Evening star., 1898-01-19


classified service without preparation for
them had thrown n great deal of work on
the commission for which it was hardly
prepared.
Mr.. Bnfley's Suggestions.
Mr.. Bailey was asked if he had any sug-
gestions to make for the Improvement of
the methods of the civil service commits
sicn. He favored allowing applicants to re-
new their period of eligibility beyond one
year by filing additional papers. Mr.. Bal
ley thought there should be reclassifica-
ton of the public service according to the
kind of work done by various employees.
At present he said classihcations are baS-
ed upon salaries, and do not indicate the
kind of work the various employees do.
The present classification. he said, does not
aiG in arranging examinations. He also
thought the work of the commission could
be very much facilitated if the application
papers of applicants We're made a part OF
their examination. If this were done a
great many applicants for clerical positions
es pecially could be excluded from examina-
tiCn, as their papers would indicate their
unftness for a clerical position. Now no
weight is given application papers in the
examination.
In regard to the transfer of employees
from one department to another, Mr.. Bal
ley said he had not been able to reconcile
all actions of the commission under the
transfer rules.
Some discussion was called up regarding
the transfer of Mr. Albert Baker. formerly
private secretary to Public Printer Bene-
dict from the government printing office
to the Treasury Department., and then by
detail to the civil service commission. Mr.
Bailey said according to the Interpretation
he mad placed on the rules no transfer
could be made from the government print
ing Office to any other department except
from a mechanical position to a mechanical
position
Mr.. Bailey thought that by simplifying
the work of the commission 1t might be
possible for it to do its work efficiently
with its present force of employees, and
without details from departments.
The witness thought the engineer service
of the government, the custodian service,
examining surgeons of the pension office,
deputy collectors in the internal revenue
and deputy marshals could with advantage
be excluded from the classified service at
the present time. He wished it underst ood
that he believed the commission able
to handle the work of supplying efficient
employees for every branch of the public
service but he thought there were reasons
which would make it desirable, at least for
the present, to have the places he referred
to excepted from the classified service.
An Alleged Violation of Law.
Senator Pritchard asked Mr.. Bailey if
fifteen examiners of steel had not been ap-
pointed in the Navy Department in De-
cember, 1896, after the employees of that
fed service. and that these examiners had
been appointed without the Intervention of
the civil service commission.
Mr. BaiIey-"Yes. sir.
Senator Pritcbard-"Was not that vio-
lation of the civil service law?'
Mr. Bailey-"I so regarded it,
| The status of the employees of the United
| States navy yards was commented upon.
| Mr. Bailey said they were technically clas-
| sified but practically were not classified.
| He said the commission Inherited the
| lules governing navy yard employees. The
same rules relating to such employees as
| were in force prior to May &. 1886, were re-
| tanned and the commission did not exercise
| that supervision over those employees that
| it had exercised over the departmental
service
Senator Pritchard-"Practica this de-
rartment is not classified, as l understand
you, and at the same time its employees are
transferred to other departments where
there is a classification
Mr.. Bailey-''I hold the employees of the
department are classified and / have en-
| deaTored to explain that the commission
| has not assumed such direct supervision of
| the work of examining and certifying en-
| ployes of the navy yards as would be con-
| sistent."
| The committee adjourned until Friday
| morning at 10 o'clock when Mr. Bailey
| will Conclude his testimony. Upon request
| G. NJ Proctor Senator I'ritchard ordered
! that Col. Mckenzie and Major Raymond
! of the United States corps of engineers
! and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the
| Navy Department be requested to give tes-
| tlmony before the committee.