davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

missioner at $500. One of the Inter
state Commerce Commissioners. Frank
McAIaraniy. now receiving $4,000. en-
tered the service at 81 500; DR.. George
Otis Smith, director of the Geological
Survey. at 81 500. started as assistant
geelogiSt. at 1000 q year: William
NJ Steuart, director of the Census.
started as a messenger at $3.50 and
worked up 10 $500 year: Robert s.
Regar, Third Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral. now receiving $500, started In
as clerk at 5000
One of the historic Announcements
from the ranks was that Of George
B. Cortelyou. appointed through the
Stenographer examination. serving II
the Post Office Department by transfer
from the New York customs house
President Cleveland asked that q COM
petent Stenographer be sent to the
White House. Cortelyou was sent. He
served as Stenographer and executive
clerk 10 Cleveland. as assistant Sscre.
tary and secretary TO Mckinley and
continued as SECRETARY 20 Roosevelt
who appointed him a member of the
cabinet as Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor. He left the public service e
become president of the Consolidated
Gas CO, OF New York
From civil service 10 Congress read
like romance II Is the road thai
many have trod. Here are JUST few
Illustrations, John j. Boylan. New
York; LeonldaS c Dyer. Missouri,
Benjamin L. Fairehild. New YORK; But.
Ter B, Hare. South Carolina: Home
Hoch. Kansas Meyer JacohStein New
York. and Addison II. Smith. Idaho.
FIom the civil service 20 leadership
In the professional and business worlC
seems long step. Frank J. Hogan
reputed leader of the District OF Co.
lumbia bar. is n living illustration tia;
Ii can be done. He entered the Gov.
ernment service through the Stenog'
rapher and typiSt competitive eSamina.
ton ut salary at $1,000, and -four
years later resigned at 81, 500 wear e
enter the practice of law Mr.. Hogans
comment ON his service for Uncle sam
is interesting My experience In the
civil service and the splendid opportuni.
ties which the travel duty I was pui
ON while attached to the QuartermaStst
Generals Once of the War Depart
ment afforded. constituted and Stil con-
stitateS sn invaluable aid 20 my profess
SIGNAL work
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

sweep has the same chance as the son
of banker under the competitive sys-
tenn" The young man passed the ex-
animation with high average and
was Immediately appointed.
Mr.. Halloran distributed the exarni-
nation questions and collected the
papers at the first civil service exaini-
nation. He was custodian of test ques-
tons and assisted in the work of en-
tering eligibles on the registers and in
making Qualifications.
OF the young men who competed in
the first civil service examination one
was Immediately appointed to the Post
Office Department at salary of 81 900
a year. He was the first person ap-
pointed under the merit system" On
July l6, 1884, he was promoted to
81 400 per annum, one year after the
act went into effect. He resigned on
May 81, 1887. after graduating in law.
and In 1920 was elected 10 the United
States Senate from Maryland, Owing
ton <. Weller.
The second appointment from the
first civil service examination was that
OF woman in the Treasury Depart
ment. Miss Minnie b. Hoyt of Con-
nectcut. She resigned to get married,
the custom In those days. when mar
ried women were rare in the public
service. OF the first 100 civil service
appointments made under the merit
system" II were of women, 10 to the
Treasury Department and two to the
Post Office Department
The third woman appointed under
civil service was Miss Caroline I.
Greisheimer, who is now one of its
special examiners.
The forty-third appointment made
under the merit system" was that of
Robert j. Mewhinney of Pennsylvania
as telegrapher at $1,000 per annum
In the Department of Justice. He
graduated IN law and is now solicitor
of the Treasury Department.
The eighty-eighth appointment I'M
der the clerk examination was that of
John c. Schofield of Georgia. to a
clerkship at ST. 900 a year In the War
Department He is now chief clerk of
the War Department.
The first Official stenographer to the
Civil Service Commission was John r.
Doyle, who was appointed its third
secretary in recognition of faithful and
efficient service on September Is. 1886,
under President Cleveland's first adj
ministration. Dr. Doyle still holds that
Office. When first appointed he was
tall and slender young man, with
blond hair and mastache, courteous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

