Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-01
LEGISLATIVE BILL REPORT
SUBMITTED TO SENATE
Ten Per Cent Cut In War Depart
ment Force Stricken Out.
COMMERCE COURT RETAINED
Provision Made for an Efficiency
Rating, Which Must Be Attained
by Those in the Classified
Service.

Taking I'D the cause OF the governmen,
clerks magnticently. the Senate commit
tee on appropriations today, in report
Ing Its amendments to the legislative ap-
preparation bill. knocked out that legisla-
ton aimed to cut down the number OF
the workers in the government depart
ments and limits their tenure of Office
without examination or reappointment
to Ave years
Specifically, the committee struck out
the provision adopted by the House that
appointments to the civil service shall be
only for five years; struck out the pro-
vision that vacancies In the classified
service during the next fiscal year shall
be filled only by the promotion or demo-
tion of clerks already in the service, and
struck out that provision that the cleri-
cal force OF the War Department must
be cut down 10 per cent before June 80
next.
The Senate committee on appropriations
also came TO the rescue Of the Commerce
Court. striking out the House provision
repeating the law by which it was created
and making appropriations to continue its
work for another year. It also frowned
upon the House plan to cut down the
number OF circuit judges to twenty-nin
internal revenue to sixty-two.
Standard Of Efficiency Provided.
But in coming to the rescue Of the gov
eminent clerks the Senate committee on
appropriations recommends the establish
nent Of a rule or standard of work Pro-
vision Is made for II In the following
amendment recommended by the commit
tee:
Section 4. The civil service commission
shall. subject to the approval of the
President. establish system of efficiency
ratings for. the classified service in the
District Of Columbia based upon records
kept In each department and Independent
establishments with such frequency as to
make them as nearly as possible records
of fact.
such system shall provide a m.-num
rating Of efficiency which must be at
tanned by an employee before he may be
promoted: 1t shall also provide maxi
mum rating below which no employe may
fall without being denoted. 1t shall fur
ther provide for a maximum rating be-
low which no eInploye may fall without
being dismissed for inefficiency. All pro-
motions, demotions, or dismssals shall be
governed by provisions Of the civil serv-
Ice rules. Copies of all records of effi-
cheney shall be furnished by the depart
ments and independent establishments to
the civil service commission for record In
accordance with the provisions of this
section
Provided. that in the event of reduc-
tions being made In the force n any of
the executive departments no honorably
discharged soldier or sailor whose record
in said department Is rated good shall be
discharged or dropped"
The Most Important Changes.
Many are the other important changes
which the committee has made in the
bill
II struck out. for instance, the House
provision which transferred the work of
wrapping and mailing public documents
from the various departments to a cen
trail office in the government printing Of
fce.
The committee. too. raises the appro-
priation for investigating methods of
economy. from $1,000 to $4,000.
The continuance of the work OF the bu-
reau OF trade relations Of the State De-
partInent, which department officials said
was practically killed by the House bill
is insured by amendments made by the
committee. But the consolidation of the
bureaus OF manufactures and statistics in
the Department of Commerce and Labor
is approved by the Sena te committee.
There are increases in the number OF
clerks in most OF the departments. &c
| make up for many of the cuts made by
the House committee 4 notable excep
ton, however. i the Senate's provision
| for the Indian office. the appropriations
for which are cut $4,000
The Senate committee does not approve
| Of the House plan TO reduce the salary
OF the secretary to the President after
annum-
Provision is made for an additional as
sistant attorney general TO take the place
| Of the one who was assigned to the
claims C0rnmiggiOn
Bill to Be Called Up Monday.
The bin as reported 70 the Senate car
ried a total Of s3453I. .s94 50 This is ar
Increase OF $500 ~ over the bill as II
passed the House. but is less than In,
estimates for 1913 just si146,37290. anc
is less than the appropriations for 1912
81. $40 9.315.S5
Immediately after reporting the bill Il
the senate, Senator Warren. chairman o.
the committee gave notice that he would
call the bill up for consideration Monday
II is expected that hard night Will NJ
made or "A number of the provisions o
the measure as reported to the Senate
and also that when the bin goes to con
ference between the two houses there vii
be warm struggle. Senator Warren di
rected attention To this fact when NJ
asked for early consideration of the BIN.
Recommends important Amenunlents
Most important OF the amendments q
the bill recommended by the Senate com
mittee on appropriations are:
Senate-Salar.es of two assistants In
the document room increased from S2.Os
10 81 go: for the rent of a warehouse fol
the storage Of puolic documents. S.6s
provided: to enable the postmaster of tn,
Senate to keep a constant supply %
postage stamps for sale to Senators. S2U
The library collected by the nationa
monetary commission is made a part o.
the Library of Congress. but until other
wise ordered il will remain in its presen
quarters i'm the Senate office building. II
charge of "A custodian at $500 per an
mum.
Capitol police-One additional Lieutenant
az 81 30; thirty-four additional private.
CONTINUED ON Ninth PaSel