208 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
three others. I am not recommending the promotion of the other 
division chiefs, because the salaries are sufficient for the places they 
occupy-—$1,800 and $2,000 are all the positions justify; but I say this 
man is one of the most important men in our Bureau, and in all the 
other departments of the Government service this class of work is paid 
very much higher. This man is without an equal in this line of work. 
I hope you will agree to give him the $2,750, and not cut that estimate 
a cent. 
Tho CHarrman. What have you to say about the painter at $1,000. 
Professor Moors. That isthe nextitem. We used to have that work 
done by our laborers. I always try to keep inside of the civil-service 
rules. They have ruled that I can not do this work with our laborers, 
and that we must have a skilled mechanic. 
Mr. Burteson. Why can not the laborers do it? 
Professor Moors. Because it is skilled work, and we can not employ 
a laborer at $50 or $60 a month to do it. 
Mr. Hewry. Does he have to pass an examination? 
Professor Moors. We will have to get a skilled painter from the 
civil-service eligible register to do that work in the future. Hereto- 
fore we have had it done by our laborers. 
Mr. Wricur. Is that change to be made at the instance of the 
unions? : 
Professor Moors. No, sir; at the instance of the Civil Service Com- 
mission. 
Mr. Havueen. Where is he to do this work? 
Professor Moor. Around the building, in the interior and on the 
exterior. 
Mr. Grarr. This position will be filled by the Civil Service Com- 
mission ? 
Professor Moors. Oh, yes. 
The Cuarrman. Is the man who has been doing that work going to 
be appointed as a painter? 
Professor Moors. No, sir. I have been dividing that work up 
among our laborers, but in the last month we have not been doing 
much painting except what we have had done by contract, simply be- 
cause we did not have the man to do it. If you pay ordinary men to 
do skilled labor, the unions will get after you, and very properly so. 
I believe they are right in that. The Civil Service Commission will 
object if I put a laborer at that work, and so there is nothing for me 
to do but to make an estimate for a painter. 
The Cuarrmay. The next item is “Fuel, lights and repairs, 
Weather Bureau.” 
Professor Moorz. An increase of $3,000 is asked for that item. I 
want to call your attention to the fact that in 1894 the amount appro- 
priated was $10,000; that included the hire of laborers. In 1895 you 
reduced the amount, but to-day the amount requested is less than it was 
years ago. 
The Canny: We took away one expense. 
Professor Moorr. That is just what 1am saying. There was $4,000 
that was taken out and put into classified places. 
The Cuarrman. Four thousand dollars of expense? 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. 
The Cuarrman. That left $6,000. 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. So that the expense of caring for the 
building is less than before. 
