Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-03
OPPOSED IN SENATE
Criticism Made of Seven-Y
Terms for Clerks.
AGREEMENT OF CONFEREES
Plan Reported to Both Houses of
Congress.
RETENTION FOR EFFICIENCY
Reappointments to Be Based on
Record of Work-Five Per Cent
Cut in War Department Force.
AGREEMENT OF CONFEREES
FOR EFFICIENCY

| Criticisms in the Senate today of the
plan of the conferees on the legislative
appropriation bill for a seven-year tenure
of office for government clerks in Wash
ington indicate that this plan will not be
accepted by the Senate without deter
mined fight.
Senator Cummins of Iowa, chairman of
| the Senate committee on civil service, led
the attack on the seven-year tenure plan.
1t destroys. substantially the idea of the
civil service. he urged. and will be ex-
ceedingly disastrous to the public welfare.
! Under the plan. the heads of the gov
ernment departments are compelled to
get rid of the inefficient clerks. but are
/ In no way required to continue in the
service those who have proved their
| efficiency. Senator Hoke Smith of
Georgia and Senator Newlands of
Nevada joined in the discussion i'm a
way to indicate that they sympathized
with some of the arguments of the Iowa
senator
The end of the seven years of service
VIII come to many at the same time.
I senator cummins said in stating his
views. No matter how high their ef-
fclency rating may be. the head of the
/ department is at liberty to disregard
their whole record and 80 to the civil
/ service register for new employees.
| 1t is not hard TO get on the civil serv-
ice register The examinations are not
difficult. And the heads of the depart
ments can select under the influence of
their political friends in Congress or
their Political friends elsewhere. just
such as they may desire to favor.
| The plan. to my view, abolishes the
whole civil service
Of ;ol r.
| Senator Overman of North Carolina in
i terrupted to ask If it was possible for a
| senator. under the plan proposed, TO go
to a department and get the men he
wants appointed to office.
I'VE might be yirtuous enough to resist
that temptation, but the opportunity is
! there. replied Senator Cummins
rs that possible now?' persisted Sena-
tor Overman.
1T is possible now for a senator or
representative to use his influence for
promotion, replied Mr.. Cummins II
wish that were not possible
senator Lodge seemed to line up with
senator Cummins at this point He re-
minded the Senate of the conditions that
existed when the force of the census bu-
reau was being cut down a few months
ago II will be remembered, he said. that
senator's were asked to go to the census
bureau and insist that this or that clerk
be retained.
Under this plan that will come every
seven years. continued Senator Lodge
Some clerks will be dismissed and others
retained. and senators will be harrassed
by the same requests as were made
when the census force was being cut
Senator Cummns cited, in further ex-
PLANTATION of his position. a case in a de-
partment when the seven-year terms of
several thousand of its employees expire
at about the same time. might hap
pen under the proposed plan to have
present clerks reappointed for seven
years.
Not Required to Reappoint Any One.
There is no provision here" Mr. Cum
Minis continued, that requires the head
of the department to re-employ single
one of those whose terms expire no COM
mand that he shall employ those who
have shown themselves efficient l as
sumo the purpose of the plan is to let the
heads of the departments discharge whom
they please.
Senator Newlands asked if the Senate
committee on civil service. of which SEN
ator Cummins is chairman. had been in
Vestigating this question.
Bill to Be Presented Soon.
Some members of the committee,
including the chairman" replied Mr..
considering these questions and shortly
| viii present 10 the Senate a compre-
hensive bill relating TO appointments,
demotions and promotions in the civil
! service. as the committee has already
/ presented bill for civil service
/ tirement"
In response TO question from Sena-
Tor NeWlands as to such legislation
on an appropriation bill, adopted in the
closing days of session when MEM
Ders were anxious to get away. Senator
Cummins summed up his objections to
the plan.
| Il think il is exceedingly unwise and
very destructive" he said. 1T is
| hne an illustration Of the harm of
| legislation on appropriation as can be
| exhibited.
| Senator Cummins pointed out that un-
der the plan about $4,000 employees of
| the government will be changed within
a year in 1919.
| Does the senator think there will be
| many changes? Senator Warren one of
the conferees presenting the pian asked
/ Il don't know, replied Senator Cum
1 MINIS but there is a possibility of many
| changes.
Civil Service Commission Divided.
There vas spirited discussion of the at
| utude or the civil service commission to-
ward the plans proposed by the conferees
4 III t44t Iodlsd VI a. ueIenSe OF the pfODO-
/ sition, Senator Warren rema rked that it
| had the approval of the civil service COM
/ mission
| Does the senator mean that the civil
service commission approves Of a limited
tenure of Office for civil service en-
ployes? Senator Lodge put in
| Senator Cummins interrupted before Mr.
| Warren could answer Gen Black chair
man of the commission. has approved the
idea Of a limited tenure of office, Mr. Cum
minis explained. but the other members of
/ the commission disapproved the idea Sem
| afor Cummins made IL clear that he had
| discussed the subject with the members
/ of the commission.
| Plan of the Conferees.
| Government clerks in Washington are
| to be appointed for seven years. and may
be reappointed for terms Of seven wears
/ IL their efficiency justifies it. and eff1-
cheney ratings of all clerks are to be
kept. with standards which shall deter
mine promotion. demotion or dismissal.
Such is the substance OF legislation TO be
Incorporated in the legislative appropri-
alton bill. as framed by the conferees on
the bill and reported to both houses of
i 4 LAT