabinet to the resolution calling for
information as to the application of
the civil service law to the various de-
partments of the government, together
with consider alton Of the bill estab-
fishing bureau TOR the twelfth cen
sus, precipitated sharp civil service
DEBATE in the senate. Mr.. CullOm
rep, lll.), author of the resolution,
thought that notifications in the law
Ought to be made, as the authorities
had drlfted far away from the original
intention of the authors OF the civil
service law. Mr.. Allen (pop., Neb.)
charged that the law is openly and
daily violated. Mr.. COckrel ldem.,
Mo- } declared that it was presumptious
in Secretary Sherman to make recon-
nendations that certain positions be
excepted from civil service when the
president had full authority to make
the exceptions recommended.
In reply TO the senate resolution call
ling Oh the heads Of the several ex-
ecutiye departments for information as
to what positions in their respective
departments should be excepted from
the civil service laws and rules, Sec
rotary Gage sad: Il believe that ex-
perience has taught that the order OF
May 6, 1896, was too sweeping; that
there should be taken out Of the class
flied service a considerable number of
places at that time classified. The
most important of those places are
in the internal revenue service. The
difficulties with which the department
has experienced in the administration
Of the rules as they now exist, as APP
Piled to the internal revenue service,
become intOlerdble. believe that all
positions OF deputy collectors OF in
ternal revenue should be made except
ed places, subject, however, to non
competitive examination. The collect
ors who appoint deputies are person
ally responsible for the conduct of
their subordinates. This responsible
ity covers not o1.ly the fidelity and in
teglity of those subOrdinateS in their
lleiatlon to the government, but ex-
tends to the pei sonal liability Of those
who may be injured in person or pro-
perty by an inconslderate or mali
clous tresspass committed by such
subordlnateS in the course OF their
duties. 1t obviously is wrong that a
collector, after assuming the heavy re-
sponslbillty that he does, should be
tied down to the eligible list. be-
lieve 1t desirable that collectors be
free TO select subordinates from among
the men concerning whose personal
characteristics and integrity they have
knowledge. Another branch of the
SCI vice where experience has demon
strated that classification is ill-ad-
vised is the custodian service in public
buildings throughout the. country.
There are in this service large num-
Der of low-salaried positions, where
no academic test is required or desir-
/ able. [ believe that it would be dis
tlnct advantage to take all positions
in the custodian force, including ele-
VatOr conductors, tiremen, dynamo
lenders and employees of a similar
character, out Oh the classified service.
Employees or lighthouse establishments
| have been unaer civil service rules
since May and yet no Improvement
mas resulted, out on the other nand
VexaJlous delays have occurred III the
/ filling of vacancies which fortunately
so lar nave not resulted in serious
disaster. For all employees OF this SER
vice save the clerical force the best in
terests would be conserved by remoV-
j ing them from the classified service.
! / would also exempt the position OF
shipping commissioner at the various
ports. / would further suggest such
mod lflcation or the rules as would per-
mu, when no eligible register exists,
that PEI m. nent appointments be made,
! in the dIscleIlon of the head OF the de-
PAL tmenJ, subject 70 a non competitive
! eAaln1nalIon W the civil service com
mission ana also that the rules be SO
nlodlned as to pc NIT the head OF a
department to transfer any person in
the classified service of one branch Of
his depal tment 10 the classified service
j IL HAOLuSI DldICu, W4LAOOI 4CSdA W
| apportlonment.
Secretary Wilson of the department
Of agriculture, sent the following let
ter: The CHIEF trouble | lind III the
department OF agriculture exists in the
| bureau Of animal industry between the
inspectors, ass slant inspectors, stock
examiners and taggers covered into the
| service without an examination. This
matter can be remedied by the presi
dent, by exempting certain positions
from the classified service, or by the
head of the department through de-
partmental examinations.
Secretary Sherman replying to the
senate's resolution recommended the
exemption of heads Of bureaus and the
chief clerk of the state department
from the operation of the law 81