Evening star., 1924-08-17
Real Workers in the National Capital

system which permitted promotions on
individual merit unaided by political or
personal 'influence.' Before the COM
mittee on civil service investigations,
Fifty-irst Congress, when the question
was being discussed Of making appoint
mcnts for a definite period, Commits
sioner Roosevelt said: "It would be
calamity. For example. our 81, 800 clerk
(thc highest then in the classified serv-
ice) Mr.. Halloran, we should be ex-
ceedingly sorry to lose. He has been
with us seven years. He was appointed
as a messenger and has gone up from
an $S4O position to 81 800. and is In my
office chiefly" Upon leaving the com
mission Mr.. Roosevelt handed Mr.. Hal
loran this letter:
During my years as civil serv-
ice commissioner you have served
under me in position or peculiar
trust. You have done invaluable
work for the commission. No one
but a man of high fidelity and in
tegrity, of marked capacity and of
ability to take the utmost pains and
show rigid accuracy and method
could have performed such service
as yours. 1t has been a pleasure
to have you serve with me, and 1t
Is q pleasure to speak as ] do Of
the way you have performed your
duties"
From CommissiOneF Proctor.
Somewhat similar testimony was
given by Commissioner John r Proc
tor in 1902, when he wrote: when
became a commissioner I was told
of your long and faithful service, and
the impression then given has been
confirmed by my personal observa-
ton of the attentive manner in which
you have performed your duties. The
work of certification clerk is OF Pc
culiar delicacy and responsibility and
your long familiarity with the prac-
tice of the commission and the con-
scientious manner in which you have
performed your duties have made
your services particularly valuable
and efficient"
About the same date another retir-
ing commissioner, William A. Roden-
berg. who has just retired from Con-
sress, gave similar testimony.
Mr.. Halloran has been personally
responsible for more than 100000
civil service certifcations and much
credit is due him for the development
OF the system and its freedom from
scandal
The high regard in which he is
held by those who have worked with
him was notably attested when his
present job of contact representa-
tive" was created for him. He was
handed a document which read: We
wish to make grateful acknowledge
ment of your tireIess service among
us and of your splendid leadership.
1t is with regret that all of US come
to the realization that your work
with us as our chief is ended, even
though attended with the honor
which is due you. The bond of un-
derstandins and sympathy existing
between US comes from our interest
IN common cause. 1t was cemented
during the trying days of the World
War and will endure"
Work During World War.
During the World War Mr.. Halloran
performed tireless and invaluable
service. He had three telephones on
MS desk, two with direct connections
with war bureaus, constantly in oper-
alton, and people lined three deep be-
fore him daily awaiting ASSIGNMENT.
He initiated practical methods Of short
cuts in business and was instrl-
mental IN bringing stenographer and
typewriter eligibles from all parts
OF the country upon receipt of their
examination rating and place them in
direct contact with the appointing
time for correspondence.
For this service he receives scores
of commendatory letters from those
in charge OF the war bureaus, such
as the Federal fuel distributor.
Being finished orator he was a
leader in liberty loan drives and
| made many patriotic speeches as a
four-minute-man chairman.
Mr.. Halloran was born in the Dis
trict of Columbia, educated in the
pubic schools, at Gonzaga College,
the Spenserian Business College. and
Georgetown Law School
He has been a resident of Hyatts-
Vile for "a years and in 1919 was
elected mayor.