The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-16
Members Say Secretary Bliss Vas Un-
duly Partisan.
M'KINLEYs ACTION DISCUSSED
Appointments and Removals Made
Purely for Political Purposes Are So
Numerous Impossible to Re-
view Them Adequately"

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, December 15.-The ma
tional convention of the Civil Service
League closed this evening with a banquet
at the Bates house. The topic of liveliest
interest was the report Of the special in
Vestgating committee, of which Mr.
Charles j. Benaparte of Baltimore is chair
man, appointed some time ago 10 report on
action of the Mckinley administration In
the order of May % last, taking 10000 Off
GERS from the civil service list and on the
indian service The report on the Indian
service under President Mckinley" says:
The committee finds. itself compelled to
report that probably no branch of the. fed
eral service has suffered more from the
ravages of the spoilsmen during the present
adminstra ton than the indian service.
That such should have been the fact is not
only a misfortune, but a disappointment.
mo serious attempt seems to have 5eea
made by the president or Secretary Bliss
10 conduct the service on non-partsan prin-
eiples. On the contrary, the secretary was
influenced almost wholly by partisan con-
slderaton in making appointments and re-
anovals. MIR. Bliss total want of sympathy
with the merit system was sufficiently in
dicated when he remarked in substance to
one who urged the retention of a very wor-
thy and efficient officer that he believed
fhere were plenty of good republicans
fully as capable as the official in question"
The committee recommends Commissioner
Jones and continuing its report on the ac-
ton of the department, says:
"The appointments and removals made
purely for political reasons are so numerous
that it would be impossible to review them
adequately in the limited space available"
The report recites the removal of DR..
Ifailman, +. f. Loupp, Captain Slouch,
avid Day and others are mentioned as in-
shances of good men turned down for politi-
cal reasons.
Express Eioprs fer The Successor
In closing the report expresses the hope
that Secretary Bliss successor will do bet
ter, but says, so far his course is no less
encouraging than commendab,e, but III does
not go far enough"
The report the scope and effect of
President Mckineys order of May 20 last
in part was as follows:
"In order to appreciate the significance
of the presidents action it must be remem-
bered that the republican party came into
nower in the fall of 1897, pledged by its plat
form to sustain the civil service law and
rules to enforce them thoroughly and hon.
estly and to extend their application Wher-
ever practicable, and that Mr.. Mckinley in
accerting the nomination of his party Tor
the presidency endorsed and reaffirmed
these pledges, declaring that mo backward
step would be taken"
"The Mckinley administration upon Its
Incoming showed the same indisposition
shown by its predecessor to obey the law
In newly classified branches. such as deputy
internal collectors, employees of the United
States marshals, pension examining sur
nh Of
sons without. examina ton as laoorers ana
subsequently assigning them to clerical or
Other classified work wcs increased Inc
failure to extend the system where prac-
tcable has been yet'as patent as the 1allure
to sustain it,
The report charges that the census bill
providing for 1900 appointments was passed
with a deliberate rejection of the compeu-
tive system after debate. AS to the order
of May 20 the report denies that as claimed
tho purpose of the change In une war ae-
partment was to establish system OF labor
amployment similar to that in the navy de-
artuent. 1t charges that in the treasury
department appointments are made first
and examinations are had afterward and
that those who fail are kept in their
places.
Transfers without Examination
"Since May 90" tho report says, there
have been 313 transfers in the federal Gas
sified service of which 221 were made with
out examination The transfers While sup
posed to be to positions similar in nature
in many cases differed radically and were
almost invariably to higher positions
In the postofiice department it is charged
clerks are appointed without examination
at small postoffices about to be brought
within the classification of the free deliv-
cry system and then are Immediately trans
farred without examina ton to similar po-
sitions in larger offices. The report then
says:
against this dishonest practice the COM
mission has addressed frequent letters of
complaint to the postoffice department ap-
raIently without effect"
In closing, the report says
'since May 20, 1875 appointments have
Leen made in the executive departments
through competition as the civil service law
centemplates, 1850 have been appointed
through other means exclusive of those
who have been selected without examina-
tien under the war emergency acts or for
service in the census office. The number
Of appointments under certain beads, as
for instanc the temporary appointments
made permanent is unduly abnormal"