Evening star., 1899-03-15
Fifty-Nine War Department Clerks
Lose Their Places.
IHEY WERE ON THE TEMPORARY ROLL
\ Further Reduction in Force
Contemplated.
READJU STING SALARIES

There were 239 changes in the tenn
porary rolf OF the War Department today.
OF this number 120 employees were reduced
in grade. 81 were promoted and 80 were dis
charged the service The temporary force
was organized early last summer to meet
the increased pressure of work devolving
upon the department in consequence Of the
Spanish war. 1t was increased from time
20 time as the necessity arose until 1t sg-
gregated about 100 persons, rated either as
lOw-gra6e clerks or messengers. Owing to
the cessation of hOstilities and the sys-
tematizing of the work, it was found ex-
pedient to reclassify the entire roll and to
drop about sixty employees whose services
were no longer needed.
In selecting those for discharge Acting
Secretary Meiklejohn. who has direct
supervision of the clerical force. was guided
solely by the efficiency records of the force.
with the result that the most efficient were
promoted wherever it was found practicable
and the least efficient were dropped from
the rolls.
Inasmuch as the temporary roll is cOmpos-
ed chiefly Of ladies, it follows that most of
those dismissed were of the gentler sex
Considerable distress was manifested by the
unf0rtunates upon receiving the unwelcome
notification this morning. and many of the
women broke into tears and could not be
cOmforted- About thirty employees. or about
half the number dismissed. were employed
in the office of the adjutant general. the
remainder being distributed among the 9TH
er bureaus. all of which suffered more
less.
ReadJusfing the Salaries.
The reclassiication of the force was based
on the same system Of merit which has
been employed with so much success and
satisfaction in the case of the regular force
of the War Department. 1t was stated that
tn
rea1just the salaries paid the employees, so
that the clerks who did the best work
should receive the highest salaries. The rat
tngs are made according 10 the following
scale: Excellent, very good, good fair and
Indifferent.
As an illustration of how the reclassfica-
tiOn was done. 1t was explained that in
case 500 clerk was marked excellent"
and 81 900 clerk was marked good" the
two were made to exchange places, the en-
deavOr being simply to make the compen-
satiOn commensurate with the character Of
the work performed in each and every case.
Further Reduction Contemplated.
From conversation a Star reporter had
with Acting Secretary Neiklejohn, 1t is ev-
ident that a further reduction of the tenn
POrary force is contemplated. and that the
prospects of additional appointments IN the
War Department are exceedingly slim, ex-
cept through the civil service commission,
Nhere made necessary by regular changes
in the service.
The temporary force will be reduced as
rapidly as possible said Mr.. Meiklejohn
This force was put on for the special work
OF the Spanish war The pressure of this
Work now having subsided, it has been
deemed proper and expedient to reduce the
working force.
The work OF reduction will go on so far
as II can be done consistently with the re-
qulrements of the service. All reductions
VIII De made strictly on the basis of indi-
vidual merit and ability those having the
lowest marking and showing the least eff
cheney being selected for discharge The
entire force has been reClaSsified on an
efficiency basis. which has been made ap-
piicable To the War Department as d whole
Those showing the greatest efficiency nave
been promoted and those showing less ab;l-
lty and proficiency being reduced or dis
missed. as the case may be. As | have al
ready stated. the reduction of the force will
be continued so as to meet the needs and
the best interests of the service