The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-29
CIVIL SERVICE KEFOK M.
senator PendIeten,s Bill.

p8r06 IOr tnem.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
senator Pendleten,s Bill.
The following is an outline Of the
bill introduced into the Senate by
Senator PendIeten, providing for q
merit system of appointments to the
Civil Service:
The fret section provides for the
appointment by tho President Of
Commission Of Ave persons, of differ
ent political parties, of whom three
shall hold no ether official place, and
two shall be experienced in the public
service. t-H
The second section is in the follow.
ing verde:
. SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty Of
said Commission:
1. To devise and submit to the
President for bis approval and pro-
mitigation, from time to time, suitable
rules, and suggest appropriate action,
for making this act effective; and
when So approved and promulgated,
it shall bs the duty of all officers OF
the United States in the Departments
and offices to which any such rules
may relate, to aid, in all proper ways,
in carrying said rules, aud any moai-
fications thereof, into effect.
2. And ameng other things, said
rules shall provide and declare, as
nearly ~ the conditions Of good ad-
ministrati0n will warrant, as follows: !:
l. For open competitive examina.
items for lesting the capacity Of appli-
cants for the public service now class.
fled, or TO be classified, hereunder.
|, 2. That all the Offices, places and
employ ments 50 arranged or to be ar
ranged in classes shall be filed by
selections from among those graded
highest 40 the result OF such competi.
tive examinations.
|. 3. That original entrance to the
public service Aforesaid shall be at the
lowest grade.
4. That thsrs shall be period Of
probation before any absolute appoint
mont or employment Aforesaid.
s. That promotion shall be from
the lower grades to the higher on the
basis Of merit and competition.
/ e. That no person in the public
service is for that reason under any
obligations to contribute to any po.
iitlcal fund or TO render any political
service, aud that he will not be re.
moved or otherwise prejadiced for
failing to do So.
T. That ne person in said service
has any right to ase his official author.
iiy or influence 10 coerse the political
action of any person or body.
/ 8. There shall be NON n.ccmpstitive
|examin stions in all proper cases be-
fere the Commission whom competi-
lion may net be found practicable.
8 Tat notice shall be given in
writing TO said Commission of the
persons selected for appointments or
employment from among those whe
have been examined, of the rejection
of any such persons after probation,
and OF the date thereof, and record
OF the same shall be kept BY said Com
inission. ~
" Any necessary exceptions from
said nine fundamental provisions Of
the rules shall be set forth in connec-
'tion with such rules, aud the reasons
therefor shall be stated in the ANIMAL
report Of tho Commission.
3. Said CommissiSn shall make
regulations for and have control OF
such examinations, and through its
members or the Examiners, it shall
supervise and preserve the records OF
the same, and said Commission shall
keep minHt Of its own proceedings.
4. Said Commission may mako i'm
vestigatiens concerning the facta. and
may report upon all matters touching
the enforcement and effect Of said
rules and regulations and concerning
the action of any Examiner or Board
Of Examiners, and its own subordi-
astes, and those in the public service,
in respect to the exscstioA Of this act.
= s. Said Commiss: on shall make an
annual seport to the President for
lran smissisn to Congress, showing
Its own action, the rules and reXula
tiOhs and tho exception thereto in
force, tho practical effects thereof, aud
any suggestions 1t may approve for
the mere effectual accomplishment OF
the purposes of this act.
y The third and fourth sections au-
fborize the Commission to employ q
Chief Examiner, u Secretary, and the
necessary clerical force to designate
Boards of Examiners, to direct where
examinations shall be held and re-
duires that suitable rooms shall be
furnished for its accommodation In
the public buildings in Washington
and elsewhere. They require also the
Chief Examiner to act, as far As prac.
ticable, with the Examining Boarde,
and to secure accuracy, uniformity
aBd Justice In all their proceeding.
The fifth section defines the offenses
which arc calculated to defeat the just
enforcement of the act, and declares
the penalties. ~. ,.t
II Tho sixth section requires the head
of the different Departments 10 make
q more perfect classification of clerks
and employees, both in;the Departn ent
and in the various offices under their
charge, In conformity with the one
hundred and sixty-third section Of the
Revised Statutes, and to extend and
revise such classificaie On at the reqsest
Of the President.
The seventh section IL in these
words:
. SEC. 7. After the expiration of four
NO officer or clerk shall DO appointed,
aud ne person shall be employed to
euter or be promoted in either of the
oAtu Cl6e406 u0W NuhS my
be arranged hereundsr pursuant to
said rules, until he has passed an ex.
or is shown to be speci6-
cally exempted from such a. exami-
nation in conformity herewith.
But nothing herein contained shall
be construed to take from those hon.
orably discharged from the military
or navy service any preference by the
seventeen hundred and fifty-fourth
section OF the Revised. Statutes, nor
to take from the President any author.
ity not inconsistent with this act con-
serred by the seventeen hundred and
fifty.third section of said statutes
nor shall any officer not in the execu.
tive branch of the Government, or
any person merely employed ass la
borer or workman, bs required to be !
classified hereunder; nor, unless by
direction Of the Senate, shall any per-
son whe has been nominated for con.
firmatien by the Senate be required to
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