The Washington times., 1909-07-08
PROBE OPERATION
OF WAITING LIST"
Civil Service Appointment
of Nearby Applicants
Is Charged.
By JAMES HAY, II.

inquiry is being made by at least one
executive department. Of the Government
INTO The present situation in the civil
service whereby a man or woman
standing on the waiting list" with the
highest percentage made on an exami-
nation can be kept out Of a desired posi-
uon' while a person with lower mark
gets the place.
This condition is held to be contrary
to the real spirit and underlying motive
Of civil service. which is based on the
principle that the person who goes
through an examination with the bie,b-
50 80, marx or excellence is primarily en-
tiued TO the place ahead of those who
have made lower marks.
Ciuef the present system, when a de-
partHent asks that a person be certified
20 II for a place, the Civil Service coma
mission sends to the depar fnner,t three
persons, either one of whom may be
selected for the place by the appointing
oHlcer- Frequently. the lowest person
sent IN has been taken merely because
~ " ane was from point near Wash
insloh ana II was more convenient not
70 wait for the person from a distant
Poiat 70 come here to take the position.
Considered Unfair.
This is considered by the department
IN question as unfair to those who have
made the highest marks and are in their
distant homes waiting for the chance to
get into the Government service. The
commissions defense is that these
things may be done under the blanket
clause, for the good Of the service"
Whether the practice will be. continued
under tue Taft Administration, has not
yet been decided.
Civil Service Commissioner John a.
McIlhenny. referring TO the article pub
lished in The Times concerning the man
ner in which applicants for a civil SER
vice position established their citizen.
snip, said today that he felt there might
be a misapprehension as to the exact
meaning Of his discussion of the matter
The commissioner. especially dId NOT
wish 1t to be thought the commission
at any time Ignored Indications of fraud
IN the Ming Of sf1davits or that II
Lalled to investigate any cases Of q
1T might be inferred" said Mr.. Nc
llnenny, this morning. that the COM
missloners were endeaVoring to carry on
work under laws which did not make Il
Posslole Iully 10 conserve the public's
interests. and the conclusion reached
that the administration therefore is
iaully Ihis IS not the case
Discourage Fraud.
Mr.. McIlhenny stated that the Civil
Service Commission prosecuted all per
sons who are detected in the attempt
to practice fraud on the commission n
| the matter Of having themselves &C
| credited to the various STATES. When,
ever there is apparent fraud in the ap-
/ plicatton papers Of man or woman
| the case is investigated. and. if founda-
| ton for such action is found. the De
/ partment Of Justice Is asked to PROSE-
| cute the offending parties.
| Mr.. McIlhenny declared that any con
| cluslOn that the Civil Service Commits
| sion did not protect itself from FRAUD
| was based on a Misrepresentation OF ths
| force of what he had said on the sub
| ject. The commission, he explained. +,
| amply able under the law to prevent
| fraud. and it always takes the steps
/ necessary to do so.