The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-08
Thirty Thousand Skilled
Workers Taken From
Political Influence.
ORDER ISSUED BY
PRESIDENT T A FIT
Move Recommended at Recent
Conference of Commandments
and Approved by Secretary
Meyer-Continuation of
Merit System Enforced
by Cleveland.

washington, December More thar
80. 900 skilled workers in the navy
yards throughout tho United States
were to-day placed under the Drotec
ton OF civil service by executive ordei
OF President Taft. The President
order was issued with the approval o.
the civil Service Commission. and IL
accordance with an opinion by Al
torney- General Wicke!shau-
No navy yard employees below the
grade Of skilled mechanics will be
affected by President Tafts order. a
recent conference OF navy yard com
mandants recommended that the mer
be placed in the classified service. and
tnat was approved By Secretary Meyer
Tool makers. electricians, stone cut
tiers. machinists. masons. moulders
ordance men. plumbers and others viii
be affected BY the order. Until eligi-
bic lists for the new classihcations
can be made. new appointments &c
such positions VIII be made in the
regular way
Rues for conveying the 10000 Into
the classified service have been ap-
proved by the Secretary OF the Navy
and President Taft, and will DC made
known TO the navy yard command
ants shortly. 1t is said that the order
Will not displace any employees.
There will be less reason and less
incentive for the use OF political in
huence By applicants" civil service
officials said to-day. and the ella ISL
fica,ion will have salutary effect
upon the employees, who Will feel Sc
cure IN their positions. 1t will be
noted that the matter of classification
has been under advisen,ent continu-
ously for four years. The result il
the manipulation from political oil
personal coercion of the navy YARD
people"
Effective Not Later Than June.
The order must become effective moi
later than June 30 next II affects
all navy yard employees except com
mon la5orers- The present occupant:
OF positions may be classified upor
their efficiency being Certified by the
various commandments or by being
examined and found qualified by the
labor board, and being recommends
by the committee and the officer under
whom employed The new regulations
provide for competitive examination.
President Tafts order Will have the
effect OF giving the employees the sta
tus they had from 1896 to 1903. Tn-
order continues the merit system pro-
vided oy Congress. which. with sub
sequent notifications. was enforced
in an executive order by Presiden:
Cleveland in 1895.
President Cleveland. IN 1894, issued
an order containing the regulation
After revision they were adopted by
the Civil Service Commits sion for the
reason they had been found useful
and IL was important they should be
given stability independent OF changes
of administration" and because the
Organization was based on the principle
that political influence should be dis
regarded in appointment OF navy yard
employees This action was confirmed
by President Cleveland In an execu-
tive order In 1896. and for seven years
Il was supposed classification had
been accomplished In 1905, however
the Attorney-General held that navy
yard employees had not been, but could
be classified by modifying or revoking
the navy yard regulations. Since that
time representative OF the Navy De-
partment and the Civil Service Com
mission have had under consideration
such modification as would permit of
the classification OF navy yard en-
ployeS