The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-01-27
INQUIRY: ARRANGED
ON CIVIL SERVICE

| Washington, January 26.-A COM
lprehensive inquiry into the workings
of the civil service system has been
started by the Senate Committee on
Civil Service and Retrenchment. The
outcome Of 1t Is likely to be impor-
tant, and 1t may result in material
changes IN t1e existing civil service
laws.
OF chief Importance in the inves-
tigatiOn Of the committee is the
Question whether system can be
devised which will insure promotion
on merit. The criticism Of the civil
service system that Is most often
heard is that adequate provision ie
not made for promotion on merit and
/ that once a person is in the classified
service the matter of his promotion
| depends largely on the good will Of
his bureau or division chief. Criti-
cism of the civiI service on this score
has been sometimes heard In Con-
gress. Senator William Alden Smith,
about year ago, had some poisted
remarks to make along this line.
1t has generally escaped notice
THAT the Senate passed a resolution
which permits the committee to go
into the workings Of the civil SER
vice
Inquiry Authorized.
Senator Borah had a resolution for
An investi cation which was intro
duced last session and referred to the
Committee to Audit and Control the
Contingent Expenses Of the Senate.
This fingered along. and the other
day n substitute for it was reported
and passed. 1t permits the commit
tee to conduct hearings, to have stem
ographers, and makes an investiga-
ton possible.
The committee consists of Senators
Cummins. Perkins, La Toilette,
Lodge. Clarke, Rayner, Owen and
Gordon. On the, Republican side,
there Is a vacancy.
The chairman Of the committee,
Senator Cummins, has sent out let
ters to the heads OF the departments,
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and the Government Printing
Office, saying the committee will con-
duct hearings on. the question Of
what changes are needed in the civil
service 1aw9.-tThe- members of the
Civil Service Commission also have
been notified that hearings will be
conducted. General Black and the
other members OF the Civil Service
Commission will probably be the first
persons heard.
Will Probe Deep.
1t is the intention OF the commit
tee to make inquiries concerning the
workings Of the civil service laws
with respect to the entrance of per-
sons into the service; with respect to
their promotion on merit after they
are in the service; and with respect
to retirement. But the matter to
which chief attention will be paid
will be that Of promotion or advance
ment in the service in accordance
with merit.
The heads of the departments and
, independent bureaus have been ask
ed, if they have not the detailed in
formation wanted by the committee
at hand themselves, to designate
some person who can provide the in
formation. No date has yet been
fixed for the hearings to begin
That the hearings will probably
bring out much interesting matter
concerning the workings Of the civil
service system Is expected.
The committee, after investigating
! the subject may embody it's views as
/ to what should be done in changing
! the civil service laws. The DISPOSE
ton of the committee to probe into
| the facts in connection with promo
ton on merit and the establishment
of retirement system Is looking on
as indicating that the time has come
when Congress is disposed to put the
civil service on higher and better
plane.