Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-20
cro die A.socinted I.res..l

THE PRESIDENT MESSAGE on CIVIL SERVICE.
The following IS the meSsage'sent TO congress
to-day;
accordance with the act Of congress, approved
March 3D. 1871, convened a commission OF emil
nent gentlemen TO devise rules and regulations for
the purpose of reforming the civil service. Their
labOrs are now complete, and 1 transmit herewith
their report, together with the rules which they
recommend for my action. These rules have been
adopted, and will go INTO effect on the first day Of
January, 1872 Under the law referred to, ! in-
Grprct it, the authority j. already invested in the
executive to enforce these regulations, with full
power to abridge alter amend them at his option
when changes may be deemed advisable
These views, together with the report OF the com
missioners, are submitted for your careful consider
alton as to whether further legislation may be
essary in order to carry out On effective and bene
fetal civil service reform. II left to me, without
further congress Onal action, the rules prescribed
by the commission, under the reservation already
mentioned, viii be faithfully executed, But they
not binding, without further legislation, on my
SUCCESSORS.
Although DESTROYS Of bringing this subject to the
attention of congress before the approaching re-
cess, have not time to sufficiently examine tls az
complaining report to enable ne to suggest definite
legislative notion ensure the support which NAV
be necessary order to give thorough trial to a
policy long needed for all the strength that con
gress give, to enable 10 carry out e reiurms
IN the Gi,n service recommended by the commits
sioners and adopted, TO take effect before stated
on January ], 1872.
The law which provides for the conventEg Of the
commission to devise rules and regulations for re-
forming the civil service authorizes, / think the
permanent organization of primary board undpr
whose general directions all examinations of appi-
cants for public office shall be conducted Theie
Nc appropriation 10 continue such board
beyond the termination of its present Ia
bofs. therefore recommend that proper
appropriation 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 posi-
ton the public service which prccludes them from
receiving extra compensation under the existing
laws, that they be authorized to receive Eir cons
.ff ru NIglF In 4.I 1.,f tho avv
performance Of this duty T. ), GRANT
EXECUTIVE MANSION. Dee 10, 1871.
THE RULES SUBMITTED,
The inlloWing arc Tho rules submitted by tue
civil service commission
No one person shall be admitted to any position
in civil service within the appointment of tho
president or heads ofdeparments who IS not citi-
zen of the United States; who shall not furnish
satisfactory evidence IN regard to CHARACTER hpgtl,
and age, and who shall not have passed satsfac-
tory examination in speaking, reading and writing
the English language.
2-An advisory board ofsuitabe persons, TO be en-.
IlGyed by the president under the ninth section of
the act OF harNh s. 49, l. shall far as practicable
group the positions IN each branch of the ciyIl SCI.
vice according to the character of the duties to be
performed, and shall grade each group from the
lowest to the highest, for the purpose o promotion
within the group; admission to the civil service
shall ALWAYS be to the lowest grade of apv rra,n
ana IL such positions cannot be grouped; II graded
admission shall be determined, as provided for the
lowest. grade.
-. vacancy occurring in the lowest grade of
any group of officers shall be filed after due public
no ice, from all applicants who snail present then-
selves and vino shall have furnished evidences and
satisfied the preliminary examination already mon
toned and who shall have passed public compet-
tive examination, to test the knowledge, ability
and special qualifications for the performance OF tho
duties of the office; the board conducting such
competitive examination shall prepare, under the
supervision of an advisory board, fist OF names OF
applicants in the order of their excellence, as
proved by such examination beginning with The
highest and shall then certify to the nominating q.
appontng hoWef AZ tae case nay ne, tie nantes
three, and, from the names thus certlied the APP
pointment shall be made
Ara vacancy occurring IN any grade OF group
Of dacers above the lowest shall be dlled by com.