National Republican., 1882-12-07
ImnrovLnr The Civil Scrvice.

The promptness and apparent good faith
in which the House of Representatives has
taken hold of the question of the civil service
promise something definite and practical as
result of this effort to place that important
branch of the public business on more perma-
nent and satisfactory basis. Mr.. KAssoN, upon
whose motion the subject was made the special
order for the 18th instant, and whose bill will
probably be made the basis of the one to be
presented by the civil-scrvice committee, is
well qualified to bear prominent part in the
discussion, and to put into shape the best ele-
ments of a genuine reform. He has had long
experience in public life both at home and
abroad, has been at the head of the bureaus of
the Post-Ofice Department, and IS intimately
acquainted with the actual condition and the
needs of the service.
Mr.. KAssoN's bill applies to all clerks in
the executive departments in Washington Tex
cepting those in the office of the President), to
those in the customs service where the salary
of the collector is $4,000 or more, and to postal
clerks, route agents, and clerks in post-olIices
where the annual pay Of the postmaster is
$4,000 or more. Persons desiring appointment
are to make written application to the officer
having the appointing power, with proper evil
dence of good moral character &C. He is TO
undergo " satisfactory examination either
in the department or office, cor, in
case of appointments for service in the
District of Columbia, by q commission
not exceeding three in number, to lbe
appointed by him and acting under his in
struction, and resident in the State or Terri
tory where the applicant resides" Promo
tions are to be made upon competitive exami-
tions. The first appointment is probationary,
the limit being three and twelve months,
with a permanent term of six years, with
privilege of reappointment. Persons now in
either department in Washington having
served faithfully for six years to be entitled
to another appointment of like term within
one year from the passage of the act; reap
pointments to be with or without further ex-
aminations. Removals not to be made except
for cause-a number of which are mentioned
Political assessments sin writing or by
print" are forbidden under a penalty of
$1,000.
These are the chieffeatures of Mr.. KAssoN's
bill 1t occurs to us that it could be improved
in two or three points. The appointments in
Washington should be distributed according
to population among the States, Territories
and the District of Columbia. The examina-
tions for probationary appointments should in
all cases be near the residence of the appli-
cant, and not in Washington. For reasons
obvious TO all who have had experience, pro-
motions should not be made exclusively upon
results of competitive examination. Mr..
KAssoNs bill strikes at political assessments
by circular letter and percentages of salaries.
Why not prohibit all applications for money
for political purposes, verbal as well as
written, in the departments; while out
side clerks shall be, as others, wholly
free to give or not give as they
may themselves individually determine,
However, if the civil service can be placed
on sound business basis with fixed tenure
of office, both won and held by real merit,
the assessment matter will take care of itself
The REPUBLICAN heartily joins with all
who are sincerely in favor of placing the civil
service ON the best possible basis-a basis
which shall deal fairly and justly with all
and secure to the public the most efficient,
faithful, and satisfactory employees,