New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
BORAH WANTS INQUIRY
FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.
Criticism of Present System in Con
gress Not 4lscnys Far.
rFror7 TIE Tribune FureaaI-

rrror7 TIE Tribune Fureaa
Washington July 24.-The present Civil Service
system and the Civil Service Commission are
being subjected by members of Congress 10 crltl-
cism, Of which is hardly fair In the con-
sderation of the census bill In the Senate muir
L murings Of discomfort we're heard from various
sources. both Republican and Democratic lhese
criticisms were expressed by several members OF
the Committee civil Service and eliminated In
the Introduction Of resolution by senator Bofah
of Idaho. providing for an investigation OF lhe
system. There are however, many advocates OF
Civil Service reform in Washington who view
with some suspicion the motives which control
the younger Congressman when they attack the
methods employed by the Civil Service Cohlih'S
sion. Too often such attacks emanate rather from
a desire for "a deal" which will make room
for few importunate constituents, than from any
genuine anxiety regarding the observance OF the
law. Senator Borah's resolution may not De
adopted, but If 1t is. the result will probably oe
that Congress will he called assist the com
mission with legislation facilitating the enforce
ment Of Civil Service laws rather than that the
report Of Investigating committee will censure
those who administer the present system.
The grievances expressed in Congress against the
present conduct of the Civil Service are two
First. that the District Of Columbia and the ad-
joining states have more than % per cent of the
appointments, and. second. that too many persons
from the same family draw salaries from the
government Growing out Of the first objection is
the charge that men and women are continually
getting into the government service by false swear
ing and misrepresentation without punishment
Mr. MCUMBER's COMPLAINT
Senator McCunber, of North Dakota, called the
attention OF the Senate TO a condition which he
believes to exist in the following language
I maintain that 90 per cent Of the officials or
city Of Washington are residents q this city and
taat ne @theF !" per eet may b bsi' ted States
II follow the rules Of the Civil Service
rest OF the conntry the other places When
came here ten years ago selected four people for
have gone out. They attended the night schools,
one physician P an an qaofaer bena nf f6e Si
Service law, and are entitled 10 come here Here
department containing nine persons. Two Of them
are wives Of oficials in the War Department One
Department one is the wife Of travelling man.
another is also married woman, The others are
families The promotions seem to have been given
almost wholly 70 women who have husbands in
Here IS a man VINO perhaps passed through New
there that long ago, got position under the gov
eminent in Washington. and has remained here
randchiGren All his children are in the govern
children are claiming 70 be residents Of New
Hampshire. some kindly disposed notary public
certfes that they have been residents OF that
state: because residence is a question Of intent.
and II a person believes that he lives In such a
place and claims f. as his hone & ne can get any
Every one knows that the states have been robbed
OF their apportionmcnt under tho operation OF this
claim of legal residence where residence has
actually Obtain ID Mary young men thToug h9ut cut
"A few years, and then. after getting education
at the night schools. 20 return home.
These facts are borne ont 10 extent by a
statement from Civil Service CornIrissioner Nc
IIhenry who admits thnt soma Of the conditions
described BY Senator McCunber exist but he as
cribes them 20 the Civil Service Law. which pre-
scribes what snail constitute citizenship OF state
and leaves the commission without authority to
act he says.
Tho law is 80 specific r. its eEPges,so9 $50, Of Of
cannot 90 behind Il Il provides that these an
have 10 accept them without question The only
way in which these offenders could be punished
would be for some one To come IN here WIN
proofs that thCy had Pergred thetevSs @ or d'd h%d
dismiss them n a man wants 10 beat the COM
mission bv having himself registered from one
than from another. he follows the same procedure
We car 10 nofhinc There IS a law Of the civil
may work in The government service, and when
2a[os @ ie 91 t' ,bosS 6o are gilt b ofher
wise have means OF knowing when viola
tions occur
CHANGES MADE by CONGRESS
As result OF Senator McCumber's speech Con-
gress added an amendment 70 the census bin which
provides that every applicant FOR a place IN the
civil Service must take hts examination in the
in which he lives and that he have
been actually domicied in that state less than
one year preceding An amendment also added
limiting the number from the same family who
may he employed in the government service 70
person. The commissioners maintain. however,
that greater discretion must be conferred the
commission to insure = proper enforcement OF the
law.
Many of the chiefs believe the system Of state
appertionment is suhversivN of the highest degree
of economy and effcienov They maintain that
men who enter the civil Service should begin
young, should the bottom of the ladder
and ar boys paw. that II is ridiculous employ
o ST. outside Of doors-messengars they are
caed-to run errands and copy letters seal en-
velopes and afhx stamps. Office boy work and
pay them from s72o 500 year for such work
when active. ambitious boys could be employed
for half less than half the compensation. be
the work with a view 10 promotion rather than
the immediate compensation. They assert that
senoRra piers and Junior clerks could easily he Oh
tanned for half what the government pays were
th5y chosen from families in or near Washington.
for they could then live their pay until they had
attained IN efficiency which actually entitled them
to more No objection IS advanced TO the appor-
ronment rule bur it IS maintained that 1t is
inimical 70 that economy and efficiency Of ad-
rnlnistration for which President Taft and his
Cabinet striving.
F A WALLIS TO QUIT INSURANCE.