The Washington times., 1901-08-19

cent, seventeen haG received between 20 and S
per cent, and only six had exceeded their quota
| The report calls attention to the larg
number of positions in the Internal Reve
nue. Service which are excepted from tn.
| provisions of the civil service rules an,
expresses the belief that thc d, ST inter
ests of the service require that at leas
| all deputy collectors serving at the head
| quarters of the district. with the eXcep
ton, perhaps. of the chief deputy. ant
also all deputies who have practically per
manent locations at different points in
the district, should be returned to tn,
competitive classified service. The report
says:
II is believed that the branch Of the Govern
ment charged with the important duties of tn,
| correction OF revenue should be placed upon III,
! same business basis as prevails in the Railway
| hail service as a result of a rigid and conscien-
| tlous application and observance of the civil
| service law and rules.
An argument is presented in favor of
FEWER exceptions in the service in general.
Particular attention is called to the
matter of the payment of salaries to per-
| sons appointed in violation of the pro-
visions of the Civil Service law, and de-
/ cisions of the Comptroller of the
! Treasury are cited to show that a per-
, son who holds a position contrary to the
| provisions of the Civil Service law is not
legally in the service and should not be
| recognized by dishursing officers of the
! Government as being entitled to salary"
| AS to investigations it is stated that
! owing TO the inadequate force of the
! Commission and appropriation for the
! purpose, II has not been possible to sat
| isfactorily make investigation and inspec-
| ton in many cases requiring the same in
! order to secure a full observance of the
/ law. Special mention is made of the in
vestigaticn of the case of alleged viola
! tions of the provisions of the law against
| political assessments during the Ohio
State campaign of 1899 which investiga-
On mi fa1 fr,rf hA n =
year. The Commission laid before the
Attorney General the facts which il
found and raised two questions for the
consideration of the Department of
Justice. a. whether the fact of member
ship of the political committee which
makes solicitations from Government Of
ficers constitutes a solicitation within the
meaning of the Civil Service act, and ~
whether the sending of letters of solicit
tation into Federal building constitutes
a solicitation in a Federal building with
in the meaning of the Civil Service act
The report states: The Commission
deemed ii particularly important and de-
sirable that a judicial determination be
secured of this second question, and
hoped the same might be had from this
case" The facts are given in the case
of Wallace L. Turney. which was investi-
gated by the Commission and reported to
the Department of Justice. and Turney
was indicted and convicted for n violation
of the provisions of law against Solicita-
ton of contributions for political pur-
poses.
In giving a summary of the result of
the investigation of alleged irregulari-
ties. including political assessments, ii
the Fifth internal revenue district CT
Kentucky, the report says:
The investigation also seemed to show knowl-
edge and tacit approval of the system Of assess
ment the part of the collector. The
whole matter was submitted TO the President
with the recommendation for the removal OF
the collector and of the assignment clerk.
. The matter was also submitted TO the
Attorney General for appropriate action. The
Commission is informed by the Attorney General |
that this case was presented TO the grand Jury |
at Louisville in November. 1900 and that that |
body, after a most thorough investigation OF |
the case. decided TO ignore the complaints.
A summary of the case of the prosecu- |
ton of Harry w. Bates for falsely making |
and forging a writing for the purpose of |
defrauding the United States, and also |
of that of Rev. l.. ID. Bass for a fraudu- |
lent use of the mails. are also given.
Concerning the latter, who was con- !
victed in the local courts and sentenced |
to three years Imprisonment and fine
of Sl,oo0. the report says:
During the past year complaint was
made TO the Commission that one Rev.
l.. D. Bass. D. D.. operating under an al
reau of Civil Service Instruction. was
defrauding persons of money who desired
to obtain positions in the classified ser
vice, upon the pretence of securing for
for their money. AS this matter seemed
to be one within the provisions of section
$50 of the Revised Statutes, against the
use of the mails 10 exploit a scheme to
defraud, it was referred to the proper au-
thorities of the Postoffice Department.
After a hearing, the Postmaster General,
in the exercise of his authority. issued
an order prohibiting the delivery of mail
TO Bass or his institution, such order be-
ing known as a fraud order. Through the
proper authorities the matter was also
laid before the grand jury, and that body
found an indictment.
Special communication IS given to a cir
,ular issued by the Attorney General
Inder date of August 20, 1900, containing |
he following clause:
1t is recommended that all officers and employees
II the departments refrain from membership aud
ervice political committees charged with the |
collection and disbursement of campaign funds.
After reciting the circumstances which
ed up to the passage of the Civil Service
let and setting forth the provisions of
hat act for open competitive eXamina-
ions for testing the fitness Of applicants |
or the public service and for filling posi-
ions in the service by selection from
hose graded highest as a result of such
competitive examinations, the report says:
Under these provisions open competitive ex-
limitations have continued to grow more and
more varied and complicated as the classification
las expanded, until now practically every char
icter OF ability required in the administration
means. The number Of appointments from the
shown by the statistical mat
er in the appendix, has kept pace with the eX-
ension OF the classification until for this report
ear nearly 1900 persons, whose capacity and |
hiiity have been previously demonstrated were |
dded 10 the ranks of Government employees |
The aggregate salaries Of the positions now in |
he classified service. numbering about $1,000 |
nd to be reached only through competitive eK- |
approximate s75,np0.Oo0 per annum
lille the salaries OF all unc,assified positions in
l.
numbering slightly over 10000 are estimated not
0 exceed 100000, Of which over co per cent |
for the compensation Of the s,i29 Presidential |
ostnasters and the a. l65 postmasters Of fourth |
lass Offices. Attention is called 20 the |
act that the practice has become more and |
nore prevalent of selecting for appointment from |
the person having the highest aver
&c, regardless of other considerations until at |
he present time il is estimated that this course |
pursued in from Is TO 50 per cent Of all APP .
Ointments in the competitive classified | .
arvice. Many department officials have
tated that result OF the ex- ,
held by the Commission they ,
cure very satisfactory and competent assistants
ilese statements emphasized By the records. | ,
hich show that in entire parts OF the ser
ice much less than ] per cent Of the persons
ppointed from examination are dropped at the .
nd Of their probationary trial appointment. :
he records also show that the number OF COM .
laints based upon alleged discrimination for ,
olitical religious opinions affiliations in
laking promotions reductions. disinisssIls has
ecreased very materially, especially since the
OF the rule Of July q, 1897, above
sferred to. From all the evidence which the |
has been able to obtain it seems
D be clearly apparent that in those parts of