speed. Little did imagine in that mo-
n1ent OF excitement that the grim trag-
edy that he announced was to awaken
Mortified nation to the evils OF the
Spolls system and result in the passage
of the civil service act.
Martyrs do not die in vain.
mo bodyguard attended the PreSi-
dent. We learn by experience. Secret
Service guards now accompany the
President whenever he appears in
public.
The assassination of President Gar
field by disgruntled Office seeker
shocked the Nation. Statesmen were
appalled, by the catastrophe and has
tened to prepare legislation which would
remedy the evils of the spoils system.
The time had come to prohibit the traf-
i1c in public Office. Favoritism was to
be replaced by merit. The civil service
act was introduced by Senator George
A. Pendleton, a Democrat from Ohio
1t was passed by overwhelming ma jor-
tiles upon the earnest recommendation
of President Arthur, who signed 1t on
January Is, 1888" and went into effect
on July Is of the same year.
1T was no easy task for Congressman
~ Va dP~
pointment. which had been theirs by
the time-honored custom of more than
a century. Patronage was the gift be-
slowed on party workers and their
friends for their loyalty to their chiefs.
There we're many and avid applicants
for even the lowest salaried positions. A
Waterman in the Government Printing
Office. with salary of S720 year, had
been a brigadier general In the Civil
War. This man, who was well above 6
feet, had wrapped the American flag
around his body and led the charge
when the color bearer went down in
hail of bullets. Like many other heroic
figures of that tragic epoch his educa-
ton was limited or he would, undoubt-
eddy, have been given q much higher
position.
Lincoln was vexed by a horde of Of
flee seekers. Vice President Schuyler
Colfax reporting: He was annoyed
from the very opening of his admins
tration by persistent Office seekers en-
crossing nearly all his time. He used
to exclaim, I seem like a man so busy
letting rooms at one end of his house
that he has no time to put out the fire
that is blazing and destroying the other
end And when he was Frustrated in
the White House by an attack of small
pox he said to his attendants. Tell all
the Office seekers TO come at once. for
now have something I can give to all
Of them
"Once pointing out to a friend the
eager multitude of Office seekers which
thronged the White House. Lincoln said:
There you see something which in
course of time will become a greater
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

sponded, of whom 1855 accepted ap-
Dointment and started TO work at once.
The War Department increased from
2.9l1 employees before the war to 81 400
ON Armistice day, November IL. 1918.
The department now has 4,l01 emf
ployeS.
Thirty-three years have elapsed since
Roosevelt served as commissioner,
within which span two wars have been
fought. Through all the turmoil and
upheaval. while mighty changes have
taken place and empires have erum-
hled To be superseded by republics, the
Civil Service Commission has gone
steadily and Sereneiy ON. Eighteen of
the employees, known as the old guard, "
specialists and experts. who served I'M
der Roosevelt, still carry ON its impor-
tant work. They are John T. Doyle.
secretary, and Matthew +. Halloran,
contact representative. each as years
In service; AnaniaS Davis, messenger,
AZ years, Orville S, Swank. recorder, 80
Years; DR.. Thomas A, Grlffin. chief
division, SO years. Charles l.. Snyder.
district secretary 3S years; George r.
Wales. commissioner. 81 years, Caro-
line A. GreiSheimer. principal exam
liner. 81 years: Henry A. HeSSe, chief
division, IS years; DIR. Arthur r.. But
tCI. lliGQACAl GAAAlkktSks N1 hSSASs
j. Kemp. principal examiner, IS years.
Luther w Covell, principal examiner
81 years: Calvin w, Bartlett, assistant
chief division, 81 years; Nettie +, Pc
terson. principal examiner, "a years
DIR. Thomas p. Chapman. chief divi-
sion. "a years, Anna E, Black, iniornia-
ton specialist. 81 years George w
Risk. principal examiner, 81 years Ru-
lotf Il. Stratton, statistical specialist. 81
Years. and DR.. Bolivar l., Falconer,
principal examiner, "a years.
MIR. Stratton, just mentioned, was
one of the best band headers and cor
net players In Washington, for years
director of the District OF Columbus
National Guard Band. lie Is now writ
ing book ON martial music, lie
served for long TIME rs musical Secre-
tary TO John Philip SouSa,
Mr., Haloran himself broke the record
at the rifle range in n National Guard
prize shooting contest, making ~,
standing erect, out OF \ possible 80 &C
200 yards with the old Springfield,
thereby winning the trophy.
Those Who Have Made Good is
one of the most inspirattonal aud en-
thralling chapters IN Mr. HalloranS
book, showing that YOU don't need pull
IN Washington. but that under the
merit system one may win promotion
from the humhlest entrance position
to one Of the greatest responsibility
and authority, The United States
Government Is the largest employment
agency In the world, Young men and
women are attracted from all parts of
the country by the opportunities OF the
merit system. and the advantages at
torded by the evening colleges and
universities and the splendid libraries
and admirably equipped scientific laoo-
ratorieS
Practically every branch OF the Gov
ernment service has today In high ex-
e"t,'t"e positions men and women who
have grown nn and advanced by faith
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

