Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
Treasury Officials Promised to
Provide for Them.
GAVE WORD TO SENATORS
Discharged Employees Were to Be
Cared For.
HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE
Legislators Told That Worthy EN-
ployes Would Not Be Showed
Into Streets.

L may say that in my experience the
Senate and the appropriations committee
are always jealous Of an undertaking to
interfere with employees who are faith
full"
This was the statement of Senator War
rem of the Senate appropria tons commit
tee when the plans were laid before ii
for the discharge Of numerous clerks in
the Treasury Department. During the
discussion of the economy proposals OF
the Treasury Department officials mem
bers Of the Senate committee made 1,
clear that they were unwilling to con-
sent to any plan which would result in
the removal from office of government
employees who have faithfully discharged
their duties for many years.
Believe Clerks Safe.
The printed reports of the hearings on
this reorganization disclosed the fact that
the members Of the Senate committee, in
allowing the plan to go through, did not
understand that veteran and faithful
clerks would be showed into the street, as
now seems TO be the case
In the cursory glance I have made OF
the bill Legislative appropriation bilD as
1t passed the House and your testimony
before the House committee, Senator
Warren said to the then assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury, Charles -. Norton.
Il noticed that you proposed to eliminate
q good many clerks in number. Do you
propose to do that all at once or from
time to time as you get your machinery
in, working order and as you get new
rules estabiished?"
President Approved Plan.
Gradually" replied Mr.. Norton. 1.-THE
President has arranged with each Of the
other departments so that they will fill
their vacancies with the efficient clerks
we must dismiss SO far as possible"
1T is not the purpose. then, to cast
worthy clerks into the street without en-
asked Senator Warren.
No" said Mr.. Norton.
Continuing, the printed report shows
that the following colloquy took place:
MIR. Norton-Some may be out of en-
ployment in spite Of all we can do, al
though we have calculated carefully, with
the assistance Of the civil service COM
mission, SO that as few as possible, if
indeed any, are left out.
Senator Warren-You have the promise
of the assistance of the civil service com
mission?
Mr.. Norton-Entire cooperation.
Senator Warren-As the clerks shall be
turned out Of your service?
Mr.. Norton-Yes. We did not make
any move until we secured the agree
ment of all concerned, and we limited
our changes to a conservative basis. sc
that all worthy people could be provided
for in other departments, as far as pos
sible
Senator Warren-And, 1 understand you
to say, as the President has asked them
to do?
Mr.. Norton-And as the President has
asked them to do.
Expected Some to Go to Census.
Senator Warren-Do you expect that
any Of those will go into the census?
Mr.. Norton-Yes.
Senator Warren-Will you be able tc
dispense with them early enough to allow
the transfer to be made in time?
Mr.. Norton-Yes; we are arranging to
meet the situation before July 1.
Senator Warren-This is what 1 want to
have you explain. Under your appropria-
ton for the current fiscal year you can
employ these people until the LIST of July,
but how can you arrange your schedule
from now on to relieve so many as
may be able to go into the census and
other departments before the LIST of July.
Mr.. Norton-As they find other places
we shall let them go as far as we can
without seriously Gripping the serv-
ice.
Senator Warren-It is your intention
to provide for them?
Mr.. Norton-We shall leave nothing
undone that can be done.
Senator Warren-I may say that in
my experience the Senate and the ap-
committee are always
jealous of an undertaking to interfere
with employees who are faithful. But
you propose, I understand. as far as
possible, to take them from one place
and provide employment for them in
another Is that your idea?
Mr.. Norton-Yes; we have worked
just as hard to find places for the
worthy as we have to find ways to
economic, senator.