New-York tribune., 1881-12-12
IMPORTANT BILL IN THE SENATE
FOR THE REGULATION OF TTE CIVIL sERVlcE-TWo
BILLS AFFECTING THE TARlFF-DIsPosIrloN or
THE BALANCE OF THE GENEVA AwARD-THE
CHINESE PROBLEM.

FOR THE REGULATION or THE CIVIL sERNlCE-I"o
BILLS AFFECTING THE TARlFF-DIsPosIHoN or
THE BALANCE OF THE GENEVA AwARD-rHE
| CHINESE PROBLEM
| iBY TELEGRAPH TO TuE rnIBUNEl
| WASHINGTON, Dee. 1l.-While most Of the $50
bills brought forward in the Senate in the first week
of the present season are Of private nature the
few public bills take q wide range. and some OF
them are of great Importance. Senator Pcndetons
bill To REGULATE and improve the Civil Service OF
the United States" provides that the President
may appoint n board of Civil Service Commission
ers consisting of five persons, not more than three
of whom shall be adhcrents of the same political
party and three of whom shall not, while members
of said Board hold any other federal office. while
two of the members shall he experienced officers
in the public service IN Washington that mem
bers shall he snbjcct 10 removal by the President for
sufficient cause butnUt by Of opinions party
affiliations" that the three civilian members OF the
Board shall receive 81. 800 year each for their scr
vices and the two Official members $500 year each
in addition to their other salaries that II shall he
the duty Of the Commission TO devise proper rules
for carrying this act into effect, which rules, when
appIoved and promulgated by the President it shall
he the duty of all civil officers of the United States
to obey and carry out.
Among the rules to be provided are, first for open
competitive examinations for testing the capacity
of applicants; second, that all offices shall be flied
by selection from among those graded highest the
results OF such competitive examinations; third,
that original appointments shall be made only
to the lowest grade or class; fourth,
that all absolute appointments shall be
preceded by period of probation; fifth,
that promotions from lower to higher grades shall
be upon the basis of merit and competition; sixth,
that no person in the public service shall be under
any Obligation 20 contribute for political purposes.
nor shall refusal so TO contribute lead TO his
moval or otherwise prejudice his standing in the
public service: seventh official shall use his au-
thorIty influence to the political action OF
any person body; eighth, there shall be nom
competitive examinations when competition may
not he found practicable; ninth, the commission
shall be informed of appointments made after exam
naon and of the rejection Of any such persons after
probation and any necessary exceptions
from said nine fundamental provisions Of
the rules shall be set forth in connection
with such rules, and the reasons therefor shall
be stated in the annual srepOrts Of the Commission.
II is further provided that the Commission shall
control all examinations that it may make inycs-
tigati0ns and report upon all matters touching the
enforcement and effect of said rules and regula-
tions": that it shall make 10 the President for
Transmission 10 Congress report of its dongs and
anv suggestions il may approve for the effect
the Commission shall be authorized to appoint chief
examiner who may also be the secretary Of
the Commission, a part of whose duty it shall be,
under its direction, TO act with the Examining
Board 80 far as practicable, whether in Washington
or elsewhere. and 10 secure accuracy, uniformity
and justice in all their proceedings, which shall be
at all times open to him."
Provisions are made for the creation by the
Commission of Examining Boards at Washington
and elsewhere. said boards to be composed of "a
suitable number Of personsfn the ficia service Of
the United States" Penalties are provided for the
punishment of violations Of the spirit of the act.
Section requires that within sixty days after the
passage of the act all subordinate civil
officers, clerks and employees shall be
arranged into classes by the heads OF the several
Executive Departments Section declares that
after the expiration of four months from the passage
of the act no civil officer clerk shall be appointed,
except under its provisions and the regulations male
In accordance Herewith, provided that the prefer
ence conferred upon persons honorably discharged
from the military and naval service Of the United
States by law shall not be taken away; nor shall
any officer not in the Executive branch OF the Gov
eminent or any persons merely employed as a
laborer workman be required to be classified here
under: AoE unless by direction of the Senate
shall any person who has been nominated
for confirm aion by the Senate be required TO be
classified o. o pass an examination"
Senator p Rilleton has also introduced a bill "to
prevent ext,rNn from persons in the public
service and bribery and coercion by such persons"
Section prov ides that no person in the public
service shall his authority or influence to com
pei or induce any other person IN said service to pay
or promise t. pay any political assessment; nor shall
any such person allow any person whatever TO
solicit ally or by letter from him bis sub
ordinates;D and no person shall take any part in
preparing or making out any political assessment.
with the intent that the shall be sent present.