danger to the Republic than the Rebel
lion ITSELF and again. to Carl Schurz ne
observed. L am afraid this thing Is go
ing TO ruin republican government.
With the adoption OF the reform In
the civil service a brighter and happier
era dawned, particularly in the District
of Columbia. long accustomed TO the
general exodus of Government employees
in its floating and fiuctuating popnia-
ton. The changes brought ABOUT py
the difference in the method OF app
pointment were at once conspicuous,
both in the departments and IN tne
business OF the city.
Under the new system the employees
naturally became more interested In
their work and in their environment,
which was the beginning OF the oe-
yelopment of Washington as CITY OF
Importance. The restless conoltion
and anxiety among the employees, the
fear and uncertainty OF once so gen
orally prevailing throughout the service
disappeared under the benign influence
OF the merit system. Encouraged by
the fruitful benefits OF the new system,
employees confined their efforts TO their
daily tasks instead Of TO the placating
Of patronage dispensers for continual
ton in their positions.
Educational institutions began 10
grow. washington as a center Of edu-
cation now ranks among the best in
the country. A large number OF am
bilious Government employees are now
enrolled in evening classes, especially
established for their use. working for
degrees in the arts and sciences. Build
ing associations and savings banks
likewise increased In number.
To the stabiIiZing influence OF the
merit system, with Its far greater ef-
liciency, Mr. Halioran says, Is largely
due the expansion and development Of
the National Capital and adjoining
suburbs.
THE United States Civil Service Com
: mission has been operating under
! nine Presidents. two Of whom were
| Democrats. With economy as its
watchword, IL started in an extremely
humble way. It's first Offices we're Sc
| cured in the front and back parlors OF
! thfee~story private building numbered
! 6i2 Fourteenth street northwest, IL VI
| day, including care, heating and
| lighting
About the time the first examination
was 10 be held one apparently intel
ligent but unSophistic6ted young man
| whose curiosity 0yeFran his scruples
| offered Mr. Halioran s25 for set oi
The clerk questions. Halioran took hin
| 10 the ONCE Of Dorman h. Eaton
known as "thf father Of the Civil 6erV.
ice" who was then chairman OF thu
commission In his gentle. kindly way
Commissioner Eaton explained. The
commission has nothing TO sell. IT en-.
deapors u treat all applicants alike
and distributes its infpmstion free n
he public. The SOY Of chimney
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

American boy and girl who may
start out alone TO make place In the
world" He describes the civil service
act as the ballast which preserves an
even keel for the ship of state in the
stress Of political storms" He empha-
sizes that no one else but Mr.. Halloran
has had just the necessary experience
training and talent for such a task. :"
and SAYS:
He has painted entertainingly the
Genesis Of the civil service system and
its Revelation It Is history depicted
by q master hand, with infinite pains
and careful detail. The Romance Of the
Merit System is splendid contribution
to the epic OF popular government"
II intrignes you from the first line with
q colorfui picture illustrating how it
took dire calamity to shock the pub
lie sentiment into a revolutionary act
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
The Five pauls.

