The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-05
THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Messaae Of President Grant nm the Subiect
-RuIes AdOrted by the Communication.

In accordance with the act of Congress
approved March Sd, 1871, convened COM
mission of eminent gentlemen To devise rules
and regulations for the purpose of reforming
the civil service Their labors are now com
plete, and transmit herewith their report,
together with the rules which they recon-
mend for my action. These rules have been
adopted, and will go into effect on the first
day of January, 1872. Under the law re i.
ferred to, as interpret it, the authority is
already vested in the Executive to enforce
these regulations, with full power to abridge,
alter, or amend them at his option, when
changes are advisable. These views, to-
gether with the report of the Commissioners,
are submitted for your careful consideration
as to whether further legislation may be
necessary in order to carry out an effective
and beneficial civil service reform. If left
to me, without further Congressional action
the rules prescribed by the Commission, un-
der the reservation already mentioned, will
be faithfully executed; but they are not
binding, without further legislation on my
successors. Being DESTROYS of bringing this
subject to the attention of Congress before
the approaching recess, have not time to
sufficiently examine the accompanying re-
port to enable me to suggest definite legisla-
tive action to Insure the support which may
be necessary in order to give a thorough trial
to policy long needed. l ask for all the
strength which Congress can give me to en-
able me To carry out the reforms in the civil
service recommended by the Commissioners
and adopted. to take effect, as before stated,
on January lst 1872.
The law which provides for the converting
of a commission to devise rules and regula-
tions for reforming the civil services author
ICES, think, a permanent organization OF a
primary board, under whose general direc-
tions all examinations of applicants for pub
lie Office shall be conduct d. There is no
appropriation to continue such board beyond
the termination of its present labors |
therefore recommend that proper appro-
priation be made to continue the services
Of the present board for another year, and,
in view of the fact that three of the men,
bers of the board hold positions in the pub
lie service, which precludes them from re-
ceiving extra compensation under the exist
ing laws, that they may be authorized to
receive a fair compensation for the extra
service rendered by them in the performance
(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 10, 1871.
The following are the rules submitted
by the Commissioners
l. No person shall be admitted to any po-
stion in the civil service within the appoint
ment of the President or heads of depart
ments who is not citizen of the United
States, who shall not have furnished salts
factory evidence in regard to character,
health and age, and who shall not have
passed q satisfactory examination in speak
ing, reading and writing the English Ian
guage.
Q. An advisory board of suitable persons
to be employed by the President under the
o. section of the act of March Sd, 1871, en-
t.. .. An act making appropriations for
su4. Try fiscal expenses of the Government
for the fiscal year ending June 3Oth, 1872,
and for other purposes" shall, so far as prac-
ticable group the positions in each branch
of the civil service according to the charac-
ter of the duties to be performed, ana snail
grade each grade, from the lowest to the
highest, for the purpose OF promotion within
the group. Admission to the civil service
shall always be to the lowest grade of any
roup, and to such positions as cannot be
grouped or graded, admission shall be deter
mined AS provided for the lowest grade.
8. A vacancy occurring in the lowest grade
of anv group, the Office shall be filled, after
due public notice, from all applicants who
shall present themselves and who shall have
furnished evidences and satisfied the pre-
liminary examination already mentioned,
and who shall have passed a public compel
tive examination to test their knowledge,
ability and special qualifications for the per
Torrance of the duties OF the Office The
board conducting such competitive examlna-
ton shall prepare, under the supervision of
the advisory board, list of names OF the
applicants in the order Of their excellence,
as proved by such examination, beg nnlng
with the highest, and shall then certify to
the nominating or appointing power, as the
case NAV be, the names standing at the head
of such list not exceeding three; and from
the names thus certified the appointments
shall be made.
q. A vacancy occurring in any grade of Il
orout of officers above the lowest shall be
filled by a competitive examination OF appll-
cants from the other grades of that group,
and the list Of names from which the APP
pointment is TO be made shall be prepared
anu certified as provided in the preceding
rule. but if no such applicants are found,
competent appointment shall be made upon
the examination of all applicants, conducted
in accordance with the provisions for admis-
sion 10 the lowest grade.
5. Applicants certified or otherwise quail
fed as cashiers of assistant treasurers, cash
iers of postmasters, superintendent OF the
money order division in the post offices, and
such other custodians oflarge sums of money
as may hereafter be designated by the adj
yisory board, and for whose pecuniary fdel-
ity another officer is responsible, shall,
nevertheless, not be appointed except with
the approval Of such other officers.
G. Postmasters whose annual salary is
less than 5000 may be appointed upon the
written request OF the applicant, with such
evidence of character and fitness as shall be
satisfactory to the head of the Department.
7. The appointment of all persons enter
ing the civil service in accordance with these
regulations, excepting persons appointed by
the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, appointments of post
masters, and persons appointed to any posi-
ton in foreign country, shall be made for
a probationary term of six months, during
which time the conduct ami capacity of
such persons shall be tested, and if at the
end Of such probationary term satisfactory
proof of their fitness shall have been fur
nished by the Board of Examiners to the
head Of the department in which they shall
have been employed during said term, they
shall be reappointed.
s. The President will designate three per-
sons in each department of the public service
TO serve as a Board of Examiners, which,
under the supervision of the Advisory Board
and under regulations to he prescribed by it,
and az such times and places as it may deter
mine, shall conduct, personally or by persons
approved by the Advisory Board, all investi-
cations and examinations for admission into
said departments or for promotion therein.
Il. l.. 4 Eu..I l.