The Washington times., 1906-04-04
CHECK ON TRANSFER
DISTURBING CLERKS
Bill Requires Three-Year
Term Before Change.
HAS ALREADY PASSED HOUSE
Prevents Government Employees Being
Moved to More Congenial or
Suitable Place.

Government clerks are greatly exer-
cised over the passage. by the House
last FRIDAY of section of the execu-
tive. judicial. and legislative bill. which
prohibits the transfer of clerks from
one department 10 another till they have
served at least three years in ore de-
partment
The principal protest is that many
clerks. after being appointed to the SER
vice and assigned to a certain depart
ment. find that the work is uncongeniaI
or too hard and regard transfer as
equivalent 10 a promotion.
Navy Clerks Restless.
In the Navy Department. where the
clerks find themselves forced by mass
of work each day TO stay after hours
and chances of promotion or advance
ment are rare in comparison with any
other department. the employees are
plainly restless.
4 large number OF clerks and several
chiefs and appointment clerks are agreed
that it will discourage a good class from
entering the civil service and also have
a deadening effect upon the ambitions
Of those already in the service
Under The present law, clerks may be
transferred after having been in one
r
tors take the stand that many clerks
are never satisfied and would be trans
fcrred every six months. if they could
which makes them continually new TO
their duties.
Statements of chief clerks. however
do not indicate that the Government
has been so imposed upon to ANY con-
siderable extent. If a clerk asks for
a transfer soon after he has been in
department six MONTHS his previous
record IS examined carefully and if it
Is found that he has a restless spirit
he is almost invariably held down to
his present post.
Government Needs Transfers.
1t is pointed out that in an impor-
tant bureau of the Navy Department
there may be a clerk who is entirely
unsuited to the work that confronts
him He might make a better success
at compiling agricultural reports keep
ing Track of pensions or counting money
IN the Treasury. For the good of the
Government service such a man fire.
QUently is transferred To the place for
which he is found 40 be suited. and an
other clerk more in sympathy with the
work succeeds him. This situation
often develops in all departments
\ few months ago. certain clerk
was transferred from the Department
of Commerce and Labor to the Navy
department. Stree being at his new
work, he has shown certain qualities
that would be valuable in tn State De
Partment. The latter is in need Of a
number OF additional clerks and his
trapsfer already is being cor .emplated.
But the measure. if il should become
a law, would prevent the change.
Suppresses individuality.
y chief clerk of a bureau. speaking OF
The threatened law said: This section
OF the bill would work great hardship
In man. individual cases This means
that whenever a clerk happens TO be
appointed to a position in a certain bu-
reau. where there is no possible chance
Of promotion or advancement. or where
he iS unable 10 show his individual
abilities in any way, he must stay there
without any hope of leaving for at
least three years. instead Of six months.
as IS now the case. Furthermore the
CiVil Service Commission recently has
ruled that a person holding a position
in the classified service Will not be per
mitted to compete in any examination
OF the same kind as that given for the
position he occupies, or of the kind
which resulted in his appointment 20
the service This closes the only avenue
he may have OF bettering himself by
transfer