Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-26
How Mr.. Eryan's Civil Service Scheme
Would Work.
A DEM0RALIzED DISCIPLINE
The Ruination Of the Capitals Ma
teriaI Interest Certain.
THE CLERKS ARE UNEASY

The speeches of Mr.. Bryan on the civil
service-the one delivered in this city four
years ago and the one Tuesday-have
caused much talk in the departments and
among business men of the city, both In
terests being largely Identical In the de-
partments there is some CONSERVATION at
the prospects Of Mr. Bryan's success, dem
ocratic clerks sharing this feeling with the
republicans. The idea of fixed tenure of
office is not pleasing even to democratic
clerks, who remain in their positions unmo-
Tested and have no fear of the future so
long they faithfully perform their duties.
An old employee of the treasury talked to
representative of The Star about the
speech, the feeling it has created and the
comments he has heard. He said:
Alarming Possibilities.
1.-The effect Of Mr.. Bryans position would
be alarming if he should become President
and is already creating uneasiness among
the clerks. 1t is aimed directly at the
present stability of tenure in office. He is
reported as saying that he believes that a
system Of civil service might be devised
wherein appointments would be made upon
merit and wherein the apDointees would
hold for a fixed term, and not be dependent
upon the will Of an appointing officer There
Is satisfaction in his wanting merit sys-
tenn, but the theory of a fixed term would
be system of doubtful value. and especial
ly SO If the clerks position were to be
made, as Mr.. Bryan suggests, not depend
ent upon the will Of an appointing officer.
Under this theory there would be no dis
cipline. The clerk, when called upon to ex-
ecute an order against his judgment, could
say, You are powerlesS to remove me; l
disagree with you on a policy, and the fact
that under the law you cannot dismiss me
makes me judge of my duties The pow
or to int CHI yoy,11y hn 70
remove There is no doubt of that The
present system has ample provisions to
prevent the appointment Of persons unless
they have merit, and there are also plenty
Of safeguards to prevent undue removals.
The Laws Safeguard.
This safeguard is the law passed to regu-
late and improve the civil service of the
United States, and the rules made to put
that law into practical operation, which
provide that no removal shall be made
from the competitive class except for just
cause and for reasons to be given in writ
ing, the person to be given a copy of the
reasons and to have an opportunity to an
swer in writing. 1t was put into the civil
service rules by President Mckinley on
July 81 1897, and modified and extended
May %. 1899. The present law and rules
are ample to provide good material for
clerks and ample to protect the worthy
and to rid the service of the unworthy. l
think to change the law that clerks at
the end of one, two, three, four or more
years would go out of the service by the
expiration of their term of office would be
an expensive experiment, degrade the serv-
ice from the present high state of efficien-
cy, increase the number of Offices and rem
der the heads of the departments impotent
to manage public affairs.
Eject on the City of a Fixed Tenure.
1.-The subject has been much discussed
10 lavkC civ fh@
Bryan. They say that if the stability of
tenure is gone that their homes go with it !;
if they must go out that it is useless to
buy or build homes; that if now an debt
for their homes they must abandon the
idea OF ever paying for them; that it will
not do to throw good money after bad
The change would result in throwing thou
sands of houses in this beautiful city upon
the market. The city would pass from a
city Of thrifty persons, owning ana buying
homes, to one of cheap boarding houses
The clerks would no longer help to build
up the city, as their interests would be
transitory
Before Mr.. Bryan's speech the clerks,
whether democratic or republican, felt that
If Mr.. Mckinley were reelected they would
retain their positions and receive promotion
on merit alone. they know that under
the civil service rules no person can be
dismissed or reduced in class or pay by
reason of his or her political or religious
ton of 1884 most of the clerks were of the
same political faith. The civil service law
mad just commenced to operate, and the
excitement due to the assassination of
President Garfield had subsidized, wnen it
was found that a democratic President had
been elected. There was a panic among
the clerks, for they thought their time mad
come. Suddenly the President-elect. Mr..
Cleveland, came out with a declaration
that all clerks had to do was to attend To
their ofhcial duties and there would be no
trouble. This declaration caused the
troubled waters to Subside at once and
when Mr.. Cleveland was reelected in 1900
there was no panic.
Reassured the Clerks in 1897
When Secretary Gage came in he put tie
minds of the clerks at rest He expressed
his opinion that it was alleged that the
restrictions of the civil service law had
been violated, and that 1t had been charged
that capable clerks were removed by rea-
son of political influences, and the re-
sulting vacancies filled by less capable ap-
pointees. II that be so it is an example to
be summed, and not an example to be imi-
tated. The effect was beneficial, and OBJ
Grated to quiet the clerks The example
gradually had its effect. The Treasury de-
partment has not deviated from the pol
icy and good service is the result. Any
radical change in policy or a modification
of law would greatly disturb the minds of
the clerks, and to a degree beyond words
10 describe. Inc clerks Will instantly stop
al expenditures not absolutely necessary
for immediate and urgent needs, and get
into light marching order. The effect on
the public service will be that as the times
of the clerks expire there will be a con-
slant rush for influence to have the term
renewed; as 1 assume there will be a pro-
vision for reappointment.
Should there be no provision for reap
pointment the effect on the public service
would be very disastrous, as the trained
men would be constantly disappearing from
the service, and the money spent in train
ing them would be lost. while the incom-
ing stream would have no experience, and
the efficiency of the force would be lowered
to an alarming degree