Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-10-03
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
How a One Time Supporter Has
Become a Destroyer.
DISCHARGE OF REBEooA TAYLOR

DISCHARGE OF REBECOA TAYLOR
President ROoaeveIt Follows the
Lead OF the German Emperor-Free
speech Denied 10 All Employees OF
the Government whO DO Not sInR
the Gangs Praises.
Civil service reform has been brought
20 its lowest ebb by the order issued by
President Roosevelt. This Is the moro
extraordinary In that when the presI-
dent held his first office OF civil service
commissioner under President Cleve-
land he was most stanch supporter OF
the most strict construction OF the law.
Under the present administration OF
the law by the Republicans there has
been complete reversal OF the record
ON the subject. and the partisans who
now control the departments have full
sway to promote the efficiency OF the
service" by getting rid OF those under
them who raise word OF protest
against the policy OF the Republican
party on any question. The case OF
Miss Rebecca Taylor. who criticised
the political policy OF President Roose-
Welt In his administration OF the Ph
lppine Islands and was summarlly
missed from the service for so doInl q
sample case under the new ruling
that the president has set up. No
charges against her character or work
were made by the war department. In
fact. there is every evidence That she
was most exemplary employee OF the
government
The rule as now laid down by the
president IL that the partisan chiefs OF
bureaus are to be Judge and jury OF the
fitness OF the clerks under them and
that the least show of independent
thought will be cause for dismissal.
This will result I'm the removal OF all
the Democratic clerks in the govern
ment service unless they bow the knee
and keep their mouths shut OH imperi.
alism, the protection OF the trusts.
Cuban reciprocity and ship subsidies.
Most OF ali. they must not utter
any word that would reflect on the
presidential dOings and sayings. That
would be leze majesty.
That was the crime that Miss Rebcc.
Gu Taylor committed. III we can Judge
10y the facts I'm the case. ON May ID
communication from her appeared I'm
the Post OF Washington. i'm which she
criticised the speech OF President
Roosevelt delivered before the Sons OF
the American Revolution on THE Flag
Shall Stay Put"
This communication evidently came
to the notice OF President Roosevelt.
for few days after IL appeared Sec
rotary Root notified the chief OF tho
bureau I'm which Miss Taylor was em-
ployed TO ask her If she had written
the communication I'm the Post This,
or course. was an official formallty, as
her name was signed TO it. and she ac-
knowledged that she wrote Il. Her
dismissal did not follow at once, hut
on June : she was notified that she had
been dropped from the rolls.
During this time, from May IL until
June S, the president made new and
extraordinary ruling Ola tho civil serv-
Ice. as follows:
CIVIL SERVICE RULING.
Whereas certain MISUNDERSTANDING have
existed I'm regard 10 the proper construc-
ton OF section OF civil service rule z
which provides AK follows:
No removal shall be made from tho
competitive classified service except for
just cause and for reasons given In writ
Ing. and the person sought 20 be removed
shall have notice and be furnished "A copy
or such reasons and be allowed "A reason
able time for personally answering the
same In writing. Copy OF such reasons
notice and answer and OF the order OF re-
moval shall be made n part or the records
or the proper department or office. and
the reasons for any change In rank or
compensation within the competitive
classified service shall also be made
part Of the records OF the proper depart
mont or ONCE"
Now. for the purpose OF preventing all
such misunderstandings and improper
construction OF said section IL liz hereby
declared that the term lust cause as
used in section 8. civil service rule 2 IL
intended 20 mean any cause other than
one merely political or religious which
will promote the efficiency OF the service
and nothing contained in said rule shall
DO construed to require the examination
OF witnesses any trial or hearing ex-
cept In the discretion OF tho officer maxi
Ing the removal.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
White House.
Approved May 20. 1902.
1t is impossible TO escape the convic-
ton that this ruling was made express
ly TO cover the case OF Miss Taylor. 1t
for the president and Secretary Root
TO have given reasons in writing for
the dismissal. as the old rule required,
80 new ruling was made 10 fit this
case and any other case In the future.
That the letter and spirit OF even this
latest partisan ruling have been violat-
ed by the administration I'm the case OF
Miss Taylor is also certain. 1t VIII be
difficult to make any unprejudiced per-
son believe that the removal was not
made for merely political reasons.
Political exigencies require that the
Republican programme In the Philip
pines shall be maintained at all haz-
ards. The flag shall stay put" is poll
ties pure and simple. the Republicans
claiming that the flag must never be
lowered when once raised and the
Democrats claiming that II should be
hauled down II improperly raised or