Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-13
To Criticism of the Civil
Service Order.
WAS NOT VIOLATED
He Explains Why Some Departmental
Changes Were Made and Says
Clerks Hired During War Were on
the Eligible List

New York, July 13.-Secretary Gage,
replying to the letter of Secretary Nc
Aneny. Of the National Civil Reform lea
que, criticizing Mr.. Cages defense of the
presidents recent civil service order,
says:
"There is no more sincere advocate of
the merit system than I am and soon
after reaching this Office 1 instructed that
the collectors be retained in office. I am
assured that quite 80 per cent Of the col
lectors lave complied with the law. When
the law brought on litigation. the presi-
dent withdrew some Of the officers in dis
pute from the operation of the law. 1t IS
not correct or just to say that the adj
vice of the treasury produced no appar-
ent effect" .,
AS to the charges that many appoint
ments have heen made In the treasury
"since the opening Of the war with
Spa.n," without regard to the civil SER
vice law, Mr.. Gage said that he was IN
formed by Mr.. Deland. who represents
the civil service commission in the de-
partments, that perhaps $50 men had
been appointed in The time mentioned and
that all were appointed w.th-the APPROX
al of the commission and We're eligible
for appointment. Many of the clerks en-
congress were taken from the eligible
registers, but all We're dispensed with
after the work was closed, according to
law. None of these clerks or any others
were transferred into the classified ser
vice, and no others had been transferred
without the approval of the commission
Mr.. Gage said thattit was not fair, in
critic.zing the action Of the department
in making appointments from the COM
p~etitive list, to exclude the bureau of
engraving and printing, which employs
the largest number of persons in any
one division OF the treasury service in
Washington ...'T
IA the head of that bureau" said Mr..
Gage. sis a democrat, kept there by the
strict regard OF. the head of the depart
ment for the civil service law and the
merit of the incumbent. Worthington G.
Ford was not removed. When l took
office he came to me and said that when
ever his place was wanted a hint to that
effect would be all that would be nee
essary to get him out He was a good
officer, but there We're reasons, not af-
fecting his integrity, that led me to in
form him after a while, that his regisna-
ton would be accepted. I think there
was some public benefit from the change
made in that office. But if Mr.. Ford had
desired to stay he would never nave been
removed"
AS for the complaint by Mr.. McAneny
that the secretary has .wrongfully per-
mitted the payment of salaries to persons
appointed irregularly, Mr.. Gage says:
''The interpreter of the law for me is the
controller of the treasury. When the
vouchers for the pay Of an employe have
been approved by the subordinate Of
icers who know Of their employment and
the auditor has found the account cor
rect, it goes to the controller if there is
any further question. If he says that un-
der the law they shall be paid. l would be
improbable if l refused to pay the clerks:
If he should decide that the clerks should
not be paid and l should pay them,
would also be impeachable."