HERE Is q good example OF what IRE
quently happens IN the pelyglct
Balkans, A man named Pavel that Is.
Paul, had five sons. One settled IN
Athens and called himself pavlepcule.
the Greek form Of raulSen the second
went to Belgrade and called himself
ravlovich; the third. in soma. called
himself pavlotf; the fourth made his
home In Bucharest under the name
rayleScQ, while the youngest set Nd In
BUSINESS In ConStAntlnnple. assuming
the Turkish form OF PavleSlu.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

UT HE Romance Of the Merit
80 System" ia the United States
has been written at LASTS
Il years Of "reminiscences of the
civil service by one who took
an active and conspicuous part through
out its entire existence.
There is one man best qualified to
write this story, Matthew F. Halloran.
who, as Office boy, was one of the first
two employees of the civil service, who
once moved in push cart all the goods
and chattelS. records and Office furni-
ture of what is now the biggest employ
ment agency in the world: who during
the World War was liaison officer for
Uncle Sans mobile army OF $4,000
clerical workers in Washington; who
has for many years been big brother"
adviser. confidant and friend to some
$4,000 fellow beings in what he proudly
calls the nohleSt work in the world-the
day after day routine of keeping our
great Government going He has seen
every one of the 100000 Federal workers
now on the Governments pay roll come
into the Service-and many thousands
more who have gone.
Mr.. Ealloran has written this book.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

hibition, also began as messenger at
$3.50 and is now getting $4,000; George
3. McGinty. secretary of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, who
worked up from a stenographer at $40
TO his present salary of $500; Harry
BaSSett, a member of the Employees
Compensation Commission, started as
bookbinder in the Government
Printing Office at 81 200 a year: Homer
A. A. Smith had a varied and in
teresting career. entering as librarian
at 81 200 year and is now a COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

manuscript for which will soon go to
the publishers. For years there has been
. growing demand for such work. as
is shown by the fact that 100000 per-
sons year are examined for the civil
service. each one of whom is seeking
authoritative information on the SUBJ
1ect.
william c. Deming. president of the
Civil Service Commission. points to Mr..
Haiioran as concrete example
of the possibilities of the service"
and as AN inspiration to every
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

he afterward expressed It: Her first
days work settled the matter in her
and in womens favor" In October,
1852. five other wcnlen were appoint
ed--Miss Fannie l.. HalStead. Miss
Annie York. Miss Bell S Tracy. Miss
Elizabeth Steiner and Miss Mary Burke.
These were the first women for whom
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

by which the old spoiis system Of traf-
ncking 10 Government jobs was oyer
thrown
The President is shot This dread
cry seemed 20 fesound throughout the
entire Capital A horse and rider. fiecked
with foam. dashed manly up PennSyl"
xania avenue 10 the White House, At
intervals along the route the rider re-
pested the cry, The President Is shot :
Z rushed 10 q window Of the Tenth
Census Bureau. then located IN the
Southern Railway Building at pennsyl~
ysrfs avenue and Thirteenth street, and
rsec'7t oijp9rse ~ ;h~ dsG'rauef'
courier a. hs sZ.lGssd ~ 81 oTeskneek
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

treasurer from 1861 to 1875 In the
Spring of 1862 Spinner prevailed upon
Secretary Chase To permit him to APP
point woman to Cut and trim United
States currency with scissors. He APP
pointed Miss Jennie Douglas, and. as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

NN ~ o
% nsS % % % 'H F De-
@ The % IS ! ~ @ + M
COMMITS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

MO az cons sAs ss s & s s
nsaR a ' SSn M % S S
Rlnmm NAV e MsHsq " S n
sRshc
Evening star., 1928-10-28
new BRIDGE ACROSS
OHIO RIVER OPENED
Span at St. Marys, w. Va, Costing
$1,0O0,0O0, Shortens Route
From District to West.

