New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-22
NAVAL CIVIL SERVICE.
AN ORDER ISSUED BY PRESIDENT
MKINLEI.
HE PAYS A HIGH COMPLIMENT TO THE
Observation-Disclosures BY THE
CIVIL, SERVICE COMMISSION.
fnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l

| NAVY on the one hand and the Army, the
! other which has been generally attributed to
the difference Of military systems In the two
! services but Is also affected to a great extent
/ by widely divergent methods Of civil admins
traton. has just been conspicuously recognized
| by the President and the Civil Service Com
mission. The total absence o; scandal in the
Navy during the war, although the organization
afoat was confessedy antique and insufficient
to meet modern conditions, as indicated by the
necessity for the radical legislation contained in
the Naval Personnel bill which passed the
House of Representatives this week was lnhu-
enced in great degree by the mpartlality OF the
executive head Of the Navy. who made every
personal sacrifice TO the end that every posi-
bility Of friction might be minimi7ed, and who
acted always with an utter disregard Of the
enormous political pressure which. unresisted,
has caused such disaster in the volunteer army.
Secretary Long was particularly sollcitous that
the sudden expansion Of the civilian force of the
Navy, both in the Department and I'm the shore
stations should be governed wholly by consid-
| erations Of merit, and his refusal to surrender
to the Establishments of applicants with pulls"
produced results which are to-day above criti-
cism. All appointments were made after more
or less investigation OF the qualifications OF APP
plicants the thoroughness of the examination
being in inverse ratio to the exisencies OF the
occasion. II after appointment the appointee
proved qualified he retained, but incom-
petent employees were speedily weeded out.
THE PRESIDENTS ORDER.
The great benefits which accrued to the Gov
eminent through the exercise of this just re-
gard for the efficiency OF the naval organization
is shown in the special rule of President Nc
Kinley, which reached the Navy Department
to-day. This order is as follows:
Executive Mansion,
Washington. January 20 1919.
Especial Rule)
Persons appointed temporarily under the pro-
visions of Rule VIII. Clause H. of the Clvi
Service rules. in the Navy Department may De
treated as absolutely in the CLASSIFIED CIVIL ser
vice under the following conditions .,.- -
l. That such persons entered on duty prior 10
September TO- 1898 and have been continuously
in the service. -.
Q That the services of such persons nave
proved satisfactory TO their immediate superlors
who shall certify that they cannot De ulspenSeu
with without detrimcnt to the public interests.
g That such persons shall have attained an
efficiency record Of - for six months ended De
cember 81 1893, under the provisions OF Na va
Departmental order No. 10, adopted by 'he
Commission July ~, lS9O.
such persons shall not be eligible for transfer
to positions in the Departments al NaShihsLon
except after service Of SIX months anu u IT
the conditions prescribed In civil service RUE
and upon a statement by the head or the
Department requesting the transfer that me
conditions Of good administration demand me
appointment OF the person nominated because
of some special requirement Of the place or qual-
incation Of the person for the place which can
not otherwise he reasonably met.
Every absolute appointment under this RUE
shall he reported TO the Civil Service Commits
SION in the usual monthly reports Of the De-
partment ,,,,,,,.,,y
Approved: WILLIAM M hl4'i1i'
MR. LONG TO THE COMMISSION.
Tho correspondence which led to the Presi-
dents compliment to the Navy Department Is
instructive
The civil Service Commission on October q
called the attention Of the Navy Department to
the fact that the period for which the temporary
clerical appointments were approved had ex-
nIred and requested to be Informed whether
and why any temporary appointees were still
retained in the Navy Department, navy yards
and naval stations. Secretary Long in reply
under date of November II, said
desire to state that during the Spanish
American War the Department was compelled to
make temporary emergency appointments with
out the approval Of the Civil Service Commits
sion previously obtained, in order to meet
promptly the urgent demands from time TO time
that the clerical and other classified force be in
creased at once. When the emergency period
thirty days-expired existing conditions de-
manded the continuance Of these temporary en-
plOyes In the service. The department on May
% 1898 addressed TO the President letter, OF
which the following IL a copy. and. AS will be
seen the recommendations contained therein
met with his approval:
Navy Department Washington. May 2S, 1875.
Sir: The Department has temporarily appointed
number Of clerks, copyists, stenosraphers, type
the Department here and ~ the various
navy Yards naval stations ETC., within taes
the time Of appointment were needed at
once and the prelimnaries Of Civil Service rules
he 81 " embarrassing
the United states Civi Service Commission fire.
quently declining to accept temporary employment
al the rate of pay allowed: The limit Of ninety
employees have become familiar enough with their
duties to make Themselves far more useful ana
requests that the limit Of ninety days for temporary
appointments thus made he extended until the
emergency which caused their employment ceases.
recommend that the United states Civil ayiee
CeTnng tbes ee fmpoyes with the
that the Department will continue In the course 1t
viii not be made Unless the formal prellminarles
required by the civil Service rules will In the 1uds-
mcnt OF the Department, cause embarrassing delays
in procuring promptly the services OF persons Tor
temporary positions , XeTy respecGtiiHnlly orotor
dndorsemenU Executive Mansion.
Approved May q, 1898. WILLIAM MKlNLEY.
The necessity for the Increased force still
exists and is likely to continue for indefinite
period 1t is desirable that the service Of such
OF hose temporary employees az have proved
satisfactory DC continued untl lnty can w us
pensed with without detrlment to the Depart
ments interests. The experience gained by
them makes their services practically indis-
spensable | respectfully recommend that those
who attain an efficiency record Of - for the six
months ending December 81 1898 under the
provisions OF the departmental order No. Ii, be
considered as having a satisfactory examina-
ton and that this examination he considered as
equivalent and In lieu Of formal successful
Civil Service examination, and that upon the
presentation to the Commission Of copy Of
ouch efficiency record In each case, accompanied
by the recommendation Of the Secretary OF the
Navy, that the temporary emplOye represented
thereby he certified as eligible for appolntmnt In
the classified service, that such employe be
certified TO the Navy Department.
/ respectfully request that this letter be pre-
sented to the President and hope In the In
tnrnsts Of good admin tom that n r.lll