New-York tribune., 1899-06-01
PRESIDENTS ACT PRAISED.
SECRETARY GAGE COMMENDs THE RE-
CENT CIVIL SERVICE ORDER.
fRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

[BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE1
Washington, May 31.-Secretary Gage Is an
ardent believer in the modification made by
President McKiney's recent order in the list or
officers within the scope of the Civil Service
regulations. He said to-day:
The President has not made a change In the civil
Service rules that was not urged by the head OF
the Department concerned. and urged with satsty-
ing reasons why the change would be beneficial 10
the transaction OF public business. believe that
is true OF all the departments. While | cannot
speak with authority OF other departments 1t is
certainly true Nth the Treasury. No change was
made ~ he c vi Service regulations affecting the
Treas -l thu We did not recommend TO the Presi-
dent o1r l initiative.
Tho qrOsr not yet we'll understood. nor nave
the reason the changes which the experience
Of administration may explain been comprehended
by persons not close to the administration OF pubic
affairs.
The only large class OF places In the treasury
service which have been exempted are the deputy
collectors OF internal revenue. and politics has mad
nothing to do with their exemption. have given
that question the most careful study, and do not
believe IT was either lawful or just to have the
places OF deputy collectors OF internal revenue In
cluded in the classified service.
Section 314s of the United States Revised Stat
utes thus provides: Each collector shall be au-
thorized to appoint by instrument In wiring
under his hand. many deputies as he may think
proper, TO be by him compensated for their ser
vices; 10 revoke any such appointment. giving
notice thereof tho Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue may prescribe and to require and accept
bonds other securities from such deputies. Each
such deputy shall have the like authority, In every
respect to collect the taxes levied or assessed
within the portion OF the district assigned to him
which is by law vested in tho collector himselfi
but each collector shall. in every respect, be re-
sponsibe both to the United States and TO indl-
viduals. the case may be- for all moneys COL
Iected and for every act done neglected to he
done by any Of his deputies while acting as such'
EXEMPTION OF DEPUTY COLLECTORS
Deputy collectors OF internal revenue. therefore,
are not appointed by the head of the Treasury De-
partment. and not directly amenable TO hifn'
They differ practically from all other employees In
any way connected with this Department. The law
authorizing the appointment Of deputy collectors Oh
internal revenue gives the power Of appointment TO
the collectors The deputies are responsible 10 the
collectors only and not to the General Govern
ment. The responsibility to the Government Is
through the collector. responsibility TOT "hlch
the deputy must give bond to the collector. The
collectors responsible for the action OF these
deputies both to the public and 10 the Govern
meat and Congress. recognizing that fact gave to
the collectors the appointing power. believe these
reasons leave no room for discussion as to the pro-
priety Of excepting these places from the cassned
service.
Another class OF exceptions has been the private
secretaries to certain bureau heads The hst rs
not a long one and II is not the character OF place
which win be opened to political pressure. man
should be free 10 choose MS confidential secretary
for In no connection does the personal equation,
which is quite unmeasuTable by the civil oer'ice
Commission have greater weight - -,
The exceptions IN the Alaskan service nave peei'
made necessary hy the great distance from WASH
ington, and the time consumed In making GER
tlhcations and appointments under Civil service
regulations. , -.
The half-dozen exceptions In the mint service are
Of positions where the employees have eXtraorunary
financial responsibility, and these exceptions WI
after a careful examination OF the conditions :,
II should be noted that In the case or nearly an
these excepted places, with the exception OF prFats
secretaries Is provided that the person appointed
must successfully pass examination equivaIeht
TO the one held by the Commission for positions OF
like character. There is no letting down IN the
reouirements for ascertaned fitness and In my
opnlon there will be no deterioration in the quail
fcations OF people appointed
NOT BACKWARD STEP.
7 do not regard the changes In any sense step
backward. The inclusive order OF PRESIDENT Sieve-
poinment was made by the Secretary OF tne
Treasury into the classified service, with the excep
ton of his private secretary ana Usonceded
al the time II made that IL would proDaoy oe
found too broad. 1t included In the casslneu ser
vice many places 10 which at the time no especla
consideration was given, for II swept IN eVery.hns h
The decision to take out some OF these places mas
notebeen hasty The trial has EXTENDED no" !o'
three years, and the number OF exceptons coin-
pared with the sixty-fve thousand places that %eIe
are few II is matter OF great surprise ano
satIsfaction that experience has not SHOWN ina
the exceptions now made should be more numerous
rather than so few.