Evening star., 1901-11-19
CIVILIAN a1o.POSITIONS
Many Under the War Department
Affected.
RESTORED TO CLASsIFIED SERVICE
President RooseveItss Amendment
trEE Il
Orderstssued +
DISCUSSED BY Mr.. PRocTER

DISCUSSED BY MR.. PROCTER
Acting upon a specific request of the Sec
retary OF War, and concurred in unani-
meusly by the members OF the civil service
commission, President Roosevelt today is
sued an order amending rule three Of the
civil service act, thereby restoring to the
classified service about 1,600 civilian posi-
tions In the quartermaster,s, medical, ord
nance and engineering departments. This
is one Of the most important acts OF, Mr..
Roosevelt since he became President. In
memorandum attached to his request Sec
retary Root explains:
Secretary Roots Explanation.
'In May, 1895, the civil service rules were
amended, and the rules as thus amended
remained in force until May %, 1899. The
amended rules Of 1896 provided for the
trades and other non-educational examina-
tions In the different departments and In
dian service. The working of these rules
was in the main satisfactory to the depart
ments concerned. On May %, 1899 by ex-
ecutive order, certain civilian positions III
the quartermaster's, medical ordnance anu
engineer departments were taken out from
the operation Of the existing regulations,
and it was provided that appointments to
these designated positions should hereafter
be made on registration tests or ntness pre-
scribed in regulations to be issued by the
Secretary Of War and approved by the
President.
mo regulations have ever been issued by
the Secretary Of War in regard to these
positions. The result is that the legal status
of all appointees to~these designated posi-
tons is somewhat in doubt owing to the
fact that, no new regulations nave been
prescribed and as the appointments are not
=, Of
regulations, there are no rules or reguia-
tions governing their selection. II regula-
tions were formulated by the Secretary OF
War it would result in two systems running
a dual system Of appointment in the bu-
reaus would be open to serious objection.
Commissioner Proctor Discusses 1t.
President Proctor Of the civil service COM
mission, discussing the act Of the President
this afternoon. said:
Under the old system regulations had
been formulated after consultation with the
engineer department at large governing the
methods of registration examinations for
the field service Of that department apply
ing to the empldtesHtxhe improvement Of
rivers and harboTs throughout the country,
fortifications and all public work under the
Mckinley amendedst the rules SO as to pro-
vide for the adoptfon Of regulations by the
Secretary of warrior for 4 large part of this
force.
mo regulations were made or contem-
plated by the amendment. If there had
been dual systems Of appointment in oper-
ation-one under the old regulations
through the civil service commission and
by the War Department without co-opera-
ton by the commission-such a dual system
would have ,beeb 9pfnff1g. and diunsatIsfac
tory. The amendment just made by Presi-
5sm ssn unser Fsa5a 0s M s Be
m9Ss serSce 0eo1a as 8 it's ma
chinery. The commission has had a great
engineer department because the positions
left {irfdef &fhesrde& and Come Of those ex-
cluded by the ordeE of MAY %, 1899, were
similar IN character and Should have all
been treated alike"
. The. order rof, Mays %, 1880 removing the
positions from =, the, classified service be-
came effective Just about the time that
Asas retired from the
paratively. few changes In the interim.
However, there Was nothing to stand in
the way Of the Secretary of War making
sweeping change and the dismissal, II he
AS it Is now, changes can only be made in
accordance with the, usual rules governing
the civil service.
Clauses Stricken Out.
The four clauses stricken out in accord
ance with President Roosevelt's order are:
ANY person in the quartermaster's de-
partment at large of the United States
army employed as trainmaster. chief pack
er, foreman packeplo lopackmaster, master
baler, foreman of laborers, superintendent
of stables or forage master Appointments
to these positions shall be made hereafter
on registration tests Of fitness prescribed
in regulations to be Issued by the Secretary
of War and approved by the President
ANY person In the medical department
at large Of the United States army employ
ed as chief packer, packer. or assistant
packer. Appointments to these positions
shall be made hereafter registration
tests Of fitness prescribed In regulations to
be issued by the Secretary Of War and ap-
proved by the President.
Amy person in the ordnance department
at large of the United States army employ
ed as foreman, ASSISTANT foreman, forage
master, weigher, skilled laborer, guard or
on piecework. Appointments to these posi-
tions shall be made hereafter on registra-
ton tests Of fitness prescribed in regula-
tions to be issued by the Secretary of War
and approved by the President
ANY person In the engineer department
at large of the United States army EN-
ployed as subnspect0r, overseer, suboyer-
seer, superintendent master lock manager,
deputy lock manager. assistant supertn-
tendent Of canal, chief deputy Inspector
deputy inspector, 'rodman, stadiaman
chairman. foreman. timekeeper, lock mas
ter. assistant lock master, custodian, store
keeper, fort keeper. torpedo keeper. assist
ant torpedo keeper, light keeper, board
master, subforemap. master laborer, gauge
reader, steward dam tender, assistant dam
tender. helper, carpenters helper, machin-
lists helper, quarry master, blacksmith's
helper, climber, barge master, recorder of
vessels, track man, gardener, assistant gar
dener or weigher.: Appointments to these
positions shall be made hereafter on regis
tration tests Of fitness, prescribed in regu-
War and approved By 1ehe President" u
Building permits Issued.
Building permlqHHl Sae issued today as
follows: IN r-I4,x