METHODS AND PROCEDURE OF CIVIL SERVICE HEARINGS BEFORE A SELECT COMMITTEE OF л SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION PURSUANT TO S. RES. 199 DIRECTING THE INVESTIGATION OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE 86 9695/7/24 METHODS AND PROCEDURE OF CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINING DIVISION. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1922. COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE, The select committee, appointed under Senate resolution 199, met at 10.30 o'clock, a. m., at the room of the Committee on Interstate Commerce, Capitol, pursuant to call, Senator Thomas Sterling presiding. Present: Senators Sterling (chairman), Colt. McKellar, and Ransdell; also Senator T. H. Caraway. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. I think, perhaps, the committee is familiar with the resolution under which this select committee was appointed, but I will now submit the resolution (S. Res. 199) introduced by Senator Robinson of Arkansas for the record. The resolution referred to is as follows: "Resolved, That a committee of five Senators, who shall be members of the Committee on Civil Service, be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the said committee is hereby authorized and instructed to investigate the proceedings of the examining division of the Civil Service Commission, and particularly to ascertain whether political influence has been used in said examination and in the making and alteration of grades relating to the same, and whether the act of Congress giving preference to ex-service men in appointment to office under civil-service regulation has been observed and executed. "Said committee is empowered to sit during the recess and sessions of the Senate, at such times and places as by it may be deemed advisable, to require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents, except those that have been received by the commission under pledge of confidence, to administer oaths, and to employ stenographers at a cost not exceeding $1.25 per printed page, and such clerical assistance as may be necessary. All expenses of the committee incurred under this resolution shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate on vouchers authorized by the committee and signed by the chairman thereof. "Said committee shall report its proceedings and findings to the Senate within 90 days." The CHAIRMAN. The Chair submits for the record a statement of cases, with certain data in regard thereto, submitted to the chairman of the committee by Senator Robinson, to be made a part of the record. (The statement referred to reads as follows:) Hon. THOS. STERLING, UNITED STATES SENATE, Chairman Subcommittee on Investigation of Civil Service Commission, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR STERLING: Pursuant to the understanding reached at a conference with your committee to-day, I submit for the consideration and action of the committee the following cases and data: Orangeburg, S. C.-Senator Dial probably can furnish information. Contention is that appointee, as county dispenser of patronage, offered to sell the post-office appointment for Bowen, S. C., for the sum of $500, and the examiners of the commission refused to qualify him on that ground. Their action was overruled by some one in authority in the commission. Spencer, Ind.-It is claimed that the appointee to this office was qualified by the commission over the decision of the examining board when in fact he is 1 |