ST. MARYS. w. Va. (SpeciaD A new
short route highway from East to West
with direct connections to North and
South was opened to the motoring pub
lie when the million-do bridge that
spans the Ohio River was dedicated
at this point on Thursday, october 25.
Opening of this final link brings
realization to a dream of many years
and the event is epochal in the history
of Ohio West Virginia and neighboring
States. 1t shortens the distance be-
tween Chicago and Washington, D. c.,
by MANY miles 1t makes the people
of intervening cities, towns and ham,
lets really and truly "neighbors on Main
street" 1t YIELDS together in the inter-
course of happy existence communi-
ties. States and even vast sections of
America.
The new Short Route Bridge, of sus-
pension type. has been built in record
time. It spans the Ohio at point
where the river is irnposingly beautiful.
Bridge opening ceremonies were law
ish in the extreme, and great throngs OF
visitors were entertained. Many fea-
lures were crowded into the program
which opened early in the day and
closed late at night. Civic organiza-
tions of st. Marys, Ellenboro, Harris
vile, Granville, Spencer, West Union,
Pennsbcro, Salem, Clarksburg, Sisters
Vile, New Martinsville and other
West Virginia cities and towns on the
south of the great river, and of MARI
eta, Newport, New Matan1oras, Woods
Evening star., 1928-10-28

field, McConnelsville, Caldwell, Cam
bridge, Athens, Chillicothe, Logan, Lam
caster, Newark, Columbus and other
communities on the north, joined with
the populace here for the celebration.
Men of national prominence took
part in the program attending the ac-
tual christening. and representatives of
the Nation and the States spoke.
Bands from many cities joined in
music festival Football teams of ST.
Marys and Sistersville played their an
nual homecoming contest. A historic
pageant. sponsored by the Players Club
of Marietta College depicted much of
the story Of the Ohio Valley during the
century and a half that its beauties
have been known to the white man.
Thrills were added in a modern regetta
of outboard motorboat racing. A barbe-
cue cared for the hungry, followed by
evening festivities in which dancing on
gayly-lighted river steamers, an elabor-
ate display of fireworks and boxing
carnival in a specially constructed
arena, were features.
Evening star., 1928-10-28
BEST PAVED AREAS
HAVE MOST AUTOS
Detroit Car Registrations
Held Clear Evidence of Good
E""Jh;.1ay Influence.

The best paved area in the world
has more automobiles than any other
similar population center. according to
E. E. Duffy. highway educational writer.
Wayne County, Michigan, in which
Detroit is located, has the equivalent
of 766 miles of rigid rural pavements
18 feet wide, or better still. the equiva-
lent of 345 miles of 40-foot pavement,
according to the annual Wayne County
road report. Just what effect these
good roads have had on automobile
purchasers may be judged by the regis
tration figures, which show that De-
troit and Wayne County together have
$4,000 cars, or one car for every four
persons
New York City has one car for every
13 persons, Chicago one for each 9.4
persons and Philadelphia one automobile
for every 90 residents. Highway au-
thorities declare, despite the varying
masses of poor populations and indus
trial conditions, that the amount OF
good road mileage has the greatest di-
rect bearing upon the buying of cars.
1t is pointed out that where good
roads are prevalent, and the country
is easily accessible from the city, the
demand for automobiles is greater
Herein are circumstances that are
frequently overlooked. In every large
city there are thousands capable Of
purchasing automobiles who have not
done so because of traffic congestion
both within the city and on nearby
country roads. Taking the country as
whole, there is one car for every So
persons. It is evident, therefore, that
where the automobile registration ratio
is above that figure there Is something
wrong, and usually the trouble is that
of poor streets and roads.
Through failure to provide adequate
highway facilities, the natural motor
lied growth of the community is
stunted. People are denied access to
the country. The use of the car In
business is Curtailed.
On the other hand, wide streets and
roads Of smooth surfaces encourage
the ownership of automobiles, thereby
stimulating not only the basic auto
mobile business. but also most all in
dustries, with the possible exception of
Sunday loafing With the betterment
of travel facilities, city, county and
State automotive revenues are increased
through greater funds derived from To-
cal taxes, gas and registration fees, and
this all means that more money will
be available for the maintenance, i'm
provement and extension of the high
way system.
If all of Detroit's cars we're available
at once, all the residents of that city
could go for a ride simultaneously.
When this can be said of city, the
citizens may feel that they are well on
the way to solving the traffic problem.