Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-28
Is IT REFORM?


Bill.
The amended PendIeton civil service
bill passed the Senate yesterday by the
following vote !:
Yeas-Messrs. Aldrich, Allison, An
thony, Bayard, Cameron Of Pennsylvania,
Cameron of Wisconsin, Chilcott, Cockrell,
Coke, Conger, Davis Of Illinois, Davis
of West Virginia, Edmunds, Frye, Gar
land, George, German, Groom, Harrison,
Hawley, Hill, Hoar, Jackson, Jones OF
Florida, Jones Of Nevada, Lamar, Lap.
ham, Logan, Miller of California, Miller Of
New York, Morrill,, Pendleton, Platt,
Plumb, Rollins, Sewcli, Vest, Walker aud
Wiudom-39.
Nays-Messrs. Brown, Call, Jones, Nc
PnersOn and Morgan-5.
The following pairs were announced:
Messrs. Bean. Hale. Dawes, Saunders,
Butler, Johnston, Kellogg and Sawyer,
who would have voted aye, were paired
with Barrow, Book, Maxey, Williams,
Pugh, VOORHEES,, Vance aud Camden, who
would have voted nc.
Before it passed, Mr.. Brown moved to
amend the title OF tie bill SO as to make
it read, An act to perpetuate in Otfice
the Republicans who now control the pa
trOnage Of the government" Lost.
The bill provides for tho appointment
by the president, with the consent Of the
Senate, of civil service commission to
consist Ut three persons, not more than
two of whom shall DO adheIents Of the
samo party, and VITO shall hold no other
office under the United States. Their sala
ry is to be 81, 800, together with necessary
travelling expenses. The fitness OF appil'
cants for appointment in the civil service
is to be be tested by open, comparative ex'
am;nations of q practical character. The
Offices and employments are to be classi-
fled and filled, according to grade, from
among those graded highest in the exami-
| nations. Appointments in the depart
ments at W Wasllington are to be appOrtiOned
among the states and territories and the
District of Columbia upon tho basis Of
| population. There is to be period Of
probation before any absolute appoint
mentS. Promotions are to be made from
lower grades to higher ones on the basis
OF merit and competition. No person in
the public service is to be. for that rcasOD,
under any obligation to contribute to any
political fund Or to render any political
service, and will not BE- removed, or other
wise rejudiced, for refusing. No person
in the civil service is to have any
right to use his official authority
or influence to coerce the political action
of any person or body. There arc to be
non-competitive examinations in proper
cases, when competent persons do not COM
pete after EOtice has been given OF a va
cancy. The commission is to make rcgu-
lations for and have have control Of the
examinations, subject to rules that may be
made by the president. The commission
is authorized to employ a chief examiner
at salary of $4,000, with necessary trav,
cling expenses. He is to act with tho cx-
amining boards as far as practicable, and
to secure accuracy, uniformity, and justice
in their proceedings. The commission is tG
select boards of examiners in the different
states and territories, to consist of not
less than three persons in the official ser.
vice of the United States, and where there
arc persons to be examined in any state OF
territory, examinations arc to be held
therein at least twice year. Any COM
missioner, examiner, copyist, messenger
or other person in the public service who
wilfully or corruptly defeats, deceives, OF
obstructs any person in his or her right Of
examination, or who makes false report
upon an examination, or falsely and
corruptly grades any person ex.
amined, or makes false rep
rescntation concerning such person, OF
gives special or secret information for the
purpose of improving Or iDjuIing the pros
rects or chances Of candidate, is to IL
punishable by fine of not less than $1O(
ror more than 81, 900, or by imprisonment
not less than 10 days nor more than ont
year, OF by fine and Imprisonment. Within
60 days after the passage of the act in be
comes the duty Of the secretary of tn,
treasury to classify, under the 163d sec
tion, Revised statutes, the clerks anC
employees of the collectors, naval officers
surveyors aud appraisers in overy Gus
toms district, where the whole number q
such persons is not less than fifty, and there
after, from time to time, on direction o.
the president to similarly classify tho EN-
ployees in any other customs district. The
postmaster general is to arrange for SINH
lar classiiications in his department, aDt
provision is made for classiticatiOns in al
the departments and offices mentioned il
the 15Sth section Of the revised statutes
After six months from the passage of ths
act no officer or clerk is to be appointed
and no person to be employed or promo
ted in any of tho classes until he h.,
passed Az examination, or is shown to bs
especially exempted from such an exami
nation. Nothing therein however IS to b.
construed to take from those honorabiy
discharged from the army or navy any
preference conferred by 1,74j Revised
statutes, or to take from the president any
authority not incOnsi tent with this act
conferred by the 3 7Jjd section of the Re.
vised statutes. No officer not in the OK
ecutive branch Of the government, aud nc
person employed merely as q labOrer OF
| workman. is to be required to be classified
and, unless by direction of the Senate, nc
by the Senate is to be classified or re-
quired to pass an examination. When
ever there are two or more members Ol
q family in the public service in the grades
covered by the act, no other members OF
such family are to be eligible to appoint
ment in them. No recommendation of any
applicant given by senator or member ol
the house, except as to the character OF
residence of the applicant, is to be received
or considered by any person concerned in
| making any examination or appointment
No person habitually using Intoxicating
beverages in excess is to be appointed OF
retained in any Office, business of employ
ment to which tho provisions of the act are
applicable.
It is further provided that no senator or
representative or territorial representative
in Congress, or delegate elect, or any
officer or employee of either House, and
no executive, judicial, military, or naval
officer of the United States, and no clerk
or employee of any department., branch,
or bureau Of the executive, judicial, OF
military or naval service of the United
States shall, directly or indirectly, solicit