Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-17
SEC. GAGE REPLIES
CONTINUED from page ID


is put to extremes 20 obscure former
misrepresentation which were made
with preciptancy
| Let me say that when the act OF
| March 81. 1898, was passed providing
I for 65 additional clerks in this depart
| ment it contained no specific provis-
! ions as to how the appointments
should be made. From that date to
July T. 1898, every appointment to the
| class indicated was made in strict ac-
cord with the civil service law.
ION July Z, 1898. however. Congress
provided that these employees should
| be appointed without compliance with
the conditions prescribed by the civil
| service act. Even after the law was
passed this department construed its
provisions to mean that the appoint
! ing power could go where it wished
for clerical material barring OF course
the commissioners list
Instead Of rcsorting to the country
at large for this entire temporary force
I conceived it to be my privilege, I'M
der the law. to transfer from the reg
ular department service a number OF
experienced and valuable CLERKS. They
mad come into the treasury department
in strict accord with the civil service
law ana when they were transferred
to the temporary roll they left va
cancics which could only bc filed IN
accordance with the civil service law.
can he fnd anything in this action
inimical to the. spirit Of the civil ser
vice Act? -Ict me state for his better
information that this construction OF
mine did not accord with that which
Congress placed upon the act, for, by
The legislative appropriation pin. ar
proved Feb a 1899. the legislative au-
,hority dccrrtd that places upon tn
temporary roll which had been filled
hv transfers from the regular depart
rrnt service. should ~ vacated on or
bcfor" tbs first DAG N July This year
SEE. Gag says ;hat he BELIEVES I'D
the principles which tn" citl Service
Reform I.eagua ls mend VI I'D foster
and Protect aHI that In kcenly re-
crets that instead of receiving sympa-
thrt!r ENCOURAGEMENT from that body,
cnly cIptiaus criticism .- accorded.
Continuing. Seq. Gacr says.
WI might wl,h rrJpritty inquire as
ta ihr bearing M you. secretary
statement that u sIn w Au assiStaU.
secretary Was appointed rn TN. tempe
rary ruii exempt As ID was by laW from
the appointed classified service. Ha~
;hr iarJ-it !. D- * fdct-anything to te
with tine observation pr the violation
ae ,he c!vli service i-W- l respectfully
submit that such ,vil noes are poo. I
support TN Till main proposition. ana
justify suspicion as to the sincerity ~
nis purpose.
Another specification he presents
I.rl,ima,. I'm kind IL IA Will hnit to-
sathrr-.s ~ follows: 'You displaced
Three chiefs uf th- bureau nt statistics.
maklu- nu charges ana giving no Pea
sun. except thIt ypu wished ,ht posi-
zion for another. ctC.
..I. ts true that th- gentleman wdS
ASKED fur Ills resignation. Hr Was 81
.nr same tim. assured, however. that
II. uas III liberty III decline the rc-
quest If H. sp desired"
IN regard W. the decision that per
sons placed In positions in any branch
III disregard IN Ia" civil service rules
SHAH nm; h- deemed ,o have ncen ar
pointed In violation M law, ana
should BE- paid th,l- salaries Az though
introduced tl th. service in "a wholly
regular manner. IA regard En- Which III
secretary of yne league made adVcrs"
Comment. : ac. a. g- says.
THE rpmptrrl-r WI tha treasury. tn"
man who made IN, decision of which
you complain wh.Ic related to the
treasury departments. IS the most indie
pendent person. lid TIL Pres. Grant onca
said the onlr way IA change the dec.s-
I1u NJ thc comptroller of the treasury
is u chang the comptroller from his de-
cisions The secretary has mn appeal.
Ills decision the secretary must obey.
Your secretary speaks also of his de-
.iSian as IN action for which the treas
ury department is responsible, and
characteriz-s IL az perhaps the most
damaging u the merit system n bc
charged ~ thr treasury department.
"If 50 ann uu more responsible for
Il than would 10 II ii were decision
from the supreme court.
u nave made analysis az the sub
stantial part nj the letter. | have en-
lcavoryd IN make clear what he has
ahscured. Those who real /: must
Judge.
In the National Civil Service Re
form League those VINO administer the
law ought t. find an intelligent and
| conscientious adviser. a consideratc
just friend.
TIN tho Two communications submit
led by your secretary on behalf of thai
body he furnishes evidence that it can
not be classed in either category.