Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-09
CIVIL SERVICE THEMES
Three Papers Read Before the
Association.
MEETING LAST NIGHT
ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNCIL
SUBMITTED AND DISCUSSED.
Themes Presented by Messrs. Charles
j. Bonaparte, Carl Schurz
and President Gilman.

last night before the members of the Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League at the
New Willard Hotel. Any work on this SUBJ
ject of the distinguished authors of these
papers-Dr Daniel c. Gilman, Mr.. Charles
]. Bonaparte and Mr.. Carl Schurz-s cal
culated to command the attention of stu
dents of the civil service, and the matter
prepared by Messrs. Gilman. Bonaparte and
Schurz. and read to the delegates last night
was regarded as of vital interest to those
present and to the thousands of others who
Quoting the business of the government.
The meeting was called to order by Presi-
dent Gilman at o'clock. and Mr.. William
Dudley Foulke was introduced. Mr. Foulke
made short address of greeting to the
delegates and welcomed them. He gave
way, after felicitous speech, to Mr.. Chas.
j. Bonaparte, who presented the annual
report of the council. He referred briefly
TO the death of the late John r. Proctor
president of the board of civil service COM
missioners, and the appointment of Gen.
John c. Black of Illinois to succeed him.
Continuing, Mr.. Bonaparte spoke of the
case OF Miss Hulda b. Todd postmistress
at Greenwood, Del, who was dismissed on
account OF offensive partisanship, and read
the report or the committee of the league
appointed to investigate this case
rms report states that 1.-THE fact that a
postmistress of acknowledged efficiency wa 8
removed on the ground of offensive parti-
sanship, though the testimony was at best
iIconcIuslVe ana not secured until after her
ieihoVaI, SHOWS the Importance of extend
ing to such places the principles of the
merit system, including the rule requiring
charges and notice before Dismissal
Suspension of Rules.
The subject of the suspension of the ru,es
of the civil service in certain Individual
cases and special exemptions from their on
Grafton directed by executive orders was
then discussed at length by Mr.. Bonaparte.
He directed attention to the case of James
a. Dumont, inspector of hulls of steam YES
sells IN the district of New York, who was
removed from office by the President as
ore OF the results of the General SIocum
disaster Mr.. Dumont the sneaker said
hdd Deen for many years supervising in
speclor general of steam vessels and bv an
executive order of March 26 1903 was trans
feTTed TO the position of inspector of hulIs
without compliance with the civil service
laws. The reason for this action was the
ueslre OF the department to avail itself of
me experience of Mr.. Dumont gained by
long service in the department
MIR. Bonaparte commented sharply on the
results. He stated:
Experience is only one of the various
qualities required of such a public officer
and Its possession would necessarily ptva
candidate an advantage in passing anv
1alr, reasonable and practicable examina-
uon sufficient to insure his success over in
experienced competitors in the absence of
their possession of the other qualities
requisite in marked degree. or
his own exceptional deficiency in some of
them. 1t IS evident that, while the adminis-
tration strictly and impartially applies the
tests OF the merit system to all appoint
ments in the competitive classes. its moral
responsibility Is greatly lessened for the
consequences OF an unfortunate selection
since no purely human test can be
infalltble; but, when it chooses. as in
aside
TEN, and fill a competitive position through
the exercises of its arbitrary discretion it
must be held responsible for all unfortunate
results, even for such as flowed, more or
less directly. from it's action in the par
ticular instance in question"
Late Political Campaign.
Mr.. Bonaparte referred briefly to the con-
duct of the late presidential campaign and
the good work that was done by the league
to bring to light violators of the law relat-
ing to campaign assessments. HIS report
concludes as follows:
THE council congratulates the league
and the country on the steady progress or
the reform In popular favor; on the yea
lous and effective support 1t may expect
with confidence from the President of the
United States during the approaching
presidential term, and on the increased in
terest in the leagues work and more gen.
eral comprehension of it's aims and methods
on the part of all friends of good govern
eminent and pure politics in our country.
II Is grave error to believe that the work
OF civil service reform is now done or near
~ done; but we may consider II with tusti-
fable complacency as at least well begun,
and look forward with reasonable hope and
cheerful patience TO its consummation in
due time"
President Gilman's Address.
The annual address of DIR. Gilman as
president of the league, was then present
ed. In 1t was traced the history of the civil
service movement, and glowing tribute was
paid to the early reformers who fought the
good fight against the spoils system and
then brought the movement down through
the time of the establishment OF the civil
service commission and its growth.
Through the courtesy of the civil service
commissioners. DR.. Gilman said, he was
enabled to present to the league some OF
the figures that will be shown in the forth
coming annual report of that branch of the
government service. He said:
"On June 80 last, the whole number OF
pc sitions in the executive civil service was
nearly 100000. of which more than one half
were competitive. The exact enumeration
Is as follows: The whole number OF posi-
tons in the executive civil service was
290S5S, of which 154 .O93 were competitive,
lbs were excepted, 9,254 uncIassified,
and 6203 presidential.
During the past year 133,O6y persons
were appointed. AS compared with the
previous year it is an increase OF 20.OII IN
the number examined, 10 $50 in the number
that passed and 1o407 In the number ap-
pointed. From the same communication /
gather these additional particulars: There
has been a reduction of IL per cent In the
number OF temporary appointments with
out examination in the seryice at Wash
ington, as compared with the appointments
of those standing highest upon examina-
ton. There has probably also been re-
duction of about per cent In the number
of temporary appointments outside or
Washington.
Distinguished Foreigners.
The speaker drew his lessons from these
figures, compared with the statements OF
former days he had just made, and con-
Guided his remarks as follows:
Among the many eminent foreigners
who have been among us during the St.
Louis exposition and during the presiden-
tial campaign, there are three whose re-
Elections are awaited eagerly. I refer TO
the archbishop Of Canterbury, student Of