The Washington times., 1902-12-05
NO FAYORITISN SHOWN
IN THE PENSION OFFICE
Clerks NV Prompt in Pay
ing Their Debts.
THIRTY PROMOTIONS MADE
Commissioner Wares Reform Plan
Works Like 4 Charm-Employes
Attentive to Duty.

Commissioner. The list includes all
grades Of clerkships to $500. The pro-
motions have all been made under a sys-
TEN which the Pension Commissioner
has devised and mark the most radical
departure I'm the manner Of conducting
the routine business Of departments
since the civil service regulations were
imposed. In the opinion OF the Pension
Commissioner the system has worked to
perfection.
II haven't lad a statesman plead with
me for an increase in auybody's salary
for more than . month. said Commits
sioner Ware this morning. The clerks
no longer watch the clock 10 see whether
: O'Clock is as slow in coming as IL
really seems. There isn't in all the
world 1900 persons employed under one
roof with such a small percentage fail
ing 20 pay its debts"
Such a testimonial to reforms already
accomplished calls for something more
than a hit-and- miss reference to "the
new deal In the Pension once. II the
scheme is as perfect as the Pension
Commissioner believes it IS there IS ey-
cry reason TO suppose it viii spread 70
all other departments Of the Govern
meut service. It is to the present civil
service regulations what a State uuiver-
sity is to the public schools.
Has No Favo1ites.
There isn't the least chance for fav-
oritism in the plan which received its
hnal test yesterday unless this one SEN
teece from the written instructions Of
the Pension Commissioner TO his select
committee could be so construed:
When merits are equal, and only
when equal, take a Republican instead
of a Democrat"
The letter which the Pension Com
missioner prepared for his select com
mittee on promotions was made public
some time ago. For an understanding Of
the manner in which the latest promo /
tions in the departments have been
made il is necessary to reproduce il |
Commissioner Ware said. in explaining
The details OF his scheme. Il selected
& special committee Of three chiefs Of
bureaus to pass upon reports submitted
10 them. The following letter shows the
basis for their work: .~r 1rH
Please pick out the best persons
you ca. sra ia thu bJTreau. three FOR
each place. From those three will Sc
lect
wish TO promote for merit and es- /
tablish an incentive; therefore you will |
not overlook the quiet man who attends
20 his duty. Remember the old soldier /
and prefer him when his merits and ca
pacity are equal Give no attention 70
political pull and do not let religion or
nativity cut any figure. Take into con- /
sideration sick leave during the last
three years and also commercial honor. /
Have an Equal Chance.
When merits are equal. and only
when equal. take a Republican instead Of /
a Democrat Select no one except on /
recommendation Of the chief Of division /
under whom the person is serving Ig-
more recommendation from outside of
the division. Sign your report
TO this select committee" =" continued
the Pension Commissioner. Il submitted
list OF the promotions to be made. .
There was one $500 clerkship: several
for promotions from 81 400 TO 81 600
Others were Tor promotions where the
salary was less.
Each chief Of division has a system I
OF grading which has been devised. The /
points covered are: Industry. accuracy. /
punctualliy. habits. attendance. com /
mercial honor Each OF these points is I
graded perfecr at 10. A clerk who re- 4
ceives a total OF so has nothing what /
ever against his promotion. For each
promotion contemplated three candi- /
dates are submitted. / then request the I
committee TO determine from the record .
Of the three highest which has the best. +
md after this recommendation is re- .
ceived ! pass final judgment
Clerks Sometimes Barred.
1T sometimes occurs that have in 4
formation obtained through personal and +
private channels that would bar a clerk
from promotion This isn't often the .
case. but it has happened One clerk .
who bad been recommended for promo /
tion. / learned through private informa- I
zion had been fined in Police Court un-
der an assumed name. But this sort OF .
a thing wouldn't happen once in a hun
drcd times. IL simply means that three
Sievlng processes are resorled TO before .
any promotion Is agreed upon"
Each Of the names submitted for pro-
motion is accompanied by a detailed re-
Port showing how many days the clerk
has been absent on sick leave. how much .
time has been taken during three years
on leave OF absence. with any additional .
comments that may suggest themselves
POSTAL STATION TO BE
ECTkpI IcuED IN pENNfNc 4