Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-21
CIVIL SERVICE.
Report Of the Commissioners Made on
Tuesday to President Grant.
Rules fer the Examination Of applicants
for OfiOIaI Position.

WASHINGTON, December 19.-The civil
service commissioners, after citing the
act under which they were constituted q
commission, and entered upon a sketch
of the policy of various administrations In
the earlier history OF our gove rnment in
regard 70 the appointment to the civil
service, and briefly note b various
efforts made from time 70 time to correct
the evils; and then passed TO 3 description
of the present condition of the civil SER
vice, which has hitherto been sustained
by common consent, and setting forth IN de-
tsil serious and threatening evils OF treat
ing interior posts OF the administration as
party prizss, and answering various
arguments by which it Is sought to be
justified, say that If by examination for sd-
mission to civil service nothing were un-
derstOod but the test Of mere literary
proficiency, IL might be reasonably OPP
posed ss unsatisfactory, for II Is unques-
tionsble that q man might be an excel
lent appraiser of linen n yet know
nothing OF history or accounts; but on
the other hand, il is equally undenisble
that an excellent appraiser Of linen is not
less excellent because of general intelli-
gence. OF two excellent accountants the
one who has most general knowledge is
certainly preferable, snd q country which
declares that, where technical skill is
Cqusl, Il will select a candidate for its
service who Is the bstter educated, Is q
country which directly and practically
encourages intelligence and morality. It
is true thst certain distinguished men in
public ssrvics may not q passed a
certain literary examination which Is
now required of young men enter
ing some service but 1t is equally true,
thst the older men could have passed an
examination had il in their case been re-
quired, and the proof is their capacity, OF
which their present distinction Is the svi-
dsuos.
The commissioners say in concluding
their report: ave do not, indeed, sup
pose that the adoption of any rules, how
sver skillfully framed, would at one
remedy evils in the civil service, which
are universally acknowledged, and expe-
rience will doubtless show how every
method of reform may be improved; but
those evils viii certainly not be remedisd
without effort. Those who ans content 20
demand civil service reform, but who op-
pose every practical attempt TO promote
It, must be suspected OF having little real
hostility to the system which they decry.
Fortunately, however, public attention
was never more resolutely turned to a
subject, Bnd there was never a more favor
able moment 70 begin REFORM The party
issues OF the last few years are gradually
disappearing: The p6rilous question Ofths
EtAANI 49, St1- aoARA-AAAAAH
and the paramount interests OF the coun-
try are now those Of administration.
Honesty and efficiency of administration
ss q settled national policy, will now be
the chief demsnd of every party, but
nowhere can tbs purpose be shown more
plainly Es in reformation OF civil servios,
so as to secure efficiency and economy.
Extracts from he recsnt speech of Mr..
Gladstone show that q similar reform
has been made, and has succeeded, in
England.
The commissioners continue: "We pro-
pose, also, thst the places in the publi9
ssrvics shall be restored to those who are
found TO be fitted for them; and If any
one is disposed 20 think that an sbuse OF
forty years Is q law Of = republican Eys-
tenn, a little rehsotiOn will show him his
error. II he believes re form to be impos-
sible, be merely shows that be is q victim
OF the abuse, and forgsts that in America,
where every reform is possible. The in
forcement Of the rules that We submit
for approval depends, of course, upon |
the president; yet, should they recaive
the sanction OF congress- in form OF Jaw |
enforcement would become, until re-
psslsd, not only a pleasure, but a duty of
the president, That sanction, whether to
the rules now submitted, or to An
scheme, viii more surely promote that
purity and efficiency of the civil ssryics OF
the country most earnestly desires. If that
sanction should be delayed, the rules
adopted for his action by the president
could not bind his successor. But unless
we are wholly mistaken, the reform would
serve to indicate itself to the good sense
of the country that the people themselves
would reject any party or any candidate
that proposed 70 relapse into the present
The improvement of the civil
is emphatically the peoples cause,
the peoples reform, and the sdministrs-
ton which vigorously begins it viii &C.
qUirs q glory only less than the salvation
OF the Union"
Signed BY Geo. VIM Curtis, Alex. G. Cat
tell, Joseph MediIl, Davidson A. Walker, |
z B. Elliott, Joseph e.. Blackman, and
David Q. Cox.
The following are the rules submitted by
the commissioners:
Frst-No person shall be admitted to
any position in the civil service within
She appointment OF the president or heads
of the departments who is not q citizen
of the United States, who shall not have
furnished satisfactory evidence in regard
70 character, health and age, and VINO
shall not ave passed 3 satiEfsstory exam
ination in speaking, reading and writing
the English language.
Seeond-An advisory board Of suitable
persons, TO be employed by the president,
under the ninth section Of the act OF
March 3, 1871, entitled an act making sp-
propristiOns for sundry civil expenses of
government for the fiscal yesr ending
30, 1872, and for other purposes,
shall, 30 far as practicable, group positions
in sach branch of tbs civil service accord
ing 20 the character of duties TO be per-
and shall grade each group from
the lowest to the highest, for the purpose
Of promotion within the group. Admis.
sion 10 the civil service shall always be to
The lowest grade Of any group; and 70
such positions as cannot be grouped or
admission shall be determined as
provided for the lowest grade.
Third-A vacancy occurring in the
grade Of the group OF officers
Aca, from all the applicants who shall
present themselves, and who shall
have furnished evidences snd satishedthe
examination already men
5ionsd, and Who shall have passed public
competitive examination 10 test their
ability and special quslihcs-
for the performance OF the duties of
the ONCE. The board conducting such
competitive examination shall prepare,
under the supervision Of an advisory
oOEro, q list or the names OF applicants,
IN order Of their excellence as proved by
such examination, beginning with the
highest, and shall then certify 70 the nom
or appointing power, as the case
may be, the names standing at the head
Of sueh LIST, not exceeding three, and
rom the names Of those certified an ap-
pointment shall be made.
FOurth-A vacancy occurring In any grade
u group officers above the lowest, shall be
Sv q competitive examination of
applicants from b other grades Of that
and 3 list of names from which the
appointment is 70 be made, shall be pre-
pared and certified, a. provided in the
proceeding rule; but If no such spp1-
ssnts are found competent, the appoint.
nent shall be upon an examination Of all
conducted in accordance with
he provision for admission TO the lowest
zrsde.
Firh-Appliesnts certified or other
rise qualifsd for appointment as cashiers,
,ollecton Of customE, cashiers, as Instant
,reasursr's cashiers, spostmasters, super
nteudent money order division in post
,Mees. sEd such other custOdisns of large
Of none ss may hereafter be dssig-
latsd BY the advisory board, and for
whose pecunisry fidelity another oheer
3 responsible, shall, nevertheless, not be
.DpOinted except WITH the approval Of
other other officer.
Sixth-Poatmssters whose animal SAL
IL less than two hundred dollars may
De appointed upon the written request of
he applicants, with such evidence of
and 6tness as shall be satistac-
.o<y 70 the head Of the department.
Segsnth-Tbe appointments Of al per-
entering the civil service in accord
nee with these regulations, excepting
persons appointed By the President with
he advice and cOnseoS Of the senate, the
Of postmasters and persons
Ippointed TO any position In a foreign
,ountry, shall be made for a probationary
ern of ak months, dnring which the