The times., 1898-11-12
TO Defeat CIVIL SERVICE
New Plan Proposed to Dis
miss Democrats.
THE CONTEMPLATED ORDER
The Board of Pension Appeals to BE
Withdrawn From the Classified
service-How the scheme Can He
Worked = Must Make Room for
Many Party Workers Very Soon.

President Mckinley has under advise
of Pension Appeals from the classified
civil service 10 the unclassified civil ser
! vice, that is. to remove this office of the
Department of the Interior from within
to without the provisions of the civil
service act.
| This discomforting Information has
reached the employees OF the Department
| of the Interior and the belief Is general
there that the President will soon issue an
executive order opening the Board of
PENSION Appeals to strictly partisan ap-
pointments. The news has also reached
the Civil Service Commissioners. These
oihciais know that the President has had
such proposition under consideration.
out they profess to believe that the ex-
ecutive order indicated will not be issued.
| 1t Is suggested that the desire of certain
oihciais TO remove the Board of Pension
Appeals from the classified service is to
open a side door to the department for
the admittance of partisan appointees and
FOR the exit of Democratic clerks.
| Ihe plan is said to have been revealed
| as follows: The Assistant Secretary of
the Interior recently called into his pres
ence clerk on the Board of Pension
! appeals, and who had been In the depart-
mental service of the Government since
1855 Se
Il want your resignation" said the
Assistant Secretary
Is not this a slight violation of the
civil service act?" inquired the clerk
NO, AnSUArAd ha
tary, the President will soon sign an
executive order withdrawing the BOARD
OF Pension Appeals from the classified
service
But, said the clerk, Il am no; a
member of the Board OF Pension Appeals
out clerk In the office of the Secretary,
of the Interior"
fhen, If that be the case" returned
the Assistant Secretary, 'ft will take M.
Just about two minutes to transrer yn,,
10 the Board of Pension Appeals where
sucH protection as the civil service act
anords VIII not shelter YOU"
men SIR, you nave my resiena tion -
Is all the clerk could say.
II Is SAID at the Department Of the In
terior that II the board of pension an
| peais be taken out of the classified SCR
vice, 1t Will be the easiest thing imaeina-
Die Tor the Secretary of the Interior to
transfer a clerk whom he wishes 10 dis
mss 10 that board and then discharge
MN "hen II is desired to make a p.acs
for political appointee he will b. gwen
position on the board of pension ap-
| peals and transferred to some 9th r
| branch of the department
| There are certain provisions of the oiyil
service act framed to defeat a scheme of
| this character. but 1t furnishes an unde.-
ground system which the civil serylce
| commission would ind difficult to detect
| or suppress.
| Rule X of the civil service rules of
May G. 1876. amended TO September L
1898. bears somewhat on the points in
/ volved. II follows:
! Within that part OF the service of the
| United States which has been, or may
hereafter be. classified under the civil
| service act, transfers shall be governed
| as follows:
"A person in any department or Of
flee may be transferred within the same
| department or office, and the same
branch of the service. upon any test of
| fitness not disapproved by the commits
| sion. which may be determined upon by
| the appointing officer. subject to the mi
| tations of the provisions of this rue
"A person who has received absolute
| appointment may be transferred without
examination from any department. office
| or branch of the service, upon reqaisi-
| ton and consent of the proper Oft GERS
and the certificate of the commission;
provided, that transfer shall BE- made
I of person TO a position within the same
| department or Office. and the same
| branch of the service, or to a position in
another department. office or branch of
| the service, If from original entrance TO
| such position said person is barred by
| the age limitation prescribed therefor. or
| by the provisions regulating appoint
ment. or If in said position there is not
required, in the judgment of the commits
| sion. the performance of the same class
| of work, or the practice of the same me-
| chanical trade performed or practiced in
| the position from which the transfer s
proposed; and provided further. that
| transfer shall not be made without eX-
animation, provided by the commission,
| TO a position for original entrance to
| which, in the judgment of the commits
| sion. there is required by these rules an
/! examination involving essential tests Diff
| ferent from or higher than those in
| yolyed in the examination required fng'
| original entrance to the position from
| which the transfer is proposed: but a