Civil service--Examinations

Letter from Bernard S. Brown to Theodore Roosevelt

Bernard S. Brown asks Theodore Roosevelt to help secure steady employment for a young man, Joseph V. Higgins, who is trying to take care of his large family after his father was taken to the Wards Island Asylum for the Insane. Higgins is part of the Twenty Second Regiment of Engineers and has passed his civil service examination. Brown and Roosevelt have never met, but their mothers were friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Brown, Bernard S., -1926

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt thanks the Commission for its letter as he had forgotten about the ruling of United States v. E. C. Knight Co. Based on this, it would be unwise to exempt any shipping commissioners from civil service examination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

Theodore Roosevelt does not believe that competitive examinations are the best way to acquire competent officials. He believes that competitive examinations and limits on the ability to remove heads of departments cause mischief. Roosevelt would not allow a commission to have any influence on promotions and only narrow input on removals. He doubts the proposed measure will be seriously considered by the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the United States Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt agrees to the Collector of the Port’s previous request to make three exemptions for promotions at his Customs House. However, Roosevelt does not want exceptions like this to become the new standard, as it would take weight away from examinations. He thinks the present system is still working, but perhaps it should be made easier to promote men who are already in the force of employees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to United States Civil Service Commission

President Roosevelt responds to the United States Civil Service Commission’s letter about John A. Flickinger, who has been working as a temporary watchman in the Weather Bureau. Given that Flickinger’s work has been satisfactory, and that Chief Clerk of the Weather Bureau Daniel Joseph Carroll has issued a letter of recommendation for him, Roosevelt has signed the order that allows Flickinger to be certified without further examination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou a memorandum from the Civil Service Commission in reference to Inspector of Customs Cornelius T. Crosby. Roosevelt recognizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Civil Service examinations, and feels that Crosby should be removed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mary Leontine Roosevelt Leaycraft

Miss Stowe, Mary Leontine Roosevelt Leaycraft’s friend, is mistaken in her belief that many people receive civil service appointments without examination. There are only a few positions of “highly confidential or technical nature” that do not require examination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to Frank W. Wetmore

William Loeb informs Frank W. Wetmore that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt does not intercede with President Roosevelt in government affairs. All of the positions that Mr. Gertien could fill are civil service positions, so Gertien would need to take the civil service examination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-27

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt does not disagree with Senator Lodge or Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long about the docks. He does not think Wilson can return to his old position just yet. Roosevelt updates Lodge on his difficulties with “the patronage” and some of the men from Pennsylvania, who complain about the wage increases for clerks. He discusses the “muss” of New York politics. In a postscript, Roosevelt shares that he heard that Winfield Scott Edgerly cannot be promoted to foreman except through a competitive examination. He recently spoke to Long about increasing the Navy. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-09-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Interior Bliss if John Willis would be eligible for the government surveying expedition to establish a border between Alaska and Canada without taking the civil service examination. Roosevelt vouches for Willis and praises his skills as a guide.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt inquires if Secretary of the Interior Bliss can help Joseph Gaston Baillie Bulloch secure a position in the Indian Service or the Board of Medical Examiners. Bulloch recently accepted a position as assistant surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, but he had not realized the position was temporary. Roosevelt believes his cousin has proven his dedication to public service, especially during the yellow fever epidemic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel V. Leech

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt remembers Samuel V. Leech, but he cannot help give his son, Walter F. Leech, a government position due to the civil service law. Roosevelt advises he must first take the Civil Service examination to be certified for a position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-06-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Willoughby B. Dobbs

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Willoughby B. Dobbs for the information in his last letter. He hopes the New York Police Board will not change the civil service examinations and expresses frustration towards the choices Governor Frank Swett Black has made. Roosevelt asks Dobbs to answer the woman who wrote the enclosed letter, as her husband was a client of Roosevelt’s father and he would like to help her because of the connection.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Adirondack problem

Gifford Pinchot reports to the Camp Fire Club of America about forest conservation in Adirondack Park. He believes the forests are one of New York’s greatest possessions, supplying resources, commerce and recreation. More should be done to protect the forests from misuse and fire. Good laws and properly trained, well-paid firefighters and forest rangers will help the efforts, as well as replanting programs. Pinchot recommends new laws for logging companies, discusses issues with Section 7 of Article 7 of the Constitution, and recommends changes to that article.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-02

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Letter from Jane E. Filkins to Theodore Roosevelt

Jane E. Filkins reintroduces herself, having become acquainted with Theodore Roosevelt at the First Dutch Reformed Church when he was governor. Her husband, Clinton N. Filkins, was appointed Deputy US Marshal by Edwin Denby. His term ends next March, along with Marshal Samuel G. Victor’s, as per the Revised Statutes. He scored high on his recent stenographer and typewriter examination. Against her husband’s desires, Filkins asks Roosevelt to help find Clinton a Civil Service appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Creator(s)

Filkins, Jane E.

Letter from Ida G. Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

Ida G. Smith reminds Theodore Roosevelt of his offer as governor to help her once he was in Washington, D. C. She is now ready for Roosevelt’s assistance with adjusting her position at the Department of Agriculture. Smith’s primary request is to have the civil service examination waived.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-31

Creator(s)

Smith, Ida G. (Ida Gertrude), 1875-

Letter from United States Civil Service Commission to John W. Farmer

The United States Civil Service Commission gives John W. Farmer the scores for the examination he took at Phoenix on March 17.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-06-22

Creator(s)

United States Civil Service Commission

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte sends President Roosevelt two clippings regarding comments made by Richard Henry Dana during the annual meeting for the National Civil Service Reform League. Bonaparte is proud of the work he has done to ensure rigid civil service examinations for justices of the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-08

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Chronology January 1892 to December 1898

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1892 to December 1898. Notable events include the death of Elliott Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt is appointed New York City Police Commissioner, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Spanish-American War, and Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Creator(s)

Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association

Our need is men

This newspaper article section includes remarks made by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes and Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte made at the twenty-seventh annual convention of the National Civil Service Reform League. Hughes spoke about competitive civil service examinations, while Bonaparte emphasized the importance of swaying public opinion to desire reform in the civil service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-08

Creator(s)

The Buffalo Express