New-York tribune., 1873-06-21
OWL SERVICE REFORM.

|
THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED AND ADoPTED-T1rE
| COUNTRY TO DE DrvfbED INTO DISTRICTS AND A
| CHEF EXAMINER APPoiNTED-THE BOARDS OPIN-
| IONS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
| WAsHINGToN, June 20.-The Cabinet had n special
meeting to-day. to consider the report and rules of
| the Civil Service Advisory Board Mr. Dornan B.
| Eaton was the only member of tho Board present.
He presented the views OF his associates, and the
! gnments which had led them TO recommend the
changes they had made. The modified rules, ten In
number, as adopted by the Board were, after some
discussion by the Cabinet, accepted with a few
verbal amendments. and promul gated this
| afternoon. One of them declares that
while it is not the purpose of the rules and regula
tions either toTestrict the power of removal to
extend the tenure of service such power will not
be exercised arbitrarily and therefore applications
must not be entertained by 'any authority having
the duty of nomination or appointment for the re-
moya of any person in the Civil Service; nor win
| any person be removed for the rmero purpose Of
, making place for any other person The follow
ing are extracts from the rules:
The grouping heretofore made for executive Depart
ments at Washington is modified by striking out the
words female clerks, copYlss, ami counters at 500
year, these places being below the grade OF ccrships
81 class one.
Selections may be made by the appointing power
| competent,
being liberty TO give preference to such as may he
Justly regarded having tho highest claims TO public
consideration, by Of loss OF support Of prop
erty occasionci by death or disability OF any person
in defense Of tho Union in in other public service
OF the Government
Applicants for appointment Cashiers Of Collectors
of Customs Casers Assistant Treasurers, Cashiers
| OF Postmasers superntendents OF MOney-Order
Divisions in PostOnlces and other custodans OF large
sums of public money for whose fidelity another officer
has given official bonds, may be appointed at discretion,
but this rule shall not apply to any appointment 20
position grouped below iAe grade Of assistant teller.
Il In cases OF defalcaiion embezzlemcnt Of public
money, other rgency calling TO- immediate action
where the public seryre would he materially injured
unless the vacancy promptly flied without rrsorng
TO the methods OF selection ana appointment prescribed
by the rules and regulations, where vacancy hap
pens az place remote and difficult OF and the
methods prescribed FOR filing it cannot be applied with
out causing delay inuruos to the public service, the
appointment may made at discretion. But this rule
shall not apply to any place which IS provided TO be
| filed under the rules OF competitive examination.
For the purpose OF bringing the examinations for the
Civil Service to the residences OF those de ing
to be examined as the appropriation at the command OF
the President Will warrant and FOR the further purpose
Of facilitating far practicable the making Of scec-
tions for such service equally from the several positions
of the Union. while at the time, preserving the
| principle OF promoting merit as tested by
| falr competition, II is provided that TIC
states shall be grouped into five districts Tho
| Presldent will employ or designate suitable
person to he Chief Examiner, whose duty 1t Will be,
subject the supervision OF the Civil Service Commls
sion to promote uniformity in preparing for. conducting
reporting and grading the examinations b. said boards
az Washington aud prepare for, attend, supervise,
and report the examinations herein provided 10 be held
elsewhere than at Washington. The District examina-
| tions shall be held not more than twice In
| any one year In the same district, except
| In Washington, where IN examination may be held in
respect OF each Department as frequently as the head OF
such Department subject 10 the approval Of the Presi
dent may direct, and AN persons examined in Wash
ingon wherever they may reside, shall he entered on
tho record Of persons eligible for appointment equally
| as II examiued elsewhere.
! The report of the Civil Service Commission signed
| by Messrs. Doman b. Eaton, Samuel ShelIabarger.
Dawson A. Walker, l.. b. Elliott, Joseph II. Black
| fam and David c. Cox says among other things;
IL apuears TO DO the unanimous opinion OF those at tho
head OF these Departments that there has been de-
cidsd mitigation the operation Of such rules of
the serious evils that before prevailed and steadily In
| creased. Nero personal importantly and parti
| san intrigue have diminished In the same
ratio that individual merit and just rules
| for testing such merit have b'en made
the basis OF appointments and promotions The appca
tion for these has lbeen gradually extended as
perience has seemed 10 warrant aad in rs with
good results The Commission convinced the success
Of Civil Service Reform is TO be decided by the ntol
gent fidelity with which its friends shall present is true
methods 10 the popular Judgment 1t has been their aim
70 recognize the right which requires that victorious
| party should bo able 10 name the officers 80 far
| down the official 5tale their principles
NAV Justly be involved In fair and honest admnistra
ton M the same time have resisted that pcrnci0ns
tbeoyv which insists that every clerk IN public ote,
no matter how subordinate how useful shall mngle
as partisan In every contest and 20 out as matter OF
course with the retiring head Of Department But the
new rules they submit, will show that they do not re-
| card tho question of the proper duration OF the
| tenure OF Office or Of cerk5hips as one with which
Civil Service Reform naugurated. has any other
| than an indirect connection.
| The Commission says in conclusion
We ought TO bear testimony 10 the attention. aud CO.
6peration with which the Executive AMI members OF the
Cabinet have aided lab0rs and the more we have
been brought into familiarity with the practical bear
nps of the great principles Of individual justice and ma
tona safety which be the basis and the sanction
of all true methods Of improving the Civil Service, and
| the amper our opportunities have been OF measuring
| tho allegiance which such principles command from
those whom people have placed at the head of their
great affairs profound is our impression OF the
nestmabe value OF the reform ITSELF and OF the solemn
obligations of all its friends to leave means untried
during this best opportunity generation has seen or
may see TO place that reform upon sure foundation,
and TO transmit in healthy yigor the greatest pot
caI blessing this generation confer upon the gen
10