Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-12-29
Report Of the Civil Service Commits.
sion.
The President, on the 10th, sent the fol-
lowing message to Congress

sion.
The President, on the 10th, sent the fol-
lowing message to Congress
| TO he Senate and House Of Representdtires.
In accordance with an act Of Congress, approved
March 3, 1871, / convened q commission Of eminent
gentlemen to devise rules and regulations for the
purpose Of reforming the civil service, Their la
bOrs are now complete, and | transmit herewith
their report, together with the rules which they
recommend for my action. Those rules have been
adopted and will go into effect on the 1st day Of
January, lS12 Under the law referred to. "a in
terpret 1t, the authority is already vested IN the
Executive to enforce these regulations, with full
power to abridge, alter, or amend them at his op-
ton, when changes may be deemed advisable.
These views, together with the report of the Com
missioners, submitted for your careful consid-
eration, as to whether further legislation may be
necessary In order to carry out effective and ben,
ehcal civil service reform. II left to me, without
further Congressional action, the rules prescribed
by the commission, under the reservation already
mentioned, will be faithfully executed but they
are not binding, without further legislation on
my Successors Being desirous of bringing this
suoJect 70 lhe attehti1n OF congress bcIore inc
approaching recess, have not time to sufficiently
examine the accompanying report, to enable me
to suggest the definite legislative action to insure
the support which may be necessary, in order to
give thorough trial TO policy long needed. ask
for all the strength which Congress give me.
to enable me to carry out the reforms in the civil
service recommended by the Commissioners and
adopted, TO take effect a. before stated January
I, 1872. The law, which provides for the conven-
ing OF the commission to devise rules and regula-
tons for reforming the civil service, authorizes
think. the permanent organization OF primary
board, Hnder whose general directions all examina-
tions Of applicants for public office shall be con-
Quoted. There il no appropriation to continue
such board beyond the termination Of its present
labors. therefore recommend that the proper ap-
preparation be made to continue the services Of the
present board for another year and in view Of the
fact that three members Of the board hold positions
in the public service which precludes them from
receiving extra compensation under existing laws,
AT Fhfrf ufr
ton for the extra service rendered by them in the
performance of this duty.
tSgued) L. S. GRANT.
The rules submitted by the Commits
sioners (Messrs. Geo. NJ Curtiss, Alexan-
der G. Cattell, Joseph Medill, Davidson
c.. Walker, F. B. Elliott, Joseph II.
Blackford, and David c. Cox) are as fol-
| lows
/. Noperson shall be admitted to any position in
! the civil service within the appointment of the
President heads OF departments who is not cit
Zen Of the United States, who shall not have fur
nshed satisfactory evidence in regard to character
health, and age, and who shall not have passed a
satisfactory examination in speaking, reading and
| writing the English language.
>. An advisory board Of suitable persons to be
employed by the President, under the ninth section
of the act OF March B. 1871 entitled IAN act making
appropriations for sundry civil expenses Of the gov
eminent, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872,
and for other purposes, shall far practicable,
group tne POSITIONS OF euCn DranCn OF the Otuclal
service, according to the character of the duties to
| be performed. and shall grade each group from the
lowest to the highest, for the purpose Of promotion
within the gronp. Admission TO the civil service
! shall always he to the lowest grade Of any group;
! and 10 such positions cannot be grouped or
| graded, admission shall be determined as provided
/ for in the lowest grade.
