The Washington times., 1913-01-31
Will Cite Executive Orders.


office holders since the election of Will
son and Marshall.
Will Cite Executive Orders.
In their exposure of alleged civil SER
vice abuses the Democrats will point TO
President Tafts frequent issuance OF
executive orders as a bit of unexampled
tmerity in overriding the civil service
rules and regulations. They also will
direct attention TO the expenditure OF
the 10000 appropriated recently for the
betterment of the, foreign service.
Ii is said that this money was eX-
pended in the State Department here in
Washington to create number of new
positions carrying fancy salaries. and
that instead of promoting deserving and
well-aualified clerks, as civil service
rules provide, 20 these new positions, an
executive order was issued August "a,
1913, giving outside men the positions
without burdening them with tedious eN-
aminations.
This matter will be developed by the
investigators. who alleged that since the
appropria ton was made, twenty-five ad-
ditional men have been given. berths in
the State Department by executive or
der. without passing examinations or
any character.
The very recent appointment ia
librarian-translator in the children's $
bureau by executive order, will be used
as an illuminating example of how the
civil service rules and regulations have
been over-ridden. apparently for per-
son or political reasons.
Thompson Case An Example.
President Yaft issued an order jan
uary q, 1913, appointing Miss Laura A.
Thompson to the position. nothwith-
standing that in a special examination
another applicant had procured a high
er grade than she. and according to
civil service rules was entitled to the
position.
An effort had been made to have this
woman appointed asa permanent clerk
after she had served temporarily in
this position since the organization of
the Children's Bureau. but by reaeson
of existing rules she was ineligible. An
argument arose between the Civil Serv-
ice Commission and the department.
which ended in the holding of a spe-
cial examination.
when Ii was discovered that Miss
Thompson had received lower grade
than the other applicant who took the
examination, the executive order was
brought into play to override the eS-
Miss Thompson, who succeeded in
landing the position, comes from a
State whose quota is already exceeded
in appointments. and there was no way
she could be reached under the regula-
tons; while the applicant who by win
ming in the examination proved herself
best fitted for the position, is from a
State which Is under represented. For
that reason the Civil Service Commits
sion would not join in recommending
the Executive order.
President Taft's Order.
The Executive order, which in itself
explains to what extent the spirit of
the civil service rules was disregarded
in, this appointment. follows:
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
Miss Laura A. Thompson may be ap-
pointed as clerk librarian translaterD
at $3.50 per -annum in the children's
bureau without reference to the civil
service rules. I.
This order Is issued upon recommend
ation of the Secretary of Commerce and
Labor and the chief of the children's
bureau. Miss Thompson was recon-
by the Librarian of Congress
as especially fitted for the position, and
has served temporarily in the position
to the entire satisfaction Of the chief
Of the bureau. In an open competitive
for the position Miss
Thompson stood second in point of rat
Ing. bit is ineligible for certification
under the law and rule requiring the
of appointments among
the States, Territories, and the District