The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-12
OLD CLERKS MUST QUIT,
SAYS BILL IN CONGRESS
Continued from First Page)

partment. Mr. Garfield told in graphic
language Of the good results he had
obtained from dismissIng and demOtng
employees when there was the slightest
complaint against their efficiency. He
said he had saved much money TO the
Government and had secured better
results from his policy of dismissal and
demoJi1n.
This struck the committee as a good
HE OF action, and the paragraph for
general demOuOns and dismissals fol-
lowed.
viii Enforce Law to Litter.
That the heads of departments will
not be allowed to let the administration
OF the law be hampered by mercy and
leuiency is the general opinion at The
Capitol today. The language of the
statute allows them no such privilege,
and, If they fail to enforce it, they viii
be called to account for it In the next
session OF Congress.
Such a provision has been put in the
bill because the committee believes il
Will result in economy 10 the Govern
ment. If this economy can not be
shown at the end Of twelve months, the
Committee on Appropriations VIII want
to know the reason why.
one argument used against the new
provision Is that II viii add strength to
the powers already welded by petty
chiefs Of rooms and divisions. and VIII
give them opportunity 10 obtain in easy
manner the demOtiOn or dismissal Of
any clerks whom they dislike or against
Whom they are III any way preJud1ced.
II Il IS finally voted into the bill, il
u possible that an amendment viii be
oHered 10 create q special board TO de
Jermlne the efficiency or suDeranuuatiOn
of clerks. The objection is now made
that the terms Of the provision give
the chiefs a latitude that allows them
20 strike any one without mercy and
according 10 their whims.
Raises Pay of Higher Officers.
A notable feature of the bill is that It
raises the salaries of the high officials
of the departments, esuUWing on surh
persons as assistant secretaries Of de-
partments increases ranging from s. go
10 5000
y new law is contained in the bin
Providing that hereafter no emplovc
shall be transferred from one depart
ment 10 another until he or she shall
have first served three years in the
department from which he OF she seeks
transfer or In some other department.
under the CLASSIFIED service
The bill was reported TO the House by
General Bingham. of Philadelphia. act
Ing Tor the committee II viii be taken
mp In the House within the next few
days.
Reduction of SI,8oo,ooO.
The estimates on which the bill Is
based aggregate S34,2lO. 7l61S, of which
amount there is recommended I'm the
bill So 3o6. 573
The appropriations for the same DUR
poses for the current fiscal year. includ- |
ing S370,95O in the sundry civil and de-
hcienry acts of the last session. aggre- /
gated &22. 600. $3.50, being S5992 more I
than IS recommended in the accompany
lDg bill for the service Of the fiscal year |
1873,
The whole number Of salaries sDe- /
cidcally provided for I'm the bin is l4.SIS. |
or 34l less than the number estimated /
for, and y more than the number pro
vided for in the law for the current !
year
Some Of the changes recommended in
the bill are as follows.
The salary Of the Assistant Secretary
IF state is increased from 81 500 to Sfnl1 /
and the salaries or the Second and Third
Assistant Secretaries are increased from
$500 20 5000, the salary Of the clerk
10 the Secretary of State is reduced
rom $500 TO $3.50, two additional
clerks at $500 each, two clerks at 81, POO
adcn, three clerks az ST. 600 each and q
carpenter at 3. 900 are recommended.
Office Of the SeCTetaTy-The salary of
The three Assistant SECRETARIES CT the