The Washington herald., 1906-11-20
BONAPARTE HAS PLAN
Suggests Reforms in Civil
Service of Government.
WOULD GIVE WOMEN CHANCE
Says They VIII Not Get "Square
DeaI' Except by Specific Law-Sec-
rotary Declares Way should BE
Found for Greater Prospect of
Promotion for Employees.

New Haven, Nov 1e-The National
Civil Service Reform Association opened
its annual convention in Yale's Woolsey
Hall this evening. 1t was the twenty
! fifth anniversary Of the organization of
the association.
| Charles J. Bonaparte, Secretary of the
Navy, was one Of the principal speakers.
After stating to his audience that he
was more of an advocate Of civil service
reform since he became an official in the
national government, Secretary Bonaparte
saidfin part:
"One member Of the Civil Service Com
mission, a man OF exceptional merit, has
just left the Commission to become an As
sistant Attorney General. Possibly, for
reasons of his own, he would have pre-
/ ferred his new post or duty, even II the
compensation had been no greater, but it
is obviously unfair TO the service and TO
all the vital interests advanced by its
efficiency to have the salary Of a COM
missioner only 20 per cent Of that receiv-
ed by a far from overpaid subordinate of
! the Department of Justice.
Open way for Promotion.
In the next place, We should all try
to open up. not TO the average, but to the
exceptionally meritorious in the civil ser
vice Of the government. a prospect of
promotion within the governments ser
vice.
a great deal Of fuss has been made
about the superannuation Of our public ser
wants, a matter, according to my observa-
/ ton, Of altogether minor conseqU ence,
and, so far as it is or may become an
/ evil, il is open to complete remedy by the
! mere discharge Of their full duty on the
/ part OF responsible superiors. The want
/ OF fxity In the service. however. which
I Is tenfold as serious. and for which a
cure is far less readily found. is hardly
/ mentioned. either ia Congress or by the
press.
1 In the Navy Department this situation
/ would be greatly improved if effect were
given by law to a recommendation. con-
I tained in my last annual report. and
/ which viii be repeated in my next. to the
/ effect that small corps Of commissioned
| officers, having military rank and right
/ or retirement as the chapIains, civil engi-
neers. and professors Of mathematics
/ have. be recruited from particularly de-
serving civil employees Of the department.
Better Chance for Women.
Il should like to see the privilege OF
specifying the eligibilities in acquisitions
! abridged, and men and women taken
without discrimination. according 10
marks, except when both the head Of
the department and the commission hold
that the duties Of the position 10 be filled
can be properly discharged only by a
man OF a woman, as the case may be
According TO my observations, whenever
women are shown favoritism, It is to
widows and orphans, but when the choice
must be made for merit, they will not
get the square deal" / have done what
could TO give them a fair field ard
no favOfs I'm matters of promotion, and
TO encourage their more general employ
ment in the first instance. but encounter
here prejudice which can be overcome.
in my judgment. only by positive law"
Daniel c. Gilman, Ii. D.. president Of
the league and president emeritus Of the
Johns Hopkins University. delivered an
address reviewing the work Of the league
during the last quarter Of a century.
Secretary Of the Navy Bonaparte left
Washington yesterday for New Haven. to
attend the two days annual meeting Of
the National Civil Service Reform League
He viii deliver one Of the addresses at
the SchurZ memorial meeting in Carnegie
Hail, New York. Wednesday evening. He
also expects 10 attend the ceremonies in
cident TO the presentation Of a silver ser
vice TO the L. s. S. Connecticut
by the citizens Of the State Of
Connecticut. at the navy yard, New York.
on Wednesday. and viii attend the ban
quet Of the Society CT Naval Architects
and Marine Engineers. at Delmonicos. on
Friday evening, returning to Washington
On Monday next.