The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-29
CIVIL SERVICE.
The Presidents I'lan--The scheme as 1t
1t to be Presented to Congress
for Action.

Ihe PFesIdehbs Plan-The scheme as 1t
1t to be Presented to Congress
for Action.
Correspondence OF the Springfield (Msss.) Re-
publican.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. co. It NAV he
| truthfully said that the problem of civil
service In the United States IL as unlike
that Of any osher nation + the great
principles upon which our government
Is based are unlike those OF any of the
great civilized powers Of the world. The
| great underlying principle of our State
and National governments Is the equal
representation OF the people In every
branch of them. It is most carefully
enforced In the legislative branches. It
has great weight in appointments made
in the judicial branch. Cabinet officers
| are apportioned as carefully among the
several sections of the Union as circum-
stances will admit, and the same prin-
ciple is most wisely embodied In the
methods by which our army and navy
are differed. In view OF this principle
and these facts, it Is apparent that any
wise and acceptable plan of civil service
will necessarily embody these general
ideas:
|. A fair appropriation of all civil
offices, not otherwise provided for by
the constitution and laws, among the
congressional districts of the several
States.
q Open, local and competitive exam
nations to fill vacancies, to be held in
the districts the quotas of which are not
full.
3. Careful regulations to secure the
examination Of none but worthy and
competent persons.
A. The appointment Of q commission
to supervise and enforce regulations
governing appointments to the civil
service.
To carry out a plan of civil service
founded In accordance with the forego-
ing principles, the following general
outlines OF q system are offered for con-
sideration: .-
|. The appointment Of seven COM
missioners (who will relieve the seven
appointment clerks now i'm the depart
ments, and thereby not add to the ex-
pense Of the government), who shall
form board to be known as the board
Of civil service, and which shall have
promotions and removals in each and
all OF the bureaus and divisions Of the
great departments Of the government,
under such regulations as shall be here
after provided, One OF these commits
sioners shall represent the the execu-
tive department the President); one
the war and navy com bined, and one
each the postoffice and the departments
OF State, treasury, justice and interior.
2. These commissioners shall be ap-
pointed by the President, with the ad-
vice and consent OF the Senate. Six Of
this number shall be appointed for six
pointed shall vacate their positions at
the end Of two years, and one-third at
the end OF four years, to be determined
by lot or otherwise, SO that every two
years there shall be two new appoint
ments for this board. The seventh
commissioner shall be appointed
for the presidential term -four years.,
to represent the President, and shall be
ex-officio presiding officer OF the board.
The President shall also appoint
clerk for the board, and such addi-
tional clerks as shall from time to time
be necessary, may be employed. The
commissioners shall rank as assistant
secretaries OF the various departments
they represent, and receive such pay as
may hereafter be specified. Four men,
bers shall form quorHm for the trans
action OF business. The board shall be
considered as In continuous session.
ALI applications, promotions and re-
movals shall be considered in open ses-
sion, and in cases of dismissals the de-
PENDANTS shall be allowed to appear and
be heard in their own behalf.
The board shall be governed by the
following rules:
d.-It shall proceed to apportion all
Offices and places of emolument In the
gift of the government, not otherwise
provided for by law, among the con-
gressional districts of the several States,
and as vacancies occur fill them from
those districts which have the smallest
pro rata number Of employees In the
service. In rating employees the COM
missioners shall have strict regard to
the morality, sobriety, business integri-
ty, and general efficiency Of each per-
son under consideration-U Union SOL
diers, their wives, widows, and orphans
equal.
efficient employees may be pro-
noted from one department to another
at the will OF the commissioners for the
good of the service.
Gail appointments from lower to
higher grades shall be made for eficien-
cy-the commissioners always having
a due regard to the general character
of the person as well as the efficiency.
d.-The commissioners shall keep an
accurate record Of all appointments,
pT0mOtlonS anu vacancies from Wnat-
ever cause, arranged by districts and
States. Such record shall be open to
public inspection. A record of all ap-
plications shall be kept. also arranged
by districts, and open to public inspec-
ton, and all testimonials and personal
records shall be kept on file.
e.-Applications for appointments
shall be made in writing. All requests,
arguments and recommendations for
appointments or promotions shall be in
writing. No personal solicitation or
argument by counsel shall be heard ex-
cept by consent of a majority of the
board.
fin case Of vacancy existing in |
thu quota Of any district, the comu is
sioners shall cause the applicants from
each district to forward such testimoni- |
ais of character and ability, and such |
records of personal history as shall |
hereafter berequired. II these testimo- |
,,o1- III ox,x, ,I,II