The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-05
TO ENFORCE MERIT TESTS
w. ID. Foulke and Richard II. Dana
Call OH the President.
Plans for the Improvement OF the
Civil Service system Discussed
with Mr.. McI<inley-The Problem
Presented by JnskIIied Lnborers.


Presented by UnsisIIied Laborers.
William Dudley Foulke, of Indiana, and
Richard H. Dana, of Boston. represent
ing a committee of the National civil Ser
vice Reform League. saw the President
Yesterday, in company with John Joy
Edison. in regard to civil service matters.
The League will not antagonize Commits
sioner Rodenberg because of his action
in voting against the appropriation to sus-
tain the commission. His name was Incl
dentally mentioned, however, at the con-
ference yesterday.
The committee remained wah the PreSi-
dent for nearly two hours, during which
time a large number of matters pertain
ing to abuses of the system and plans
for its improvement were discussed. Ihe
committee sported to the President upon
a considerable number of individual cases
which have been carefully investigated
and will submit further data and details
concerning them in order that the Presi-
dent may he fully informed before taking
any action. The work is entirely Nolun-
tary on the part of the members OF the
League and is quite vouminous. The pur-
pose of the organization is only to i'm
prove the efficiency of the service. to see
that the law is enforced, and provide for
the protection of those employees of the
Government who are upon the CLASSIFIED
lists.
The League has inaugurated a move
ment which was urged upon the President
to include all unskilled laboreVs in every
department of the Government under civil
service rules. The matter has been un-
der consideration by civil service reform
ers for some time and it is thought that
SFl. rnlu- has
examination for the position Cf unskilled
laborer would scarcely be practicable and
in consequence a scheme of registration
has been suggested. 1t has proposed that
all aspirants for such positions shall file
an application which shall be registered.
and all other things being equal vacancies
shall be filed by those first on the list
The purpose of the plan is, however, that
preference in appointment shall be gwen
to married men over single men, to vet
Grams over those who have not been in
the service, and to those who have spe-
cial adaptation for the work to be re-
quired of them over those who have no
skill in such directions. Physical and
other qualifications are, of course. TO be
considered in all cases BY this means il
is expected that al positions of unskilled
laborers shall be taken out of politics
and appointments made under the method
of first come first served.
The adoption Of this plan would place
thousands OF men who are now obligated
To political influence for their positions.
under the classified service. 1t is said
also that there are manv men appointed
as Unskilled laboTers who. after their
special adaptability is discovered, are en-
plOyed at clerical work, which is Vio-
lation of the civil service rules. 1t is
thought that this could be eliminated by
Incorporating the unskilled laborers under
the civil service.
A plan very much similar to that pro-
posed is employed in Boston, where all
common labOrers. including street clean
crs, park workmen, lamp lighters, and all
others are registered. As soon there
is vacancy an appointment is made from
the first man on the list of applicants,
provided he is capable of performing the
work required The President expressed
much interest in all that the committee
had to say, and promised to give the va
rious matters due consideration.
II Is within his power to place all I'M
skilled laborers under The civil service
rules, as proposed by the League. and
although he made no promises in this
respect yesterday. the members of the
committee Were led to believe that they
will ultimately succeed in accomplishing
this Improvement in the service.
The matter Of placing fourth-class post
rules is still being agitated bv the mem
bers of the League and oshars interested
IN civil service reform, and they conf I
IDENTIFY believe that they will finally see
both OF these important branches Of the
service taken out of politics. These mat
tcrs Were not however. touched upon at
Ih- conference yesterday
MIR. Edison said LAST night, however
that while the appointment Of Mr.. Ro-
denbeTg had been discussed during the
conference, the committee had entered no
formal objection.
Mr.. Rodenberg is certainly not the
man the League would have chosen" said
Mr.. Edison. Our objection was mainly
due To the fact that he voted against an
appropriation for the maintenance of the
Civil Service Commission. which was suf-
iicient evidence that he was not the proper
man for the place of Civil Service Com
missioner. The committee was given to
understand, however, that Mr. ROden-
berg views have undergone a complete
change and that there is no reason. in
1act. WIZ he should not be appointed.
The conference was not made for the
purpose of discussing the appointment
and the matter was only mentioned in a
general way. Knowing the President TO
l. an ardent civil service advocate, and
believing that he would not appoint man
to the place for party or other reasons
who was even lukewarm. We had decided
prior to the conference not to protest
against his choice