New-York tribune., 1906-11-20
BONAPARTE ON REFORM
PRAISES CIFIL SERVICE.
Secretary addresses @6th Ann"0i
Meeting of National League.

,,erte NJ t,e Na1-v Department made the principal
address here to-day at the twenty-slN'h "'i."
meeting of the National Civil Service reform
League Daniel { Gilman, president OF the
leanre also sroke Resolutions on the death o.
Carl Schurz president Of the league from 1898 to
1900 adopted. .
sacretarv Ronaparte reiterated his belief that the
practical application public business of the prlh-
ciples Of Civil Service reform was indispensape u
the continued existence Of form of government
and further that without ii the orderly ana eii-
cient administration Of the Navy Department WIN
.uch navy as have to-day. would be alto
sether impossible
The Secretary gave what he believed SHOULD W
the nractica and immediate aims of the Civil Ser
vice Reform League. with view to the improve
ment of the federal Civil Service. saying IN part
In the first place should all try 10 strengthe3n
the federal commission by securing more nearly
sdequate compensation for its members and one OF
two at least among heir prneipai t men mn
not the average but 10 the exceptionaily meIs- @
torfous civil servant Of the government falr pIos
pect Of promotion within the government ser'lce'
The method Of selecting subordinate employees
from the Civil Service eligible lists, the secretary
pointed out had drawn the attention OF private
establishments the result being that the service
began 70 suffer the inrcads Of these private
employers from whom competent subordinates re
ceived The advancement which the government
could hut won't give them in its own service
ne continued:
great deal Of fuss has been made about the
f s II is or ,sz, beco,e an evil is open 20 com
plete remedv hy the more discharge OF their f'Hl
Of nxity in the service. however, practical evil
snd for 6ifh cure & IS '3 ies ongress or bH the
press ,,. IT.. ...,..,,,,, --,,. ho
sreativ improved if effect were given ny law 70 a
Recommendation contained in my last annual re
effect that a small corps II civilian commissioned
oeerS s. hayns 9ary n Ta4k Iaa ' 5sering q civil
employees Of the department In non military
od rs f9e by The abon Of Sed terms
fer al o1cals whose positions are IN ne Wlse pThn
NOT profession5 oI otherwise peculiar. be filed
only by promotion
The Secretary said, in closing:
I should ike to the privilege Of specfyne the
and women taken without discrimination. according
70 marks. except wnen both the head Of the depart
rn-nt and the commission hold that the duties Of
only by man or q woman 80 the case may he.
President Gilman reviewed the history Of Civil
Service reform He said. in part:
On August j, 1881. there was assembled in Ne
nal oonference Of the friends Of Civil service re
form perusal of the minutes Of that conference
principles which we advocate this day were then
as clearly recognized by the limited circle VINO par
ticipated in the meeting as they are now by the
vast number of those, IN every part of the coun-
try. who are associated for their maintenance
The afternoon session was business meeting
presided over by President Gilman, at which the
annual report was presented. Mayor Studley made
address OF welcome ana President Gilman made
the response. The report noted that the Pendleton
bill introduced in the United States Senate in 1881.
became law IN January, 1888 at which time the
total number Of employees in the federal service
I6ooa, and OF these only 1900 were put under
federal service included 326.S5 persons and the
CLASSIFIED competitive service 1Si.178 The report
said that all the more important branches We're
now included under the law. excepting fourth class
postmasters now numbering $3.50 the pension ex-
aninins surgeons and a few other officials.
The report says that the national league at
work through various committees adnlinistra-
zion problems, while another committee had under
consideration the subject OF sIperannuation. On
are taat the amount of approximation is very
small. that special provision is necessary in the
way Of pensions or superannUatiOn funds of which
the United States government is TO be made pay
master, and that if anything should he done the
best method suggested Is the Australian system of
compelling new appontees 10 take out preferred
annuity policies under proper safeguards
Tee report mentioned the operation Of the Civil
Service Law the Isthmus OF Panama, stating
that possibly classification carried too far in
the first place. considering the difficulty in secuT
ing people 10 work in bad climate. Regret is eX-
pressed that the engineering force mas been eX-
empted from Civil Service.
y. Mott Porter, Of =. Louis, reporting for Mis-
souri,, said that all the refCruiers IN that state
were watching 70 what Governor Folk would
accomplish For New York. Jacob :. Miller said
impetus by the Harry Bender case. Mr. Miller
said that every friend Of EiEl Service reform was
looking with eagerness and hope toward Governor
elect Hughes
On adjournment the deleZates vent 70 a reception
at the home Of Professor Fa,uam.