The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-20
WASHINGTON.
The Civil Service.
Special Message of the President
to Congress.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 10.

In accordance with the act of Congress, APP
proved March %, 1871, convened a Commits
sion OF eminent gentlemen to devise rules and
regulations for the purpose of reforming the
civil service. Their laDorS are now complete,
ana L transmit herewith the report, together
win the rules which are recommended tor my
action. These rules have been adopted, and
VIII go into effect on the LIST day OF January,
1872 Under the law referred to, as l interpret
H. the authority is already invested ill the Ike
cuGiVe to enforce these regulations with full
power to abridge, alter or amend them at his
,,ption when changes may seem advisable.
lhese views, together with the report of the
commissioners, are submitted for your careful
consideration, as To whether further legislation
may De necessary i'll order to carry out an eff
iecllve and beneficial civil service reform. Ii
left to me without further Congressional action
the rules prescribed by the Commission under
the reservation already mentioned will be faith
Ally executed, but they are not binding, With
OUT further legislation, on my successors. Be-
ing deslrous OF bringing this subject to the at
'eltlon OF Congress before the approaching re-
cess, have not time to sufficiently examine
the accompanying report to enable me TO sug-
SeSt definite legislative action to insure the
support which may be necessary III order to
5i.e thorough trial to policy long needed L
ask Tor all the strength which Congress can
give Inc to enable me to carry out the reforms
al the civil service recommended by the Com
mlssioners and adopted to take effect, as before
stated, ON Jan. LIST, 1872. The law which pro-
Viuesfor the converting of Commission to de-
wise rules and regulations for reforming the
CIVIL service authorizes, think, the permanent
organization OF primary board, under whose
general directions all examinations of appli-
!cants for public office shall be conducted AS
there Is no appropriation to continue such q
BOARD beyond the termination OF its present
iapors, therefore recommend that proper ap-
preparation be made to continue the services of
the present board for another year, and i'll view
OF the fact that three members Ut the board hold
positions In theipublic service, which precludes
them from receiving extra compensation under
the existing laws, tnat they be authorized to re-
celVe fair compensation tor extra services rem
dered by them i'll the performance of this duty
(SigneU U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dee. 49, 1871.
THE DAUGHTERS OF CUBA
A delegation of the daughters of Cuba from
New York called ON the President to-day and
Will have an interview tomorrow.
LEGAL TENDER DECISIONS.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
United States to-day announced to the bar that
the opinions in the legal tender cases will be
read at an early day after recess. The Senate
confirmed large number of appointments
THE RULES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
The following the rules submitted by the Civil
Service Commission:
First No person shall be admitted to any position
IN tue civil service within the appointment of the
President, or heads of the departments who is
citizen Of the United States who shall have fur
health and age and who shall not have passed sat.
isiactory examination in speaking reading and writ
ing the English language.
Second, An advisory board of suitable persons to
be employed by the President under the 9Th section
OF the act Of March 8, 1871 entitled making ap
propriations for sundry civil expenses and for other
purposes SHALL 80 far practicable, group the posi-
lions into each branch of the civil service, according
to The character Of the duties to be performed and
shall grade each group the lowest to the highest for
the purpose OF promoi n within the group. Admis-
sion to The civil service shall always be to the lowest
rad nj and ,nl,
DE grouped graded admission shall be determined as
provided for the lowest grades.
any group Of officers shall be filled after due public
notice, from all the applicants who shall present
themselves, and who shall have furnished evi sence
and satisfied the preliminary examinations already
mentioned, and who shall have passed public COM
petitive examination to test their knowledge and ab
ty, and special qualifications for the performance of
the duties of the office The board Conducting sucL
competitive examination shall prepare under the SUI
pervsion OF the advisory board list of the of
the applicants in their order of excellence as provid
cd by examination, beginning with the highest, and
shall then certify to the nominating appointing |
power, as the case may be, to the standing at
the head of such list not exceeding three. ami from |
the names thus certified the appointment shall be |
made.
Fourth, A vacancy occurring in the grade of |
group of officers above the lowest it shall be filed by
competitive examination of the applicants from the
other grades of that group and the list of names from
which the appointment is be made shall be prepar-
ed and certified provided in the preceding rule but
if no such applicants are found competent, appoint
SA'N@N
picants conducted in accordance with the provisions
for admissi IN to the lower grades.
Filth, Applicants certified otherwise qualified |
for appointments as cashiers of Collectors Of Customs
cashiers OF Assistant Treasurers cashiers of Post
masters Superntendents of money order division in
Post Office, and such other custodians as may here
after be designated by the advisory board AMI for
whose pecuniary fidelity another officer is RESPONSE
Dle SHALL nevertheless not be appointed except with
the approval of such other officer,
Sixth, Postmasters whose annual salary is less /
than $500 may be appointed on the written request
n faha mil st-
ness as stall be satisfactory to the head of the depart
ment.
q Seventh The appointment of all nersons enterino
the Civil Service in accordance with these regul-
lions, excepting persons appointed by the President
oy ami with me consent Of the Senate and the APP
pontments OF postmasters and persons appointed to
any position in foreign country, shall be made for
probationary term of six months, during which the
conduct anu capacity of such persons shall be estei,
ami If at the enl ofsuch probationary term satisfcto
r proofs Of their fitness shall have been furnished by
which they shall lave been employed during the sail
Term, they shall be re-appointed
Eighth, The President will designate three persons
in each department of he Public Service to serve as
board OF examiners, which, under the supervision of
the advising boacls ami under the regulations, to be
prescribed by 1t and at such times and places it
may determine, shall conduct personally by per-
sons approved by the advising board, all investigl
tons and examinations for admission into said de-
partments or for promotions therein.
Ninth, ANY person who, after long and faithful /
s mepts n sha DC by
OF the duties OF his position may be appointed by the
head of the department, at his discretion, to posi-
ton of less responsibility in the department.
TENTH Nothing in these rules shall prevent the ap-
pontmept of aliens to position in the consular service
which, by reason of small compensation or of other
sufficient cause, in the judgment of the appoint |
ing power necessarily so filed nor the appointment |
ofsuch persons within tho United States as are ins-
pensble to the proper discharge Of the duties of Ger
tain positions, hut who may not be familiar with the
English language or legally capable Of naturaza-
ton,
Eleventh, No head of department, nor any sub !
ordinate officer Of the Government shall, such
officer authorize or permit as: list in evyins any
assessment of money for political purposes nnder |
form of voluntary contributions or otherwise upon |
any person employees under his CONTROL nor shall |
any such person pay any money so assessed,
Twelfth, The advisory board shall at any time rec
ommend to the President such changes in these rules
it may consider necessary to secure greater eic-
iency of the civil service.
Thirteen, From these rules are excepted the heads |
of departments, assistant secretaries of departments
Assistant Attorney General First Assistant Postmas-
ter General Solicitor, General Solicitor of the Treas
ury, Navy Solicitor Solicitor of Internal Revenue,
Examiner of Claims in State Department, Treasurer
of the United Statee, Register of Treasury Frs and
States Courts District Attorneys private secretaries
of the PreAident ambassadors and other public min
isters Superintendent of Coast Survey Director of
the Mint Governors of Territories, special commits
sones special annual visiting and examining boards
persons appointed to positions without compensation
for services despatch agents and bearers OF dispatches
NEW YORK,
IMPORTANT REVELATIONS
New YORK, Dec. 39.-The Commercial has a