Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-09-19
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
How a One Time Supporter Has
Become a Destroyer.
DISCHARGE OF REBEocA TAYLOR

HFNAAueht heooseNciN FOLLOWS the
Lead 81 the German Emp~ror--Free
speech Denied to All Employees OF
the Government WHO no Not sins
the Gangs Praises.
Civil service reform aas been brought
To its lowest cbb 10y the order issued by
President Roosevelt This Is the more
extraordinary In that when the presi-
dent held his first Office OF civil service
commissioner under President Cieve-
land nc 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 a 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" 10y 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 Rcbccca Taylor, who criticised
the political policy OF President Roose-
Welt I'm his administration OF the Phi
ippine Islands and was summarily
sample case under the new ruling
that the president has set up. No
charges against her character or work
We're made by the war department. In
fact. there Is every evidence that she
was most exemplary employee of the
government.
The rule ms now laid down by the
president is that the partisan chiefs OF
bureaus are 60 be judge and jury OF the
fitness of the clerks under them and
that the least show OF independent
thought will bc cause for dismissal
This will result I'm the removal OF all
the Democratic clerks I'm the govern
ment service unless they bow the knee
md keep their mouths shut on impcrl-
alism. the protection OF the trusts,
Cuban reciprocity ana ship subsidies.
Most OF all. they must not utter
any word that would reflect on the
presidential doings and sayings That
would be leze majesty.
Tint was the crime that Miss Rebec-
ca Taylor committed, II we can Judge
10y the facts I'm the case on May IL
communication from her appeared in
the Post OF Washington. I'm which she
criticised the speech OF President
Roosevelt delivered before the Sons OF
the American Revolution on "'rhe Flag
I Shall Stay Put"
This communication evidently came
TO the notice OF President Roosevelt,
for n few days after II appeared Sec
rotary Root notified tho chief of the
bureau INA which Miss Taylor was en-
ploycd 10 ask her II she had written
the communication I'm the Post This,
OF course. was an official formality, as
her name was signed to It. ana she nc
knowledged that she wrote IL. Her
dismissal did not follow ut once. hut
on June : she was notified that she had
been dropped from the rolls.
During this time. from May IL until
June 5, the president made a now and
extraordinary ruling on tho civil scrv-
Ice, as follows:
CIVIL SERVICE RULING.
whereas certain MISUNDERSTANDING have
existed In regard 20 the proper construc-
/ ton n section or civil service rulo 2
which provides as follows:
mo removal shall be mndo from tho
competitive classified service except FOR
Just cause and for reasons given la writ
M, ana the person sought TO be removed
SHALL have notice and bc Furnished a copy
OF such reasons ana 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 "a part OF the records
OF the proper department or office and
tho reasons for any change I'm rank or
compensation within the competitive
classified service shall also be mado a
part OF tho records or the proper depart
mcnt or Office"
! Now, for the purpose OF preventing all
such Observation-Disclosures and Improper
construction OF said section. &c is hereby
declared that the term "just cnuso" az
used In section 8. civil service rule 2. IL
intended 10 mean any cause other than
one merely political or religious which
VIII promote the efficiency OF the service
and nothing contained In said rule shall
be construed TO require the examinnt ton
or witnesses or any trial or hearing ex-
cept I'm tls discretion OF the officer max
! ing the removal.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
I White House.
Approved May 90 1902.
II is impossible to escape the convic-
ton that this ruling was made express.
~ 60 cover the case OF Miss Taylor. 1t
would have been extremely awkward
for the president and Secretary Root
90 have given reasons I'm writing for
the dismissal. ms the old rule required,
so new ruling was made TO 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 In the case Of
! Miss Taylor is also certain. 1t viii bc
difficult TO make any unprcIudiced 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 Il should be
hauled down II improperly raised or
the best interests Of the country re-
quirc it,
The other horn OF the dilemma for
the president 10 take hold OF is that
Miss Taylor hurt his pride by her criti-
cism. and he. like his crowned friend