/ g. \ vacancy occurring in the lowest grade OF
any group OF officers shall be filed after due public
notice. from all applicants who shall present them
selves, and who shall have furnished evidences and
satisfied the preliminary examination already men
/ toned and who shall have passed public cOmpc
titye examination to test their knowledge. ability
and special qualifications for the performance Of the
| duties OF the office, The board conducting such
competitive examination shall prepare under the
names of Supervisors OF the Advisory Board list
! OF applicants in the order OF their excellence, as
! proved by such examination, beginning with the
highest, and shall then certify to the nominating oI
| appointing power as the case may be, the name,
standing at the head of such list, not exceeding
] three, and from the names there certified the ap
! pOintment shall be made
T. A vacancy occurring in any grade of a group
/ OF officers above the lowest, shall be filled by i
| competitive examination Of applicants from Other
| grades OF that group, and the list Of names from
which the appointment Is to be made shall be pre-
| pared and certified az provided in the preceding
| rule but If no such applicants are found compe
| tent, the appointment shall be upon an examina
| tion OF all applicants, conducted in accordance
| with the provisions for admission to the lowest
| grade.
5. Applicants, certified or otherwise, qualified for
appointment as cashiers, collectors customs cash
! iers Assistant Treasurers cashiers, POstmasters,
| Superintendent of the money order division in
| Post-Offices, and such other custodans of large
sums Of money may hereafter be designated by
! the Advisory Board and for whose pecuniary hdel-
ity another officer Is responsible shall nevertheless
not be appointed except with the approval OF such
other officer.
g. A Postmaster whose annual salary is less than
| 500, may be appointed upon n written request OF
| applicants with such evidence of character and dt
ness a shall be satisfactory TO the head Of the De
! partment.
4, The appointment Of all persons entering the
civil service in accordance with these regulations
excepting persons appointed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent Of the Senate; ap
pointment Of postmasters, and persons appointed
to any position in a foreign country shall be made
for the probationary term of six months during
which the conduct and capacity of such person.
shall be tested and IT, at the end Of such probation
aTy term, satisfactory proofs Of their fitness sha
have been furnished by the Board Of Examiners tC
the head of the department in which they shal
have been employed during the said term, they shall
be reappOinted
&. The President will designate three persons IN
! each department Of the public service to serve a.
| Board Of Examiners which, under thesupervisiOr
of the Advisory Board, and under the regulations
to be prescribed by 1t, and at such times and pace
as II may determine shall conduct personally, or by
persons approved by the advising board, all investi
cations and examinations for admission, into sale
departments, or for promotion therein.
9. Any person who, after long and faithful serv
/ ice in adepartment, shall be incapaciated by men
tai or bodily infrmites for the efficient discharge o.
the duties Of his position, may be appointed by III,
head OF the department, at his discretion, To po
| sition OF less responsibility in the same, depart
| ment.
10 Nothing in these rules shall prevent the ap
| pointment of aliens to positions in the Consular
service, which, by reason of small compensation o
Of other sufficient cause, are, in the Judgment o
the appointing power, necessarily so hed, nor thu
appointment of such persons within the United
States as are indispensable to the proper dscharg
of the duties of certain positions, but who may no
be familiar with the English language, or legally ca
pable of naturalization.
H. No head of department or subordinate ONCE
OF the government shall, as such officer, authorize
or permit, or assist in leyying any assessment o
money for political purposes under the form o
voluntary contribution or otherwise, upon any per
son employed under his control, nor shall any sucl
person pay any money so assessed.
II. The Advisory Board shall al any time recon
mend TO the President such changes in these rule
a. II may consider necessary to secure greater ell
cheney Of the civil service.
l3. From these rules are exempted the heads o
the Departments, Assistant Secretaries Of Depart
sstlnt Postmaster General, Solicitor General, 81
licitor Of the Treasury, Naval Solicitor, Solicitor q
Internal Revenue, Examiner OF Claims in the stat
Department, Treasurer of the United States, Reg
lister of the Treasury, First aud Second Comptro
lers Of the Treasury, Judges OF the United state
Courts, District Attorneys, Private Secretary OF IN
President Ambassadors and otherP ublic Minister
Superintendent Of Coast Survey, Director OF th
Mint, Governors Of Territories, Special Commi
sioners, Special Annual Visiting and ExaEninin
Boards, persons appointed 10 positions withol
, compensation for services, Despatch Agents an
Bearers OF Dispatches.
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