The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-05
WAR DEPARTMENT CLERKS.
A ReJoinder to the Criticism of Mr.
FOUILe.


20 TEE Editor OF THE TINES, In tn g
mornings issue Of The Times is printed
an interview with William Dudley FOUlke
newly appointed Civil Service Commis-
siuucT- in. which he makes certain state
msuts concerning the temporary clerks
ROW on duty in the War Department.
and which is but a continuance of at
taChS which have been made against that
r"TDc for some time past. and which VIII
probably continue as long as Jealousy IS
a weakness of ia, human race Mr.
Foulk, is quite right In saying that the
places have practically b,eu made perma-
cont. bat why Simply because a large
numher Of the clerks have been In the
department since 1895 have grown up
with the work. and are thoroughly eff
CieHt iH their duties. and 20 now dispense
with them would only B., To break IN
new set of clerks. who viii be entirely
uUIcCuaiuted with the routine of work
which has been done by the temporary
force before them. There is not a chief
of any department who would cEchlUE,
one Of his two or three year temporary
clerks for dozen called from the list
furnished by the Civil Service CoWInlS-
sion. simply because those he now has
are of 4 known quality while 70 any new
ones which may enter VIII have 20 De- Civ
en- instructions for months 20 come Then
Why should the tried and truSty clerks OF
two and three years experience. and who
worked SO faithfully during the extra
hours during those trying times of lNgS
ass certified by the Civil Service Commls-
sion, do not agree with the statement
when applied tn this class OF clerks that
The competitive system Furnishes better
clerks than those now on duty I'm the War
Department. ana whose names are borne
on the temporary roll in that department
II any doubts exist as TO their clerical
ability and their efficiency suppose they
Doc given au examination Of any line of
work as now performed iE the depart
w.nt. and then axe any comparison
just -raavarfd from the schools that
make a speciality Of preparing applicants
for the limitations for such places ana
vito go Co the examination like "a we'll
drilled soldier secure appointment 20
gI0TkSlIu- and then report for duty only
To De- given Instructions for period COY
erin. months. before being able 10 per-
form the duties required or them
The argument s. ret forth by Mr.. F0ulne
U.s. of very weak form. and does mot iu
the least stand any kind 0t close exc mt
compared with appointments from civil
Service. IsTUs1l Of the reports ui the
Chief Of Ordnance and az the AclulalL
General Of the Army wiil be found inter
uaUy crying about lurflrlrncy Of the tenn
UnTary force Of clerks now doing clerical
duties under the Government The state
mrUr OF SIR EuUlEe that 81 Der cent uL
The appointments made under the patron
20 system have become separated from
THE service ls rather vague one ls led
cheney rather than otherwise. IN the scr
vice Of the Government ar" many WI.
were appointed on the temporary roll
after wears of faithful service ll th,
army. serving In the late Spanish war.
artl who haE, been company Trglmeutal.
and headquarters clerks for many years.
ard whose Familiarity with official pa
uprs and CORES O0deuce has been OF
great value To- tho Government during
the past three years or more. and have
stood faithfully hy the departments when
called upon GO work both night and day
as was the case during the summer and
fan OF Uses. and an this without one cent
Of extra compensation for the sacrltccS
made Uv them and this s. ia. corps OF
clerks whom tho Civil Service would seek
To- call inefficient. simply because they
an, not certified by their llsts-clgrEs
u num they now cry TO have replaced Toy
others with no experience and t1 whom
it viii Doe necessary for months perhaps
years of instruction 10 be- given. Time
and time again have these temporary
clerks been commended FOR efficiency
and as being superior 90 any body of
clerks which may be- certified 20 hD their
positions. and Yet every year comes the
same old cry Let tie Civil Service sup
ply the clerks and let the temporary
possible nat as reward for IDuE. faith
fnI. and efficient service they must be- al
lowed To- drift from the duties they have
performed $50 wei. ike the mist before
the rising SUM- Clerks i'm a similar class
Not many years ago Wer, taken care of.
then why not these Surely their rec
oId- VIII Justify il, and has 1t NOT been
recommended PEEDENNIS.
Washington Nov. &