Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-23
THE CENSUS CLERKS
And the Merit System as Practioed in
Washington.

ENAAOF 1NNd0Y Gf0oe,
In arecent issue Of the Star one signing
as Justitia makes some very pointed state
ments in regard 10 undermining the Civil
Service and the merit system. In answer
to his or her statements would give the fol-
lowing Why Is it that the prospect Of a
number Of Census Office clerks, largely an.
pointed from all parts Of the country. are
bringing about such a controversy WHY
was there not an equal amount of electioueer
ing and press stump speaking when the
move was made to appoint over one.half
thousand Washingtouians on the temporary
(e) clerk racket at the outbreak Of the Span.
ish-American War; Again. why was moth
ing said when this stolen horde largely
made up of families Of influence attempted
the permanency racket or blanket move,
and were howling, through the columns of
the Star, for Root and Roosevelt to make
them life.kxtures9 See january numbers
of the SUNDAY GLOBE aud you will find
that this que stion. both sides, has been
thoroughly fought to a finish and the ground
covered as none Of the city papers cared or
dared to. When an outside influx of tried
and examined clerks makes the attempt to
obtain share of Washington department
patronage-well there is a war on hand and
the merit system is about to be irretrievably
ruined for all time Remember there are
persons right here who are we'll posted as
to the competitive examination route, and
who also know that a large number of Dis.
trict favorities, largely female, get their feet
into the sO-called classified service without
ever going near, much less going through,
any such long-range entrance route.
The Civil Service is compared to a boat
liable to be sunk by overcrowdinq Very
good. II has appeared to observing per
sons for the several years past however, as
an almighty leaky waterlogged scow with
no rudder; in fact, more sunk than afioat
and just a sort of impeachment to navigation
either way, {. c., merit system or no system
at all There have been leaks and leaks
innumerable, and entirely too large to be
patched. First some city aristocrat would
get one of his daughters quartered in one
of the city departments, and then some de-
partInent pa would get his Willie on the
Government pay roll; then again the FIRST
mentioned would get another daughter in,
and then himself in, and then some other
relative in and thus things have been going
on and families have been going in Aud
1t looked as IL this state of affairs was to be
for ever and ever, until the GLOBE came to
town. then what cat-calls and squalls there
we're sure enough. The editor was going
to get hurt and the correspondents were
going to be locked up; and Pa this one felt
his family were not treated with due con.
sideratiOu in their departmental mention;
aud Miss smuch and such was so highly ex-
asperated at that horrid paper, ETC., ad
naNsedD7. To sum up the entire fracas there
should have been kicking long ago, and
plenty of II. Please remember that others
besides yourself have went through the
honest mill of competition, both clerical
and auxiliary. and have been certified sew
eral times by the Commission only to find
that some pimp who stood in with the ap-
pointing power got the position, even
though lower in rating. Please remember
that you are not the only bird nor are you
likely to be the last Census clerks or not,
YOU have about as much show as ever.
This twaddle about the merit system is we'll
in its way, but the principle is powerfully
magnifed its principles have been continu-
ally violated and consequently slaudered,
and, in the opinion of all observers. will
continue thus to be an official fence
There are eve lambs (birds, female birds
of preyswould be more fitting expressionJ
and black sheep and sheep of all colors,
and many Of them. And there will be fool
moves by short-sighted Cong g-essmen tend.
ing to put out of Office honest, hard.work.
ing old men, and deserving old women for
to enlarge new space. Yes, indeed, new
space for few Civil Service eligibles and
many pets of both sexes who are not eligi-
bles at all; just familiess Of "Aooence"
that's all
Those Census Office clerks, Of both sexes,
are undoubtedly hindered as to permanent
transfer by their numbers. Taken individ-
ually though those from away were origi.
nally appointed in a manner entirely for
eign to the methods usually pursued in this
Capital City in the way of working ia those
desired to be put in, especially in regard.to
home talent.
In regard to the Civil Service Commission
in times past would say this: II always ap-
peared to those on the outside Of the de-
partments as an unenforced noneuity with
no say contradictory to those interests di-
rectly involved by heads Of departments.
When it pleased certain departments to
work the discharge racket-weI the nations
defenders and others deserving we're fred
on a wholesale scale, and it mattered not if
they had competitive clerical ratings o4.7o,
and were battle-scarred veterans with mill
Nhty IEGOIua 10 correspond lney were
just not wanted had no work for them, but
plenty for snowy young females aud fair
paper-collared dudes yes for entire families
of them. Oh. Lord, what a stencil, to use
the expression Of one Of those brazeu Office
women who happened to hear certain favor
idsm-splitting remarks addressed to a
wordy fellow Amazon of her immediate
favorite clique. True, every bit Of it. and
the truth only partly told at that.
The Civil Service Commission should
have taken steps to enforce its laws before
this, and should have noticed the continual
drivel Of violation that has been going on
FOR several years past.
Certain parties have, of late, been giving
kicks through the Star, but they seem like
a few buckets Of water thrown in a half
hearted way after FIRE has been burning a
mighty long time.
Parties who wanted to turn entire bate
ries on the lines have long ago turned their
attention to stronger papers who we're al
ready engaged upon the work. p O.
The Worlds Longest Bridge.
The ionOesf hrfdge Il, the world ia n "a