Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-05
NO ORGANIZED CONTEST
EXPECTED IN THE HOUSE
Majority of Civil Service Comn,is-
sion Opposes the Measure.
PRESIDENT BLACK FAv0RS 1T
Views of the Other Members Voiced
by Commissioner Washburn.
Government Contrasted With
Business Firms.

Business Firms.
Because members of the House OF Rep
resentatives do not care to tangle legis-
iation, II they can avoid il. and are
showing desire to close up the Capitol
building and go home, il is apparent to-
oay that nothing but listiess and formal
opposition to the seven-year tenure OF
once for government clerks in the clas-
sined service will be made.
Representative Giilett of Massachusetts
VINO refused to sign the conference report.
mas not made any efforts to organize a
hght along the lines which he seems to
De following himself. and the situation
today seemed to be one OF hurry up and
get nearer to final adjournment.
Representative Joseph T. johnson of
South Carolina, author of the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation bill
which contains the item so bitterly criti-
cised by government employees is stanch
In his contention that the clerks cry In
louder than necessary. and that they are
complaining about an evil which does not
exist
He says that there is nothing I'm the
seVen-year tenure of Office which should
scare any one and that IL the clerks
should read the proposed law they will see
tnat every efficient clerk will get fair
chance.
Efficient Clerks Safe.
The proposed law says that a clerk
may be reappcinted without examina ton
II he is efficient, and take il for granted
that all our government officials are hon.
est enough to see that that construction
means every clerk shall be given a fair
chance
different from the situation which ex-
lists today. There is q provision for
getting rid of inefficient employees, but
In the vast majority OF instances no
one does so. and the service Is burden
ed in some departments with clerks
who are not always doing their duty.
Now the proposed paragraph simply
gives the head of department a
chance to weed out the men who are
dragging the work back Ii is not de-
ii looks foolish to design spoils sys-
tenn which doesn't begin to take ef-
feet until 1919?
"I can say with truth that the propo-
sition Is simply to better the classified
service and to make clerks a better set
of workers. There is not the slightest
danger for efficient clerks. no more than
there is now
Representative Gillett Of Massachusetts.
who would not sign the conference report
because of the seven-year tenure Of office
claus. has a scheme for the betterfng OF
the civil service. In fact he is one of the
greatest students of the civtl service in
the House and has outlined his theory
of reform in retirement bill
Il do not believe the seven-year tenure
of office is proper way to bring about
the reform they are seeking. he said to-
day, discussing the bill. I'VE need re-
form, but this proposition for seven
year term and then a possible reappoint-
ment is not the way 10 get IL.
Mr.. Gillett id not know. when asked
today whether there would be an organ
lied attempt to fight the measure when
it comes to the House. which will proba-
bly, be late today. He was of the opinion.
that other members are. namely that
the fact that Congress wants to adjourn
will initiate against active argument in
the House against the bill as 1t now
stands.
Views of Civil Service Commission.
The ma jority of the civil service COM
mission. body. is opposed to the
seven-year tenure of Office for govern
ment clerks proposed by the Senate and
House conferees. Commissioner Black.
president of the commission. however,
dissents from this opinion. while Commits
sioners Washburn and McIllhenny, the
majority OF the commission. oppose the
seven-year tenure. or any other tenure
of Office plan which has been suggested
Commissioner Washburn. speaking FOR
himself and Commissioner McIlhenny.
who is out of town, today summed up
the situation for a reporter for The Star
as follows:
Without going into any argument at
this time. 1T seems to that limited
tenure for persons in the classified serv-
ice is not i'm accord with good bust
ness administration. public or private.
and appears to be contrary to, or at
least inconsistent with. the fundamental
principles Of the merit system of ap-
pointment and tenure based on efficient
and satisfactory service.
The civil service commissioners, after
discussing the matter when the bill was
first before the Senate, framed what is
practically the section of the bin as II
passed the Senate continuing the merit
system. which the Senate substituted for
the House five-year tenure of Office plan.
Differences Outlined.
The only difference practically. be-
tween the House provision for a five-year
tenure and the seven-year tenure plan
adopted by the conference is that ii gives
the clerks two more years i'm Office said
DR.. Washburn today.
"At the end of seven years. if the con-
ferees' plan is adopted. the clerks will all
be dropped. Ii is provided that IL they
have proved efficient and If they pass
reappointed for another term of seven
years But there Is nothing in the plan
which makes 1t compulsory upon the Of
ficials having the appointing power to re-
appoint an efficient clerk who has passed
a fine examination
Ibid any one ever hear of a business
firm which took on its employees for nve
or seven years. and then turned them
adrift, there having been a definite under
that this course should be fol-
lowed? Why should the United States
adopt such system? The
experience which employees gain after
NUM- ber Of years In ONCE is valuable 10
the business firm or to the government. rs
the case may be"
That the adoption OF the conferees'
plan would be an entering wedge for q
return, In part at least, to the old spoils
system Of appointing government clerks
was the opinion expressed by the COM
missioner.
Charged With Dodging.
The only real reason behind the speci-
fed tenure-of-ofiice plan It was said to-