The evening times., 1900-02-14
INEFFICIENCY OF CLERKS
Improvement Of the Public Service
Discussed in the House.
Propositions for Wedding Out Unde-
sirabIe Employees From the Nnri-
GUS Departments-A Tenure OF Of
flee Limited 30 Ten Years Suggest
ed-Rap at the civil Service System

In the House today. Mr. Mann of Illi-
nois presented the report OF Elecyons
Committee No. ] in the case of William F.
Aldrich VS. CASTOR A. Robbins. from the
Fourth Alabama District, recommending
that Aldrich be seated. The views Of the
minority were submitted by Mr.. Bartlett
OF Georgia.
Mr. Hemenway of Indiana. in charge OF
the Legislative. Executive. and Judicial ap-
preparation bill, moved that the House go
into Committee OF the Whole for its con-
sideration. Pending that motion. the usual
effort was made. to securo an agreement 10
close general debate. which soon involved
the Porto Rican Bill as vel as the ap-
preparation bill. All suggestions met OBJ
lection from some member. and hnally the
motion to go into Committee OF the Whole
was agreed to. without any understanding
regarding the debate
Democrats wanted two days general de
bate. with the understanding that the
Porto Rican bill sh0uld be taken up Mon
day next. II there was 10 be but one days
debate on the pending bill they wanted
the Porto Rican bill taken up on Saturday
the debate to extend until week from
Monday next.
As a result OF the disagreement, Mr..
PAYNE OF New York Chairman Of the Com
ulittee on Ways and Means. gave notice
that he would call UP the Porto Rican bin
after the reading Of the journal next Mon,
day.
Mr. Hemenway briefly explained the pro-
visions Of the Appropriation bill 10 the
House. In the course Of his statement. he
said that Notwithstanding The specific Ian
gusge Of the law Of last year, incompetent
clerks are retained in Office and that under
present conditions they would likely re-
main. He mentioned one instance where
the head OF a division ondeavOred 10 dis
miss an incompetent clerk Fourteen Sena-
tors and a large number OF Represcnta-
tivcs. he said. called upon the head OF that
division and insisted upon the retention
Of that incompetent clerk.
MI Hemenway saw no remedy for this
condition Of things except the establish
meut OF a tenure Of Office. limited 10
term OF years. and reappOintment at the
end Of the term II found stiu efficient.
II that we're done. he said. the number Of
places in the service Instead Of being in
creased 16S as was done in the pending
bill. could be reduced from .O00 TO 1900.
Regarding the temporary force recently
appointed, whose services were needed by
reason Of the existence OF the Spanish war
and the Filipino instruction, Mr. Hemen-
way said the testimony Of the Department
officials was 10 the effect that they were
superior in efficiency TO those furnished
by the Civil Service Commission. The
men were. as 8 rule, younger. and better
adapted TO the work TO which they were
assigned
Mr.. Moody OF Massachusetts. reviewed
the circumstances surrounding the enact
ment Of the provision in the bill last year
and repeated in this that no money should
be available for the payment OF any per
SONS permanently incapaciJated from per-
forming public service. He said it large
~ grew out Of the attempt OF the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury 70 establish what was
virtually a civil pension list.
Another thing was the statement a the
Commissioner OF Pensions TO the subcom-
miJtee IN charge Of the bill. that II he could
select the clerks he could reduce the force
OF his bureau by one hundred without
detriment to the service. The subcommit-
tee said he would have 20 do IL anyhow
ana reduced the number OF clerks in the
bureau by 100
The very FIRST clerk selected by the Com
missioner for dismissal said Mr. Moody.
amid laughter, brought 10 the Commission
er one Of the subcommittee which ordered
him to make the reduction, 10 protest
against her removal.
The mandatory provision Of the law OF
last year, continued Mr. Moody had been
ignored by the executive officers. they de-
fed Congress as a whole upon the s0iici-
tation or representation OF individual mem
bers Of Congress He was a friend Of civil
service reform. he said. but unless Cor
gTess did something 20 relieve the service
from superannuated and incompetent
clerks. the service would break down
Replying to "A question. Mr.. Moody said
added that he was in favor % compelling
heads Of departments 20 dismiss incom-
petent employees.
General Grosvenor or Ohio called atten-
tion 10 the fact that by Executive order
issued within q year AT the instance Of the
Civil Service Commission. the head OF
department was specifically prohibited
from discharging an employe for incompe-
tence-
Mr. Moody did not accept Mr. GrOsve-
nors Interpretation Of the order. but as
serted that 81 Incompetence was not nov
sufficient grounds for dismissal, Congress
ough 10 make IL so.
Mr. Bell of Colorado. 4 member OF the
Committee on Appropriations. occupied
the hour allotted to him under the rules
in making a speech against the practice
Of making Government deposits in ma
tiOnal banks without receiving from them
the same percentage that the banks paid to
private customers on their daily balances.