Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-08
nerort Of the civil Service Comml..len.

NenOrt OF tne NiNti SERVICE NOuamthhtOn
Dorman B. Eaton, Esq, and his fello
commissioners on civil service reform
have presented their report to the Pres
dent. II is a document of nearly hum
dred pages, and states the history of the re-
form, the opinions commonly held con-
corning it, the objections TO it, what ii has
! already done, ard what il need for tho fu-
ture.
Three agencies have been employed TO
secure efficiency aud purity in the govern
ment service First, "boards Of three MEM
bers each in the several departments and
local offices, which conduct and report eX-
aminations for the same; next, the chief
! examiner, whose duty it is to have an over
| sight of all examinations for the purpose
| Of securing harmony and lastly, the civil
service commission, with duty of consid-
| erng the rules aud regulations TO he adopt
ed aud of generally supervising the
/ system" rs whole. Tho commissioners
| think the method of examining and rating
have answered the purpose for which they
were adopted. OraIl the complaints which
| have been made, not ono has charged The
| examiners with intentional injustice or
even tried to show real injustice, and the
commission announce their readiness TO in
vesiigate any such charge. The examina-
| ton Of each person who applied for Il gov
! eminent situation has been conducted in
the presence of all competing persons. The
examinations were wholly conducted in
writing. One examination has been held
in each district, fifty having applied in
New York, tidy. one in Cincinnati, thirty
nine in 81. Louis aud nine in Savannah,
and OF tbcse quite number fell below the
minimum of 70 per cent. Of questions an
swered, which ii is necessary 10 reach to
become eligible to an appointment.
"A indicating ofIi.ial approval of the
work of the commission, the opinions of
the heads Of the departments ate giyel as
follows on the value of the rules:
/. They have, on an average, where cX-
au.inations apply, given persons of superb
or capacity aud character TO the service Of
the government, and have tended to eX-
cude unworthy applicants.
>. They have developed more energy in
the discharge of duty, and more ambition
To acquire information connected with Of
fetal functions, on the rart of those in the
service.
). They have diminished the uureason-
able solicitation and pressure which nu-
mcrous applicants and taer friends, COM
peiing for appointments, have Lefure
! iionght 10 hear upon the departments in
the direction of lavUrlism.
!. Thoy have, especially where compe-
| titiOn applies. relieved the heads of denstt-
ments an' bureaus, to large extent, Of
| the necessity OF devolinG TO persons sulic-
! ling places for themselves or for others
| time which was needed for official duties.
.. They have made ii more practicable
! 10 dismiss from the service those whocame
| in under the civil service examinations,
when not found worthy, than il was, or is,
! TO dismiss the like unworthy persons who
| had been introduced into the service
| through favor or dictation.
| q. They have diminished the intrigue
| and pressure, before too frequent, Tor caus-
! ing the removal OF worthy persons for the
mere purpose of bringing other, perhaps
| inferior persons into the service.
!. And, for such reasons, those officers
think that ii is cXpedicnt TO continue the
reform upon the method upon which it has
| proceeded making, from time 10 time, such
notifications in details as experience may
show 10 be most useful.
The commissioner of patents says "the
rules have in the main been fruitful of good
results" The commissioner Of Indian af-
fairs says that the examinations tend 10 in-
crease the efficiency of the clerical force.
The commissioner Of pensions says the re-
form in his bureau has been highly salts
IA Glory" From the navy department,
whe re only foIty-siX clerks are subject to
the rules, comes the report that no effect
has been pro duced by them. The various
officers Of the war department express their
satisfaction at the better kind of work se
cured Ivy the new rules, and the first as.
Sistant- postmaster general seasons his
praise " it'll this criticism THE great dc Get
of the system lies in its cndeavOr TO com
prchend all appointments into one general
class, and in assuming that for each and
every appointment the same amount and
kind Of knowledge is required" Civil Of
liccrs of varions grades. in many places
testify to the good effects produced by the
| rules.
Considerable space is given in the report
to a consideration Of the alternative to com
pcilive examinations, apportionment OF
appointments among Congressman. aud the
objections 10 il.
On the whole, the commissioners regard
the situation and prospects as favorable.
They say:
~ Vs. Aut lth ~ Nttlil uON, Nutu u
has encountered all the possible obstacles,
and has surmDunted most OF them, but has
not had time TO develop the experience re-
CURED 10 exhibit the best application of lis
methods and the iull results Of its intlu-
ence, would lie in every way inconclusive
and unfortunate. To carry on the reform for
another year, there is needed an apprupria-
ton of S25, 600. il is desirable that the APP
prupiiatiOn should he in such language as
10 no longer leave doubt among the people
whether it be the intention of Congress tC
allow the new system new and fair trial
In addition to the increased prestige and
vigOr watch an unmistakabe endorsement
Ivy Congress would impart TO the new sys
tenn. il is plain that lin the language of The
Presidents message Of December, 1922 iii
will require the direct action Of Congress
TO render the enforcement Of the system
binding upon my (his) successors" We
cannot better express our convictions thar
by adopting the language of the highest of
iicer elected bv the people. There is
public feeling in this country, founded IN
reason, comprehendng the best interest,
of the country, which demands reform Ii
the civil service" and 1.-The elevation anC
publication Of the civil service of the gov,
ernment will be hailed with approval by
the whole people of the United States"
--
Another HORRIBLE TRAGEDY-CoN
FEssIoN OF THE y URDERER. On Wednes
day of last week the house of a man namet