Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-12-14
ator Edmunds Civil Service
Reform Bill.

.,,yice Of the country. Among those
ebo are moving in this direction is our
,rr able Senator, Mr.. E1munds, who
t,. introduced q bill "To regulate the
,iyil service of the United States and pro-
rote the efficiency thereof" 1t may be
,,teresting to Senator Eimunds constitu
ant. who feel deep interest in the sub
ls,t To know bis views in reference to it,
=. embraced ia his bill, aud We
give synopsis, undoubtedly convey
tng hi1 ideas as fully as anything that
can bs presented.
The bill provides that hereafter all APP
pointmeuts of civil officers in the several
apartments OF the service of ths United
Safes, except post-masters and president
i,l appointments, reqniring the oonfrms-
ton of the Senate shall be made from
those persons who shall have been found
beat qualified for the performance of the
duties Of the office to which such sp-
pontments are to bs made, in an open
and ccmp. tive examination.
The method of examination to be by a
board nj three commissioners, TO hold
heir fl IS for five years, appointed by
he President and Senate, and suhiaot to
--moval, to b. called the Civil Service
Fix miuation Board. Among the duties
pres,ribed are the following:
Fir4t-To prescribe the qualifications
r.0u,ire for an appointment in each
grade, having regard to fitness of each
7s~l,ia in respect to age, health, cha
r.cter knowledge and ability for the
br,roh Of service which the individual
vi.bes to enter.
Secoud.-To provide for the cx4mina-
lion Of eligible applicants.
Third To establish the rules govern
luz applications. times and places and
-atiects of examination, the method Of
uou1uotng them, ana of keeping and
preserving the records and perpetuating
The evidence of such applications, and
the records of each branch to be kept dis
'inot and separata. The country is to be
divided into territorial districts for the
examination Of re-idents therein.
Fnnrth-The examinations to be con-
Quoted personally by the commission or
ny persons appointed by them for that
purpose.
F,fyh.--The commission to make re-
port annually to Congress, the rules, reg.
ulatons and a summary of their pro-
o,ediDgs aud an abstract Of the exsmina-
tiors
The hill provides that all appointments
shall he made from those who have pasaed
the r.quirpd examination in the follow
ing order,
First The applicant who stands high
est III ord,r to merlt, on the li.t for any
particular branch. ehzll have the prefer
enoe, md 70 on, in the order Of precedence
In examination, t, the minimum degree If
merit fixed by the Board for such grade
!Sfcoud Whenever a vacancy shsll oc-
cur In AIRY gr.de above the lowest, in any
branch, the senior in the lower grade may
be appointed or a new examiua'ion for
that vacancy my be ordered, of those in
the xt lower grade. and tho person
found heat qu,l,fied ehan be entitled to
the -uo"intment,
Ihird The rank of seniority to be de-
Trimmed nv a rink of merit, having re-
gard aI1n to seniority of service, leaving
il in the power Of the heads of Depart
,neut- to order new examinations, the
81 I'd giving due notice and fixing Iu'ss,
and which shall determine the seniority
Of The PERSONS 70 be examined.
F0urh The Board shall have power
to e-t4bh-h ruDes for special txamin ton.
r}so rules by which any person exhibit
ing p4rticul4r merit in any branch may
he advanced one or more points in their
respective grades; one-fourth of the pro
motions my be made on scconnt of mer-
IT, irrespective of seniority in s1rVicei such
merit to ba esoertained by special exami-
nation, or by advancement for meritorious
service and special fitness.
The power shall be given the Board to
prescribe a tee not exceeding Ave dollars,
30 be paid by each applicant for examina-
i N, and another fee not exceeding ten
lollars, for each Certificate of recommen-
lation for appointment, promotion or of
seniority, to be paid to the collector of in
ternal revenue of the district in which
the applicant resides. The board shnll
orescribs what misconduct or ineH
e,oncys shall be sufficient for re-
m wal or suspension, also the man
ner of preferriug CHARGE, trials, and the
position Of the accused pending such
trial
ANY one OF tn, Board of Commissioners
may superiutend any examination. and
they may call to their assistance such men
If learning and high character ss they
NAV think fit, or civil. military or naval
Ulcers Of the United States who may b.
DESIGNATED for that service. The Board
in sll cases OF trial shall report to the head
Of the proper department their finding n
,he matter, nnd such person shall he sus-
pended or dismissed pursuant to the rec
ommendation.
The salary Of each commissioner to be
five thousand dollars year, and a clerk
msy be appointed at salary of two tbous-
and dollars year, and messenger at q
salary Of nine hundred dollars, with the
necessary travelling expenses of each Of
,hose fioers to be accounted for in detail.
Also the necessary expenses are to be paid
in the same manner. Any officer in SER
vice at the time Of the passage of the bill
may be required to appear before the
board for examination and if found not
qualified TO be dismissed and the vacancy
shall be filled in the manner provided by
the bill.
Az citizens of the United States to be
eligible to examination and appointment,
and the beads of the several depar' ments,