Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-05

The failure of the administration to main
tain the system as it existed has long been
apparent When President Mckinley was
inaugurated the revised civil service rules
of President Cleveland had been in op-
Grafton for nearly q year To continue to
give these rules effect in the branches
newly classified, the civil service commits
sion required essentially the cooperation
of the appointing officers themselves. In
many cases such cooperation was refused.
In July of 1897 President Mckinney pro-
muIgated an additional rule the effect of
which was that, for the first time, the rea-
sons for removals were required 10 De
stated in writing and an opportunity al
forded the person concerned to make an
explanation-an order which was very gen.
orally, and especially by this league. hailed
with warm satisfaction as an evidence Oh
his support Of civil service reform.
But in many important branches TINS
rule as well as those of earlier date, gov
erning appointments, was practically lg-
nored In the internal revenue service,
and the Department OF justice, IN certain
bureaus of the Interior Department, in the
government printing office and in many OF
the larger post offices and customs as
tricts the rules in general were violated
with mpunity. In both these ana other
branches. moreover, various methods OF
circumventing the law We're pracuced ana
many temporary appointments We're made,
without examinations, 70 be followed ire
Quently by the POSITIVE ldllule VI INC "
partment ofhcers TO ala III SCOUTING Pei mo
nent appointees.
While in those branches of the service
where the law has been longest IN erect
its observance continued TO pc sausl az
tory, the transgressions occurring IN THESE
others have been numerous that an I'M
fortunate tone has been given to the "hole.
Violation of Law Continued.
Respecting the internal revenue service
and the branches of the Department OF
Justice outside Washington, the claim was
made that certain sections of the Revised
Statutes warranted the setting aside of the
civil service law, although the latter was
of subsequent enactment and practically
all-embracng in its scope. The faliacy Oh
this contention was clearly shown by the
civil service commission, in publlshed
brief and no written opinion in its support
has at any time appeared. The violations
of law, however, continued. In every part
Of the country subordinate officers, both
in these two departments and others, main
tanned position of open rebellion against
the authority of the President, and treated
the executive orders with contempt. When
an appeal was made by the civil service
commission TO the Treasury Department to
end this condition by declining to allow the
payment of salary to persons holding posi-
tons Illegally the newly appointed con-
troller Mr.. Tracewell of North Carolina,
gave a remarkable opinion to the effect
that the civil service law had no force
other than that given it by the executive
directly, and that whether persons were APP
pointed in accordance with the law or not
they must be paid their salaries unless the
executive in each case directed otherwise.
Letters were addressed to President Nc
Kinley by this league at various times ask
ing that the necessary steps be taken for
the correction of the abuses developed and
for the discipline of those officers directly
responsible for them. Adequate corrective
measures were not, however, taken, and
so far as the league has been abba to dis
cover in case has an individual voator
of the law been punished. Not only were
but among the unclassified branches remov-
ais for avowedly political reasons were
made sweepingly. A conspicuous example
Of this exists in the consular service, where
90 per cent of the salaried officers were
changed.
The order that 10 now issued condones