Evening star., 1898-02-03
TO RETIRE THE CLERKS
a Measure to Be introduced by Representa-
tive Dockery.
Tenure Limited to SIX Ycars-Theu
What MI. Dockery Says.

Representative Dockery of Missouri is
preparing bill. which he will introduce in
the House. involving the tenure of office of
government clerks, which he thinks will
solve khe mrch-dfscussed problem Of how
best to retire employees in the departments
Mr. Dockery's bill will fix a definite term
OF office for each clerk, at the end Of which
each employe will be subject to examina-
ton before being eligible for reappoint-
ment. If the clerk fails to meet the re-
quiremelts at that examination he n to be
retired by law.
Speaking Of his proposed BILL Mr. Dock
cry said to a Star reporter today: MY bill
will fix a definite tenure Of six years to
apply not only to those hereafter appoint
ed, but to those who are already in the
service. the date Of their terms to begin
from some date specified in the bill or from
the day of its enactment into law. At the
end OF six years a clerk is to be examined
providing he or she has not reached the
age of severity. The result Of that exam
ination will depend upon his or her reap
pointment. If he pesses then he shall be-
come eligible for reappointment, but II he
fails then he shall not be considered fit for
reinstatement As soon a clerk reaches
the age Of seventy, however he shall be
retired without examination. After q clerk
shall have passed the exaininat ton and has
been appointed to succeed himself he shall
retain his office for another six years. when
he shall again be subject to examination.
The bill viii provide. further. that twelve
months time shall be allowed to fill an
unqualified clerks place before releasing
him from the service. This will give a
little leeway. and. in case a man cannot be
found to suit the exact requirements. extra
time viii be given in which to look over
the field.
Effect of the Bill.
There would be many beneficial effects
arising from the enactment Of this bill.
Take the fixed tenure of office, for instance
The fact that a clerk was brought to a
realization of the fact that his term was
limited, would tend to induce him to OBJ
serve rules of strict personal economy II
he knew, ALSO that at the end of six years
he would be subjected to an examination
for reappointment, and that in the making
of a selection of his successor at the end
of that time his record for clerical efficiency
would carry great deal Of weight In Sc
curing his reappointment, he would nat
urally do the very best work In his power
while in office and would not allow himself
at any time to so below the highest stand
ard possible as a clerk.
1.-The government would, therefore, obtain
his best services while in office, and realiz-
ing that his time was limited. re would be
constantly preparing himself by study for
examination for reappointnent. The in
centive for a clerk would be to render the
most efficient services possible.
Another advantage which would be ef-
fected by the bill would be the clerks re-
tirement by law inste ad Of by any one
government official. Business. social or any
other relation would cit absolutely no fig
ure in his release from the government
service The law would be there, and If he
failed to pass examination no head of the
department or any other person could Sc
cure his reinstatement
Like the Railway Mail Service.
The bill would secure the same system
of clerical service as is now in force in the
railway mail service. In that service. l
think, one can find the best possible illus
tration of true civil service. Each railway
mail clerk is required by the department
to undergo an examination every few
months, and if a clerk is found lacking at
any of those tests he is Immediately drop
ped from the rolls.
His record must be Of the best and he
must not be too old. As a result Of this
system the railway mail service is the best
of it's kind in the world. Every man In ii
must maintain a standard OF efficiency to
remain in the service.
II hope to secure the passage OF my bill,
as believe that it will solve the problem
of how to improve the service best without
doing an injustice to the clerks. I do not
think that Congress should provide for G
retirement fund for clerks, as am against
the establishment Of a civil pension list.
There could be no opposition offered to the
establishment of a retirement fund by as
sc ssments on The salaries OF clerks, but Of
course that is a matter which does not re-
Quire congressional action"