Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16
REPLY TO MIR. GAGE.
Mr.. Siddons Talks on the Recent Civil
Service Order.

Service Order.
cit Is not surprising" said F. L. Siddons
secretary of the local Civil Service Reform
Association, to Star reporter today, that
the Secretary of the Treasury occupies
nearly three columns of The Star in de-
Tense of the recent amendments TO the civil
service rules and regulations There is no
doubt that they need defense, and the Sec
rotary makes it quite clear that he realizes
this. But friends OF the administration
must wish that Mr.. Gage had been as ju-
dicious as he was jealous in the cause of
his chief. For 1t should be painful to them
to read of a cabinet officer in an interview
in the public press replying to criticism and
critics with such expressions as unpardon-
able Misrepresentation, 'missta tements,'
absolutely false, 'untruthful statements
etc, ad libitum, ad nauseum. To lawyer
this method of meeting difficult issue is
quite familiar, being summed up in a sort
of legal maxim to the effect that when you
have a poor case abuse the other side
And Mr.. Gage has invoked the maxim with
a vengeance. His first complaint OF the
criticisms of the Civil Service Reform
League is in regard to temporary appoint
ments. Quoting the protes, of the league
to the point that the new order permits the
permanent employment of persons employ
ed without examination for emergency pur-
poses during the course of the war with
Spain, thus furnishing a standing list of
many thousands from which positions may
De uueQ WITHOUT tests OF ntneSS, ne de-
nounces the statement as absolutely false.
and after a wholly uncalled-for fling at an
other department of the government-the
civil service commissioning processes to
state what change has been made by the
amendments in this particular. How ac-
curate he is may be determined by a refer
ence to the amendment covering this SUBJ
tect. Here 1t Is, section Is, rule 8: All
persons serving under temporary appoint
ments at the date of the approval of this
section may be permanently appointed, in
the discretion of the proper appointing Off
GER; and the special rule approved January
20, 1899, relative to temporary appointments
In the Navy Department is hereby rescind-
ed
III the English language has any mean
ing the statement of the league as to the
effect of this amendment, instead of being
absolutely false Is absolutely true.
Another criticism which the league
makes, and which seems to hurt is that
concerning reinstatements. This Is as
vicious an amendment as any of the vicious
changes that the order makes, and what
does the Secretary say about 1t? Why,
that this rule, as it is changed, merely puts
into effect what the commission has been
doing, and has been urging upon the de-
partments to cooperate with them in do
ing, with doubtful regard to the rules as
they stood Again, this cabinet officer in
Inmates improper conduct on the part of
President McKinley's civil service commits
sion, and justif1es the making Of a bad rule
by the Observation-Disclosures a good
deed, the whole defense leaves a painful
impression, and it is difficult to understand
how any fairly intelligent person can see
in 1t vindication of a step that, say what
you will, is fiat contradiction of admins
traton professions and pledges.
Il ask every person interested to read
these amendments with a little care, and
they will see that the following significant
changes have been made:
Il. Thousands of persons appointed to
temporary service, without any test of fit
ness, can now be permanently employed
without being subjected to any such tests.
2. Any person can be reinstated in the
service, no matter how long separated
therefrom or for what cause, if an appoint
ing officer so determines.
SO. The exceptions made are, in the MAN,
Of offices scattered all over the country
always filled by those active in local poll
tics, in the interest, of course, of the party
that fed them at the public pie counter,
and 1t Is not violent presumption to con-
Guide We shall see return to the old meth
DDS.
GERS more power and discretion; to the civil
service commission much less, and, as for
merly, when there was no check to the
power and discretion of appointing officers,
we shall see the same subserviency on their
part to the worst of political influences
with the consequent decentralization in the
service.
%. And finally, say what the friends of
the administration will, the amendments
are and will be continued to be regarded as
blow to the merit system, witnessed with
pleasure by those whose trade ii il to sell
and mart their offices for gold ID unde-
servers, and with grief by those who de-
sire to see the government adrninis.e red
upon the principle of justice and AN equal
opportunity to ALL