New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
10000 NAVY YARD MEN
UNDER MERIT SYSTEM
Presidents Order will Affect
All Employees Except Com
mon LaborerS.
FREEDOM FROM COERCION
Classification Will Have Sal
utary Effect on Workmen,
Say Civil Service
Officials.

Washington. Dec. 7--More than twenty
thousand skilled workers in the navy
yards throughout the United States were
to-day placed under the protection OF civil
service by executive order of President
Taft. The Presidents order was issued
with the approval of the Civil Service
Commission and in accordance with an
opinion by Attorney General Wickersham.
A recent conference of navy yard COM
mandants recommended that the men he
placed In the classified service. and that
was approved by Secretary Meyer. Until
eligible lists for the new classifcations
can be prepared new appointments TO
such positions will he made I'm the regu-
lar way.
Rules for placing tho twenty thousand
men in the classified service have been
approved by the Secretary OF the Navy
and President Taft. and will he made
known to the navy yard commentaries
soon.
There will be less reason and less in
centive for the use OF political influence
by applicants" civil service officials said
to-day, land the classification will have
salutary effect on the employees. who
will feel secure In their positions II will
he noted that the matter Of classification
has been under advisement continuously
for four years The result is the enamel
patton from political or personal coercion
of the navy yard people
The order must become effective not
later than June 80 next. 1t affects all
navy yard employees except common la
borers. The present occupants OF posi-
tons may he classified on their efficiency
being certified by the various comman'
dants or by being examined and found
qualified by the labor board. and being
recommended by the commanding officer
under whom employed.
The new regulations. which are now
promulgated by executive order. provide
for competitive examination and that dis
trict secretaries OF the Civil Service Com
mission shall be members OF the various
la Dor boards They will afford employees
classified hereunder the protection Of the
civil service act, OF other statutes re-
lating to the classified service and OF the
civil service rules.
President Tafts order Will have the ef-
feet Of giving the employees the status
they had from 1896 10 1899. The order
continues the merit system prescribed by
the Congress in 1872. which was, with
subsequent notifications. enforced In ar
executive order by President Cleveland
in 1896
President Cleveland In 1894 issued ar
order containing regulations. After re-
vision they were adopted by the Civil
Service Commission for the reason that
they had been found useful. and 1t was
important that they should be given sta
bility. independent of changes OF admin
istratlon," and because the regulations
were based on the principle that "politi'
cal influence should be disregarded" II
appointing navy yard employees.
This action was confirmed by President
Cleveland In an executive order in 1885
and for thirteen years II was supposed
| classification had been accomplished. IL
| 1909. however, the Attorney General held
that navy yard employees employed under
the regulations had not been classified
but could be classified by the President
by modifying or revoking the navy yard
regulations. Since that time representa-
tiyes OF the Navy Department and the
Civil Service Commission have had under
consideration such notifications as would
permit of the classification Of navy yard
employees.