The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-08


render. Il viii never advocate the haul
Ing down Of the nag in the Philippines.
TUE CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPTIONS.
Much criticism has been passed upon
the president for the recent order ex-
empt!ng from the operation Of the civil
service rules . certain number OF Of
ficers- Az. upon it's face. it looked ike
q retrogressive movement, the public
may have been excused for accepting
az just the criticism Of adverse news
papers. but In light OF the explanations
now forthcoming. the criticism on the
part Of those newspapers appears to
have been utterly unjustinable.
Ex-secretary Bliss, OF the interior de-
psrtment, being now out Of once. al
though no longer . member Of the gov
eminent. most generously comes for
ward with an explanation which will be
accepted as entirely satisfactory by ev-'
cry fair-minded citizen. Not only does
the condemnation now appear unwar-
ranted, but II becomes evident that the
step was taken In the best interests OF
the public service. 1t will be remem-
bered that. when President Cleveland
made his famous sweeping order, II was
regarded by those Ia favor Of civil serv-
ice reform as an experiment which
might have to be modified; 1t was equal
ly well known that the movement was
engineered by Democratic politicians
for the purpose Of keeping In Office the
army of Democratic appointees who
were not required to pass any examina-
ton whatever.
On the whole, the civil service system
has proved satisfactory. but II now ap-
pears that there were many oflices in
Guided Of more than q subordinate
character. ana as to these 1t Ii very
essential that there should be perfect
freedom OF action on the part Of the
heads Of departments. II seams mat
the exemption order was not made
without careful consideration. So long
ago Is last June. Mr.. Bliss drafted
report to the president on the subject.
after he had spent Z whole afternoon
with two Of the civil aervice commits
sioners. The result OF that interview
was letter which Mr.. Bliss addressed
70 the president, In the course OF which
he said:
honor herein respectfully 10 make are In no
sense 10 be considered as made In a spirit
Of opposition 10 civil service A great ma
jority Of the employees OF the government
are and should remain In the classified
service. bat In nay experience Of nearly two
years In the department OF the interior
have found that public business Is injured
and delayed by inclusion within the eiassi-
fied service Of certain officers whose duties
are Of an executive and confidential char
acter. or which require professional knowl-
edge or administrative ability, or special
and peculiar qualifications OF character
which cannot be ascertained through the
medium OF examinations conducted under
the ordinary supervision Of the civil service
commission
The c.vii service commission acqui-
esced In sixteen OF the recommendations
made as to the navy department alone.
There was a difference OF opinion as to
thirteen others. and after the matter
had been canvassed only four OF these
were selected for exemption. Mr.. Bliss
says that when he entered the interior
department he found. somewhat to his
surprise and regret. that several
branches OF the public service were suf-
fering seriously for lack. % responsible
control There was not much fault 10
be found with the administration OF the
classified service as applied 10 the cleri-
cal force Of department bureaus, al
though that Was far from perfect: bat
II was found impossible 10 maintain en-
der the rules of the commission. The
matter was brought 10 the attention OF
ether heads Of departments. and after
a very careful examination the conciu-
sion was come TO that the service could
be materially improved by making GER
tain administrative positions more IA
recsly responsible than they were 20 the
secretary Of the department. both for
appointment and tenure.
President Mckinley desired that any
change should be made cautiously. as
~ Was most anxious To protect the
civil service. and all that has hean done
NOW Is TO take out 81 the SYSTEM euly
those places which should never have
been included II was aseertsinsa that
President Cleveland had some doubts
himself about making the order quite
So inclusive. bat thought it better 10
rersli; /: - hs DEVELOPED by actual ex-
rerienoe what positions should be- after