The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-10-07
ISNOBACK WARD STEP
President McKinley's Civil Service
Order Approved.
Federal Commissioner Harlow De-
clnres 1t Is Calculated to Pro-
mote the Efficiency of the
Public Service.

In his recent letter to the president of
the Civil Service Reform association of
st. Louis Mr.. John b. Harlow, a mem
Der of the federal civil service commits
sion, upholds the action of President
Mckinley in removing from the CLASH
fled list the positions embraced in the
order of exemption which was issued
by the president several weeks ago.
So far from disappearing of these eX-
emptions, Commissioner Harlow pre-
sents reasons which amply support his
view that the notifications put in force
by the presidents order are for the
benefit of the public service and will
result in securing higher degree of
efficiency than has heretofore been pos
sible.
1t clearly appears from Commission
er Harlows presentment of the case
that much of the criticism passed upon
the exemption order of May 90 has been
based upon lack of correct information
or upon an erroneous conception of the
facts on the part of the critics, and that
in issuing his now famous order. after
full and careful consideration of the
subject, and after a thorough discus
sion of the matter with his cabinet Off
GERS, President Mckinley has not only
not violated the civil service law either
in letter or in spirit, but has construed
that law wisely, intelligently and with
regard solely for the best interests of
the public service.
On this point the closing paragraph
of Commissioner Harlow's letter is
clear and emphatic. The commissioner
brings prominently into view the fact
that, as amended by the order of May
90, the rules are for the first time the
result of the united discussion OF the
president and his entire cabinet, and
are an innovation to that extent, as all
members of the cabinet are thoroughly
conversant with the rules, while in the
past members of the cabinet have
stated that they have never read the
rules and were much surprised to learn
of some of the provisions in them.
"The present rules are now fully I'M
derstood by the heads of departments,
and am confident" says Commission
err Harlow, that they will be better
obcyed in the future, not only in the
letter but in the spirit than any civil
service rules have been in the past"
This view of member of the civil
service commission may we'll be ac-
cepted as against the unfair and mali
cious criticisms of mugwump sticklers
for the most radical forms of interpre-
tation and application in connection
with the civil neutrality-suspicious.
aud applications of the law which the
fair test of practical operation has
shown to be impracticable, nonsensical
and of actual detriment to the public
service. Commissioner Harlow is much
the better authority on this subject, fol
he speaks with knowledge and expert
ence. So is Secretary Gage, whose re-
cent statement in the Washington Stal
was so convincing as to bring about ar
entire change of attitude on the par
of so rigid a champion of strict con
struction as the Pioneer Press of st
Paul. That paper, after an exhaustive
review of the case as presented by Sec
rotary Gage, is constrained to say:
The Pioneer Press accepts with entire
satisfaction and full confidence in the
honesty and good faith of President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Gage their assurance
that in this order there has been no let
ting down of the bars for political ap
poutments-that they are in the interes
of an honest and efficient administrator
of the public business, and will prove
substantial benefit to the merit system
That assurance is equivalent to a guaran
tee The public will have full opportuni
ty to see in the actual working of thes
new rules whether this declaration is true
or whether the doors have been opened
wide for the inroads of the spoilsmen, a
has been charged.
Exactly in line With this sensible con
clusion all unpr, JUDGED persons vii
stand. 1t VIZ the conclusion inevitabl
formed after reading the very clea
statement of Facts contained in the in
{ terview of ex-Secretary Cornelius n
lotGTss in the New York Mail and En-
are n ess. The conclusion that in Pres