The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-04
DOMINION OF CANADA
Civil Service Across the Border and
How |! Is Managed.
REWARDING FAITHFUL SERVANTS.
The System Of Superannuation-Examinini
Boards and Candidates.
HOUSE, OF Coxxoya,

House. Coxxoys
OTTAWA, Ont, Aprt 80, 1877.
In view OF thu fact that question OF civil service
reform will DO . subject Of discussion on tho scas.
semDling OF Congress, as Il Is already subject Of
thought among the 900 Office holders OF the Union.
call attention In this letter OF the salient
features Of tho Canadian system, which have stood
tho test OF experience since 1858, and In the main
proved the wisdom Of their authors
In tho first place l should state that all appoint
ments under tho civil service OF the Dominion
life orduring good behavior aud that by gradual pro-
motion man II he be competent Is at some time
reach tho highest round OF tho ladder in his depart
mont or growing old In tho service Of the State, he
enjoys the benefit OF superannuato fund. Thus be
IS always working for u reward, always stimulated
by tho thought that the years roll on ha
is winning a larger income than before In the
game OF life. There Is inducemant
him to DO dishonest He is simply q cogwneel IN
a vast machine and performs his accustomed round,
knowing that nothing but his bad conduct
throw him out OF gear. He DO appointed under
the age OF eighteen tho ago or -nve
less special atta required when, II the ap-
plicant Is forty report Of tho appointment and
the reasons therefor must be submitted 10 Parliament
at its following session.
Any person, with tho approval OF the Governor In
Council may DO appointed the private secretary OF
tho head Of a department at salary not exceeding
5000 per annum; but he Is regarded n mem.
Dor OF tho civil scrvicc and his connec.
ton ceases tho retirement OF tho MIN
lister whom no has served. No appointment
promotion DO made except tho authority OF
the Governor Council upon tho application and
port OF the head OF tho department which t 10 TO BE-
made. Candidates IRE required 10 produce satsfac.
tory certificates 10 age health and moral character,
and 10 pass examination by the CIVIL Service Board
Probationary clerks they called enter the
vice Ut salary OF $500 per annum. and must In
that capacity and at that salary least year before
being eligible for permanent appointment third
class clerk. II such permanent appointment Is do.
fcrred by tho head OF the department. additional salary,
ut the rate OF $50 per annum is allowed but IL at the
end Of two years. the clerk Is found inefficient,
poYment tho civil service ceases.
THE CLERKS
Clerks divided into three classes--nrst, second
and third third class clerk receives . salary o.
$500 year for his rst years service, with annual
ncreaso OF $50 thereafter until his salary $3.50 per
annum; but no Is not eligible for promotion into tho
until after i've years. service In the third
class Tho second class clerks are subdividcd into
Junior second class and senior second cass The
salary OF tho Arst 10 500 year, with ua In.
OF $50 until the salary ST. 900 por snnum but
the highest grade. A senior second
class clerk receives salary OF ST. 100 year the
mrs. year. with annual increase OF $50 un.il hm
salary 400 per annum, but he is eligible tor pro-
motion into the first class period or his service
IN tho senior second class. The FIRST class clerk
receives a salary Of $1,000 per annum, with IN
annual increase Of 500 until his saiary 500 But
II any clerk thus promoted the has At the
time OF such promotion higher salary than 81 200 he
must continue receive sucn salary until he has =
10 that amount nrst class clerk which
time BIO ~ entitled TO tho annual until his sal
sry per annun Is ST. 500 The rst class clerk always
eligible promotion II appointed to ch,ef clerk.
ship he receives au additional salary OF ten psr
mum.
DEPUTY CHIEFS or BUREAUS
The deputy heads OF departments, or what might ~
called under MINISTER'S rcccvc such salaries may bs
assigned 10 them by the Governor General In Council
In their absence the chief clerk performs their duttss
which consist in overseeing and directing tho otpsi
officers, clerks and servants OF the department and
taking general Of the OF the same In
the absence Of the Minister he has the power of sIs
psrmen. WHO 0n nsSec.s oDsy hi. drsc
tons. II an extra clerk Is employed, 10
Snnoc 'o ard ,o mo o,s anoss ofoer me
exceeding 81 so per day. But II hc be accountant
or bookkeeper or possesses special attain nen!s. No
SERVICE not thrtyve years OF age at salary OF
$500. ana receive OF $50 yearly un,iI the
saiary amounts TO $500 In case OF promotion the 10.
Of salary becomes payable from tho nrst day Of
the month next succeeding the date AT which suca
promotion took place Clerks In one department may
10 an emergency DO emporary employed Ia another,
but without additional remuneration. Leave or ab.
senco Tor recreation granted Tor three weeks In each
year, and OF Illness other pressing necessity
Il may DO extended At the Will OF the Governor IN
Council TO twelve months
THE civil SERVICE BOARD
Tho Civil Service Board consists Of the deputy hcade
OF departments (somc fourteen In numberl, hvc Of
dates keep register OF the age birth, residence
result OF tho examination, the latter varying nccord.
ing TO the peculiar functions Of tho respective depart
ments ana 10 grant certificates OF qualification 70 the
candidates who have proved satisfactory.
THE sUPgRAxSuATioS ACT.
Under the wise provision OF this law the faithful
ofccr who has been the civil service for ten
or upward. and Eas attained tho ago oi sixty years
una IS iucapacitnted by bodily nrmity from properly
performing hts duties, may receive an allowance cal.
cuated on the average yearly salary during the pre-.
coding three years. mat TO say, he has served
years but less than eleven, an annual allow.
ance Of ten.nitieths Of such average salary
Allowance Of eleven .ni,,e,hs thereof ana 10
like manncr further addition OF ouc-ncth OF such
average salary Tor each OF service up TO hrynvs
years when annual allowance thirty Eve nreths
may DO granted This Is the limit II person pos.
peculiar attanmcnts and has entered tho
placed 10 his credit. which untion allow
Ancc Is then computed.
now rnE MONEY Is RAISED.
In order 10 provide Tor these alto an abss0.
ment made from tho salary Of every person 10 the
civil service at the rate Of Two per cent per aunuD 90
such salary " II be- 5000 or upward, sud one
and onc-duartcr per cent, u less than $o0a
Tue sum so deducted thon becomes . part
OF tho Consolidated Revenue Fund. Another note
worthy feature Of tho law that n any person
pcled by inhrmty OF body or mind 10 quit the civ,
service before the period AZ which superHnnuasion
allowance might DO granted him, tho Jsvsraor, IN
Council may allow him gratuily not exossdng o
months pay Tor each year Of his serves. Similar
provisions apply ~ cnsoS OF severe BODILY injury
ccived IN the discharge Of public duty. Provision
ALSO made Tor persons removed from Office BY VI
The abolition oil the Same Any person under sky
years OF age and not disabled receiving super
annuation allowance, liable 10 be called upon 70 oil
Ia any part OF Canada any pubic Office situstion os
when his experience or peculiar knowledge render
HIM eligible, but not lower ia rank or cmolument
An INCREASE oF SALARY.
In 1873 owing to the Increased cost of living
qucnt upon tho diminished value OF money and the
general sringeney OF tho timcs. an act was passed
which raised Ministers salaries from - 600 10 900;
Lieutenant Governors OF the large provinces, from
$4,000 TO $4,000, and OF the smaller ones, from
$1,000 10 $1,000. The Chief Justice was advanced
IRON $4,000 10 6000 ana his associates from ~ 0U0
To 81, 00O BY the act the SUN OF $75 00O was
set apart from The Conso dated Revenue Fund above