The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-14
Would Fix Length Of Service
at Definite Number
Of Years.

Civil service. as it exists now. may un-
dergo some material and radical
changes in the next few years If Rep
resentative Hepburn and those who fol-
low him in the House have their way.
Yesterday the House. as a Committee
Of the Whole. voted to strike out the ap-
preparation for the payment OF the sal
aries Of the Civil Service Commissioners
and their subordinates. This L. not ex-
pected TO do more than draw Attention
TO the position Of the members OF the
House who are opposed to the present
system.
Should the protest Of the members Of
the House yesterday not prove effective
ii Is probable a bill will be introduced
by Mr. Hepburn to bring about sweep
Ing changes in the civil service laws.
and altogether do away with the COM
mission and its methods.
Representative Hepburn Of Iowa was
the most pronounced ene1ny % the sys-
tenn in his speech YESTERDAY. He said
he did not wish to be understood as op-
posing merit in the making Of appoint
ments. but he thinks TIE system IS
wrong and should be placed on an en-
trely different basis
Mr.. Hepburn's Idea.
As outlined in his speech yesterday
Mr. Hepburn's remedy is as follows:G e
That ali clerks and other civil en-
ployes Of the Government now selected
through the aid OF the Civil Service
Commission shall hereafter DE appoint
ed by the head of the department in
which they are to serve: that such aD-
pointment shall be after the applicant
has, through a careful examination.
shown his fitness to discharge efficient
~ the duties of the position for which
ne applies. and shall be for the period
OF six months; that at the expiration
OF said term. if such appoincee shows
fitness. diligence. industry. intelligence
integrity. and the other necessary qualf-
ncations. he shall be appointed for a ne
Rod Of seven years. but shall at anv
time be subject to dismissal for causes
other than political by the head OF the
department, who shall be the sole Judge
OF the sufhciency Of the cause OF dis
missal and who shall certify In his let
ter Of dismissal that the removal is
not Tor political reasons: that such en-
ploye shall be eligible to reappoint-
ment'
Notifications along this line meet with
the approval OF many members. They
think that each department. should have
control OF the appointment of its clerks
and the appointment should be made
upon the recommendation OF a member
OF Congress. The members who voted
With Mr.. Hepburn yesterday take the
view that they are as honest as the
members Of the Civil Service Commits
sion and its employees. and should be as
fully trusted in the making OF recon-
mendations for appointments
How Scheme Would Work.
Mr.. Hepburn and those who follow
him ahink about as follows:
= member of Congress would not rec
ommend the appointment of z dishonest
or incompetent man. Self-interest and a
desire to appear in a good light before
his constituents would prevent such a
move. The head under whom a man ig-
TO work should examine hirl and
should be under obiigatioiis to that
chief and should be under his absolute
control The result would be an esprit
de corps that would enable the CHIEF
to do his work faster and to maintain
better discipline in his office.
Fixing the length OF service for a def
mite number of years would cause an
employe 70 be diigcnt and industrious.
and would take from him the assurance
tlal no matter now perfunctOrily he dis
charged his duties he would never be
dismissed, but could hold on until he
died of old age. Dropping a man al
the end CT a fixed period of service would
not place the obstacle in the way Of get
ting rid Of aged material which is Of
fered by the present system.
Would Save Their Money.
Another effect of the li-2ited service
plan would be that employees, knowing
they were apt to be dropped in a few
years. would save their money. and
would not have the right TO make the
plea Of poverty and hardship which is
always offered now when a Government
clerk IS dro-ced
Having limited term of service
would give a double impetus to any
movement TO improve the service. The
Congressman would be on the alert to
obtain the appointment of a constituent
in the place of an incompetent clerk.
ana the head of the division or bureau
would have 4 simple method OF getting