Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-13
SECRETARY CAGES REPLY.
Civii Service Law Has 8ccn observed
-Iteason tor Exceptions 90 Usual
Rules In Appointments,

New York. July i3.-sccrctary OF the
Treasury Gaze, replying 10 the letter
o. Secretary McAncny. OF the National
Ciyil Service Reform League critics.
ms Mr. Cages defense Of the Prcsl-
dents recent clvll service order said;
There a. mo- moro sincere advocate Of
the merit system than / am. and soon
after reaching this office Insisted that
the collectors be- urged 10 comply strict
By with the law IN masking appoint
mcntn. In most cases they have ac-
ccptvd that Instruction. but out OF
some twenty collectors there are per-
hnps four or i've Who have maintained
that the law confcra upon them the
r.ght 60 appoint their deputies, and the
courts have upheld them. / am as
aurcd that quite so per cent OF the coli
lcclora 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 Is not correct or just to
say that the advice q ih', treasury pro-
duced no apparent emectt
A. 10 thciinlimati4 r,p,lat many APP
pOlntmonta have bech made ln the
treasury Since the opening Of the war
with SPAIN" without regard 20 the
civil service law. Mr. Gage said that
represents the civil service commission
IN the departments, that perhaps 80
instead % many hundred men had
boon appointed In the time mentioned.
ana that an were appointed with the
approval Of the commission. and were
eligible Tor appointment.
Many OF the clerks employed 20 get
out the bonds authorized by Congress
were taken from the eligible registers,
but all were dispensed with after the
work was closed. according 90 law.
None OF these clerks or any othcrs
were transferred into the classified SORE
vice. and no others had been trans
icrred without the approval OF the come
sion.
Mr.. Gngc said that It was not fair.
In crticising the action OF the depart
munt In making appointments from
the competitive list. 10 exclude the bu-
rcau OF engraving and printing. which
employs tho largest number OF persons
lh any one division OF the treasury SER
Vice 100 Washington.
AT the head Of that bureau" said
Mr, bHge, 'lH a Democrat. Kept there
1N me strict regard of the head OF tho
department for the civil service law
anu the merit Of the incumbent
'Worthlngton g. Ford was not re-
moved. When took office he came To
me and said that whenever his place
was wanted hint 10 that eject would
be an that would be necessary TO get
MIN out. llc was good officer. but
lherc we've itlsong not affecting his
integrity, that led me 20 inform him.
after while, that his reclamation
would be accepted. ] think there was
some public benefit from the change
made IN that office, hut n Mr. Ford mai
desired 10 stay ho would never have
been removed"
A. Tor the complaint by Mr.. McAneny
mat the secretary has wrongfully per
nltted the payment Of salaries TO per
sons appointed irregularly. Mr. Gage
The Interpreter OF tho law for me
i the controller N the treasury. When
ne vouchers Tor the pay of an Ampiove
have boon approved by tnc subordinate
lnicers who know 90 their employment.
and tho auditor has found the account
correct, Il goes 90 the controller III
here il any further question. II he
inys hat under the law they shall bs
lnid ] would Dc imponchublo N re-
used 90 pay the clerks. n he should
iccldc that the clerks should not be
laid and I should pay them. / would
ilhO be lmpCaChahlo."