Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
President Roosevelt and the
Civil Service.
HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Some OF THE ACTS OF HIS AD-
MINIsTRATIoN.
Divorcing of Politics. and of6ce-Regu
lations to Execute the Law in
Spirit as Well as in Letter.

one of the chapters in the republican
hand book. to be issued in the near future,
Will be devoted to a recital OF President
RoOseveits record as civil service re-
former since his entrance in the White
House. There are men who are In close
touch with the records OF the civil service
commission and who have followed the
course Of Mr.. Roosevelt very carefully who
declare that in the first three months of his
administration he has done more to advance
civil service reform than any other Presi-
dent. The republican hand book will indl-
cate just what he has done and will show
that President of the United States ne
has promptly acted In accord with his re-
Communications when civil service COM
missioner.
For Reform of Civil Service.
During the first three months of his ad-
miuistration Mr.. Roosevelt placed within the
classified service the rural free delivery ser
vice of the Post Office Department, with
Its force of nearly $500 employees; the posi-
tions of 1900 employees in field services of
the War Department were restored to that
Service; a plan was inaugurated having in
view the general substitution of superdnten-
dents of Indian training schools. appointed
under civil service rules. for Indian agents;
a rule was promulgated requiring pubic Of
fCerS of the federal service to give testi-
mony under oath or affirmation. before the
civil service commission. In its inyeStiga-
tfOns; abuses In the transfer and renstate-
ment provisions of the rules were corrected;
the rule governing the certihcation Of eligi-
bles was SO amended that advantage could
not be taken of the circumstance that fewer
than three names remained upon a register;
auditing and disbursing officers were forbid
den to pay salaries to persons shown By
the civil service commission to be holding
positions in violation Of the civil service
a. raj nfla h1,-a
been recently issued all common laborers
IN the government service have been put
under a special classification similar to that
In force in navy yards which gives them
protection in their places although they are
not 10y legislation included in the classified
service; federal employees in Porto Rico
nave been included in the classified service
anu Il recent OrG6r relating to promotions
= regarded as one of the most important
dent
II provides that no recommendation for
Ine promotion of any employee in the CLASH
Net service shall be considered by any Off
Ger concerned in making promotions ex-
celI II ne made By the officer or officers
under whose supervision or control the en-
pioye IS serving. Such recommendation by
any other person with the knowledge and
consent of the emplOye shall be sufficient
cauSe Tor debarring him from the pro-
motion proposed, and a repetition of the
onense shall be sufficient cause for rsp,ov-
ing him from the service
Influence of His Personality.
The above contains briefly the chief feat
ures Of President RooseveIts record In
favor of civil service reform during the
hrst three months OF his administration.
Those who have followed the course of
CIVIL service reform since Mr. Roosevelt
beea NE President say that the very fact
that ne was universally regarded as A sin
CeFt ana consistent man. together with the
knowledge possessed by every one con-
Cernlng his lifelong record as a civil serv-
Ice Feformer had the effect of 'bracins mn
tht clvu service everywhere Mr. Roose-
Ie!t had been a stanch civil service re-
former and people said he Is not man
10 change -'--'
u IS said that many officials in order tn
gam MS favor became civil service reform
enthusiasts although in the past they had
been but Iukswarm advocates of the svs
tenn II IS said that today there is a wide
SpFead feeling among postmasters coll
tsSl'rs' etc. mat reappOintment will be
GU u the question unless the civil service
Iulrs are observed by them In the admins
1raji'n Of their offices Fourth-cIass posf
mas eTs are in the future to be removed for
cause oniv and there are many who believe
tsat these public officers Of whom there
az ah"ut 10000. may eventually be brought
within the classified service
Attention IS also called IN tba foot H..
Ehen congress failed to give an additional
3oT@e TO the civil service commission to do
us pressing work. Mr. Roosevelt nrornntI,,
instructed members Of his ca binef IN SIM
Ply the needs. He is also a warm advocate
OF tAt Dol1cy for a reform in the consular
SerEl'A bF making appointments and tenure
20 mat service depend solely upon the SAM
havv e army ana