Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-13
SECRETARY CAGES REPLY.


Now York July i3.-sccrctary OF the
Treasury Gage. replying 90 the letter
of Secretary McAncny. VI the National
Ciyil Service Reform League, critics.
ms Mr. Cages defense Oh the Prusl-
dents recent clyil service order said.
There IL no more sincere advocate Of
the merit system than I am. and soon
after reaching this office I insisted that
the collectors be urged 20 comply strict-
ly with tho law Ia making appoint
mcnta. In most cases they have ac-
copied that instruction. but out OF
some twenty collectors there are per-
hnps four or iiyc who have maintained
that the law confcrs upon them the
right 90 appoint their deputies. and the
courts have uphold them. am as
aurod that quite 80 per cent OF the COLI
lcclou have complied with the law.
When the matter brought on litigation
the President Withdrew some OF the
offices In dispute from the operation of
the law. II IL not correct or just 10
say that the advice Of the treasury pro-
duced no apparent effect
A. 30 the intimatilnu that many ap-
polntments have been made In the
treasury since tho opening % the war
with spain" without rrgard TO the
civil service law, Mr. Gage said that
he was informed by Mr. Deland, who
represents the civil service commission
Co. the departments, that perhaps 100
Instead uf many hundred men had
been appointed IN the time mentioned.
and that all were appointed with the
approval OF the commission, and were
eligible Tor appointment.
Many N the clerks employed 20 got
out the bonds authorized by Congress
were taken from the eligible registers.
but an were dispensed with after tho
work was closed according 20 law,
None OF those clerks or any others
We're transferred into the classified SER
vice. and no others had been trans
fcrrcd without the approval OF the COM
sion.
Nlr. Gage said that It WIS not fair
IN crltic.siug the action uf the depart
ment In making appointments from
the competitive list. 10 exclude the hu-
frau OF engraving and printing. which
employs tho largcat number 81 persons
Ia any one division OF the treasury SER
vice IN Washington
AT the head OF that bureau" said
Mr.. Gage. us Democrat, kept there
~ the strict regard OF the head OF the
department FOR the civil service law
and the merit OF the Incumbent.
'Worthlngton G Ford was not re-
moved. When ! took office he came 20
mo and said that whenever his place
was wanted q hint 20 that effect would
be all that would be necessary TO get
him out He was a good officer. but
there wee i,Isons. not affecting his
integrity, that led me 20 inform him,
after a while, that his resignation
would BE- accepted. / think there was
some public benefit from the change
made ia that office. But n Mr. Ford had
desired 10 stay, he would never have
been removed"
A. Tor the complaint by Mr. AtcAnony
that the secretary has wronpfully per-
mitted the payment OF salaries 10 per-
sons appointed irregularly. Mr.. Gage
said:
THE Interpreter OF the law for me
Is the controller Of the treasury. When
the vouchers Tor the pay Of an cmploye
have been approved by thc subordinate
officers who know OF their employment.
and the suditor has found the account
correct Il goes 60 the controller N
there IL any further question. II nc
says that under the law they shall be
paid, ] would be improbable II / re-
fused TO pay the clerks, n he should
decide that the clerks should not be
paid and should pay them, l would
also be imupnChuhlo"