Evening star., 1902-02-15
Discussing the Census Bill in
the Senate.
TRANSFER OF CLERKS
MR.. LODGE DECLARES 1T UNJUST
TO THE ELIGIBLE LIST.
Speaks in Behalf Of Those Who Have
Passed Civil Service
Examinations.

Ahtr the routine business today the Sen
vi" passed a bill appropriating sl'D,'s1 for
4 public building at Selma. Ala
The Senate then resumed consideration OF
the bill establishing a permanent census
office The pending amendment was that
nf AIR Lodge to amend the paragraph re-
Iating 10 the retention OF employees so that
II would read. THAT all employees of the
twelfth census office at the date of the pas
sage Of this act who are retained in the
employ of the permanent census above the
grade Of skilled laborer shall be, and they
are hereby. placed without further exam
ination under the provisions of the civil
service act"
In response to a suggestion MIR. Lodge
said it was perfectly evident from the pro-
found interest in this measure, both in the
Senate and in the House. that the census
employees had a good deal of political In
iiuence
During the discussion Mr. Tillman said.
langhinsly. that some senators ana repre-
scntatives would get their full share of the
appointments He was sure the senator
from Massachusetts tMr. Lodge would
and he believed he himself would.
Il hope So" replied MIR. Lodge. In the
same vein. NO two senators are more de-
serving" Laughter.)
Il am glad. of course, said Mr. Iiiiman,
ITO be in such good company: but | am
not be even.
Mr. Lodge said there were today 2.2as
employees of the census office. 1ia of whom
were temporary employees who would not
be included in the number to go into the
classified service. Assuming that $40 of
tn" remainder will be retained In the per-
manent census, hat will leave 1.ND or
leo clerks to be ready to be transferred
TO other departments.
Injustice to the Eligibles.
tu me to be a great injustice to the persons
now at the head of the eligible lists, which
positions they have gained by their own
success in the competitive examinations.
1t would deprive all persons at the head of
the eligible lists of any opportunity for ap-
poiutment during the present year. and
compel them TO take another examination.
The United States opens these examina-
Ions t. all it's citizens. and requires that
they should pass the examinations before
they can take a place in the classified ser
vice.
These clerks the eligible lists are now
confronted by .tHD or leo persons arh!-
trarily placed in the classified service, and
who Will have a right to transfer. which
Will shut ont entirely those now on the ell
Eible lists. On the eligible lists are many
soldiers who are now under the law given
preference in appointment, and under this
section they will be deprived of tnat pref
rrence because these transferred clerks W II
be in a better condition for acceptance by
the department.
Senator Gallinger asked il Mr.. Lodge had
turned his attention to some plan to reduce
the numbers on the eligible lists.
The Long Eligible List.
Il called the attention of the civil ser
vice commission" he said. TO this matter
the other day. l was Informed when | in
lrircd about the standing of a young lady
who had passed the prescribed examination
that there We're about 800 persons ahead of
her. II she should live 100 years she could
not he certified under present conditions
| called the attention of the public printer
10 the case of lady who had passed the
examination and found there were $50
others ahead of her. She will soon have to
take another examination and start out
again, and the presumption is that she will
never be certified. and yet all over this
country examinations are being held and
money is being paid ont for them in order
that others may get on the eligible lists.
Eat not one III forty of those who pass the
nominations Will be certified l wish the
senator" continued Mr.. Gallinger, refer
ring 10 Mr.. Lodge. would turn his atten-
ton to some reform to correct these unde-
sirable conditi ions.
Mr.. Lodge replied that he did not think
there was any possible reform that could
prevent American citizens from seeking
government service.
Mr. Galiinger replied that under present
conditions he regarded the civil service ex-
aninations as a trayeSty.
Why the List is Long.
The lists were made long, Mr. Lodge re-
piled. because Of the number Of persons
who apply and succeed in passing the ex-
aminations, and they were not made long
by the commission.
Senator Pettus interrupted to ask whether
people who had been in the service eight
IN months or two years We're not better
lifted Tor the government service than OF h
RS who had merely passed an examination
rs an evidence of their fitness
Alr Cuiom said he knew of several per
SoiiS VINO had passed civil service examina-
tons and had not been able to pass the ex-
animation established for entrance into the
CtESus office.
Mr.. Lodges Rejoinder.
AIR Lodge said that in regard to having
experienced clerks in the census office tor
transfer TO other departments he recalled
one of the important objections he had to
the fifth section of the bill.
There have been" said Mr.. Lodge nine
teen people appointed in the census office
during the present month and 100 have been
appointed within year most of these ia
people having been appointed within SIX
months and 4 large proportion of then
since October. These appointees have taker
The places of experienced clerks. and Ger
ldlHlS IHtE cannot De S1lu 10 De
cnced themselves. / think that Is an in
Justice. | think 1t is unjust to those wht
have taken the examination in due cours,
and stand at the head of the eligible lists
Ii all these clerks We're experienced the
case would be very different. but the Idc
IS many of these appointments have beer
made Very recently.
"A lady came to see me this morning.
continued Mr.. Lodge. She has been in tho
census office over two years and has the
highest testimonials from the officer under
whom she was employed. She has been
cropped because OF the reduction In the ap
ironriat!on. and many others have been
dropped and persons who have been ap-
i'o!nted in the current month have been re
tained.
Now that Is not retaining experienced
clerks. Therefore IL Is not only the ex-
perlenced clerk who is to have the benefit
OF this transfer to the classified Service
but many who have no claim at all to thai
privilege on the ground of experience"
Mr.. Clark of Wyoming suggested that Il
the bin were passed in its present form i
would not result In the transfer of all thes,
clerks whose transfer would depend on th
action Of the head OF department
The head of a department need not accep
them unless he so desired and could cal
the civil service commission for eligible
ii he should prefer to do SO.
proba h1o Tee of TpAuar,o