The times., 1899-06-11
MR.. CAGES LITERARY
EFFORT CRITICISED
The Reply of the Civil Service
Reform League.
Fault Found With the Secretary's s
Language and Reasoning.
Sir. McAneny on the Intention of the
a. Administration-Tbe oppor-
tunftfes for Evasion.

New York. June Io.-speaking today OF
the reply of Secretary Gage to the address
of the Civil Service Reform League. Nj
McAneny, Secretary of the league char
acterized 1t as unsatisfactory. unwarrant-
ed, and unjust. The league published a
plain statement of facts he said. 1T in
dulged in no invective. and its criticisms
of conditions developed and existing IN
der the present Administration were tenn
perate and fair. The statements made
were briefly as follows:
I'D. That the Presidents modifying
order withdrew S.593 Offices and positions
from the open competitive class.
% That it transferred 6,416 other
positions. filed hitherto through a COM
petitive registration system under the Civ
il Service Commission. to a system TO be
devised and placed in effect by hte Secre-
tary of War
go. That the great majority of po-
sitions excepted are those for which ex-
perience has proven competitive exami-
nations and merit tenure not only practi-
cable. but highly desirable
'(D That it declares regular LOCO tenn
porary appointments made without exami-
nation. in branches not affected by the or
der and remaining nominaily competitive
fs) That it permits the permanent ap-
pointment without examination of persons
employed temporarily during the war with
Spain.
:" '(e) That it so orders the rules that
In future any person appointed with or
without competitive examination may be
transferred without regard TO the character
or similarity of the positions interchanged,
after pass" examination only
CD That il permits the reinstatement
within the discretion of the respective de-
partment officer of persons separated from
the service for stated causes at any pre-
yious time
't9 That it cendones many outright
violations Of the Law committed during the
past two years; and
t9) That IT is to be considered in its
relation to the failure of the AdminIstra-
tion. not only to enforce the law thor
oughly and honestly but to extend its
operation where extensions have been
plainly practicable"'
Every one of these statements is clearly
true. The only attempt at refutation in
the interview of Mr.. Gage is contained
in the declaration that the opportunities
offered for evasion of the law are not so
serious as reported, for the reason that
the Administration does not intend to make
is gratifying. but ii would have come with
better grace had Mr.. Gage refrained from
declaring that those who have pointed out
the existence OF such opportunities have
been guilty of malicious representation.
Whether the Administration will be able
TO resist the pressure that will be brought
to bear in individual cases to secure the
benefits of the amended rules is gravely
doubtful So long as the amendments
. .n-fTl
least. to the safety Of the system.
''The only matter actually in doubt is the
effect of the general valuation of tempo
rary appointments on the emergency force
of the War Department The President s
intention may determine that, but the le-
gal effect of the change in the rules seems
20 be plain. Each of the emergency men
was termed a temporary appointee in the
act authorizing his employment. The re-
vised rule reads literally thus:
All persons serving under temporary appoint
men;s II the date Of the approval OF this sec
tion may be permanently appointed, in the dis
eretion Of thEroper appointing officer
There can be no question as to the in
tent to apply this in the case of all tempo
rary appointees in other departments, nor
can there be any doubt that the effect of
the other changes referred to will be, or
may be. exactly as stated.
secretary cage, IN his Characterization
OF the position Of the league, has gone sur
prisingiy far. comparison OF his de-
fence of the order with the statements
above enumerated will show that not one
of these has been disproved. and that the
question Of the constructions to be placed
on specific amendments is the only doubt
3ul thing remaining. In order that there
may be a clearer understanding of the sit
uauon-and of the unfortunate effects of
the changes made-the league will answer
Mr.. Gage in detail, and substantiate its
statements as fully as il may be desired.
In whatever il may say it will continue TO
treat the subject with perfect fairness. II