The Washington times., 1910-01-21
INQUIRY ARRANGED
ON CIVIL SERVICE
Senate Will Investigate
Workings of Entire
System.
PROMOTION ASKED
TO FOLLOW MERIT
Congress Apparently Disposed to
Put Service on Higher
Plane.

A comprehensive inquiry into the
workings Of the civil service system has
been started DIV The Senate Committee
on Civil Service and RetrenChment The
outcome OF IL is likely TO be important
and II may result in material changes
IN the existing civil service laws
OF shief Importance in the investiga-
ton of the committee Is the question
whether a system car be devised which
viii insure promotion on merit Inc
criticism OF the civil service system thai
Is most often heard is that adequate
provision is not made for promotion on
merit. and that once a person IS IN the
CLASSIFIED service the matter Of his pro
motion depends largely on the good will
Of his bureau or division chief Crit
cism Of the civil service on this score
has been sometimes heard IN Congress
Senator William Alden Smith. about
year ago. had some pointed remarks to
make along this line
II has generally escaped notice that
the Senate passed a resolution which
permits the committee 10 90 into the
workings Of the civil service
Inquiry Authorized.
Senator Boraa had a resolution for
an investigation which was introduced
last session and referred TO the Com
nlittee to Audit and Control the Con-
tincent Expenses Of the Senate This
fingered along. and the other day a sub
stitute for il was reported and passed
II permits the committee TO conduct
hearings, 10 have stenOgraphers, and
makes an investigation possible.
TIE committee consists Of Senators
Cumrlins. Perkins. Ia Toilette, Lodge.
Clarke. Rayner. Owen. and Gordon On
the Republican side, there is a vacancy.
The chairman OF Lne commute Sen
atoT CumminS. has sent out letters 10
the heads Of the departments, the IN
tsrstate Commerce Commission and the
Government Printing Office. saying the
committee will conduct hearings on the
question Of what changes are needed
IN the civil service laws The members
of the Civil Service Commission also
have been notified that hearings viii be
conducted General Black and the other
members Of the Civil Service Commis-
sion viii probably be the hrst persons
heard
VIII Probe Deep.
L IS the intention Of the committee
10 make inquiries concerning The work
fnEs Of the civil service laws with Te-
FpeCt 10 the entrance Of persons into
the SERVICE with respect 10 their pro-
motion on merit after they are IN the
service; and with respect 10 retirement
Put the matter 10 which chief atten-
ton VIII be paid VIII be that Of promo
riCn OF advancement in the service IN
accordance with merit
The heads OF the departments and
independent bureaus have been asked. II
they have not the detailed Information
wanted BIZ the committee at hand them
selves 10 DESIGNATE some person who
can provide the Information No date
has Yet been fixed for the hearings 10
begin
That the hearings will probably bring
out much Interesting matter concern
ing the workings OF the civil service
system Is expected.
The committee after investigating the
subject may embOdy its views as 70
what should be done in changing the
civil service laws The disposition OF
the committee TO probe into the facts in
connection with promotion on merit and
the establishment Of a retirement SIS
TEN IS looked on as Indicating that the
time has come when Congress IS dis
posed 70 put the civil service on a high
eT and better plane