Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-02
SHAKE-UP FACED
BY CIVIL SERVICE
Senate Committee to Consider
0verman'S Resolution for
an Investigation.
POMERENE ALSO TO ASK
SIFT OF ADMINISTRATION
Republicans and Democrats Both
Aroused-Alleged Abuses in New
York Customs House Cited.

senator Fomefene or ONO, chairman of
the civil service committee of the Senate,
today announced that he would call a
meeting of his committee for next Tues
day morning at 10 o'c.ock 20 take up the
consideration of the resolution introduced
by Senator Overman OF North Carolina.
calling for an investigation of the civil
service administration. and also a reso-
luton of similar nature, which lie him
self is preparing for Introduction Mon
day when the Senate meets
The debate in the Senate Yesterday in
dicated that there is much strong feeling
both on the democratic and republican
sides of the chamber. that the admins
tration of the civil service and the laws
which govern the civil service fall be-
low what they should be.
There is much discussion of the state
ment by Senator Kern of Indiana demo-
cratic leader of the Senate when he de-
clared that democratic members of the
civil service commission had been kept
IN those positions by republican Presi-
dents as a reward for ''infidelity to the
democratic party
Extensive Shake-Up Probable.
Indications are today that if the in
vestigation of the civil service admins
tration is begun by the Senate-and il
appears probable almost beyond a doubt
that such an investigation will be had
1t VIII result in a shake-up in the civil
service commission which will be remem-
bered for years.
Senator Overman during the discussion
OF the politics OF the present commits
sioners, said:
think the senator from New Hamp-
shire CIR. GallipgeD will agree with me
that sometimes when a republican Presi-
dent appoints a democrat to office or. vice
versa. when democrats President ap-
points republican to Office the ap-
pointee becomes the meanest kind of a
partisan.
\ severe criticism of the civil service
as administered in the customs service in
new YORK city was read into the record
at tne instance of Senator Overmau 1t
was letter from Thomas OHara. a Gus
toms guard, employed at the customs
house In New York. He said, in part:
Alleged Abuses Are Cited.
If You had but a faint idea of how
favoritism and pull are worked here
You would not ask for an appropriation
TO conduct an inquiry. but simply de-
mand 1t in the interest of common
decency
In the division in which / am en-
pioyed. and to which / was appointed
from civil service list, there are three
grades Of pay-$S4O. 1868 and s1,Os5 per
annum. You are instructed on your ap-
pointment that YOU are advanced from
one grade to the higher on your eff
cheney. After a few months in the
service / learned the efficiency meant
pull. and from my acquaintance in the
division it looked to me as if illiteracy
was a qualification for advancement
Mr.. Loeb in 1909 abolished the night
inspectors and former customs watch
men. later called customs guards.
lie denoted day and night inspectors
oy the Wholesale. the majority of whom
were civil wfr veterans. He had 30
laborers off the scales sworn in as watch
men. ranging in salaries from $40 to
*i,C9o per annum. placing at their head
a deputy surveyor VINO had been an in
spector for a few months Thy executive
ORDER at $3.OOO per annum None of
these haborers ever passed a civil service
examination of any kind, but they were
all more or less active republicans. the
majority being district captains. All this
time an eligible list for night Inspector
was in existence, but none were taken
from it until all these henchmen were
Well provided for, a good number being
a $l.&U
With few exceptions, all of these
laborers have been advanced in salary
Notwithstanding the fact that some OF
them have had several charges Of a more
or less serious nature preferred against
them. Some of them are good men. but
there are others who are simply dis
grace to the customs uniform. Yet they
go ahead. while the civil service man
remains stationary
At the conclusion of the reading OF
this letter Senator Root asked that the
name of the writer be given.
"Of course, you Will have the writer
turned OUT. said Senator Overman. Bu,
Mr.. Root insisted, and Mr.. O'Hara's name
was given.
Black Approves Investigation.
In regard to the proposed investigation
of the administration of the civil service
law by a Senate committee. Gen. Johr
c. Black, president OF the civil service
commission said TODAY that undOubtedl,