The Portland daily press., 1883-05-07

The civil service rules have been published,
There are quite long and are % in number.
There are to be three branches of the service
classified by the civil service act, not including
laborers, workmen, or. officers required to be
confirmed by the Senate. The first Of these
classes is designated "the classified service at
Washington" and comprises the clerks in
the several executive departments there. The
second is designate ted "the classified customs
service, 2 and the third ''the classified postal
SERVICE" comprising respectively the clerks in
the customs service and the postal service in
those places where the act is operative.
There are to he open competitive examina-
tions for admission to the service, and also ex-
aminatons TO test the fitness of those already
in the service for promotion. The seventh
rule is the one defining the general character
Of the examinations. and nothing in it ind T.
cafes that the examinations win be 70 rmidable
to any person who is quali6ed for clerkship.
So far as subjects 90, there is none unless 1t Is
the elements Of bookkeeping. which good
grammar school scholar ought to be afraid
of meeting.
Applications must be made in formal man
ner on blanks to be supplied, and the provision
of the rule to prevent recommendations or
testi monials touching the political opinions or
services of candidates, or any examination to
ascertain about these things, appears to be suf-
ficient. The records of applications, and of ex'
Gminations, and the registers of the examin-
alton ranks of candidates are to be preserved.
Non-partisan examinations ara required by
law and provided for by the rnles, The rules
provide adequate means for ascertaining the
character and other qualifications OF candi-
dates. No distinction as to sex appears to be
made, beyond the requirement Of satisfaction
as to "the physical and mental capacity for do
ing the required work y Women will, there
fore be eligible to any clerkship or other public
position, the duties of which they can properly
perform, and this is certainly much better,
both for women and for the public service,
that the present system of favoritism. The
rule as to probationary period of six months TO
test the actual capacity of the successful candi-
date to do the work required in a satisfactory
manner, is very carefully drawn.
One provision is that the same candidates
name shall not he submitted TO the same officer
for an appointment more than three times and
that names which have remained on the regis
ter year shall be dropped
Every application, in order to entitle the ap-
plicant to appear for exsminstinn, or to be ex-
amined. must state under oath the facts on the
following subjects as may be required by the
regulations OF the commission: l. Name, resi-
dence and post Office address. .. Citizenship.
3. Age. 4. Place of biIth. 3. Moral Character.
6. Health and capacity for the public service.
Z. Right of preference by reason OF military or
naval service. s. Previous employment in the
public service. Q. Business or employ
ment and residence for the last five years. 10.
Education and such other facts as the commits
sion may reasonably require, as showing fitness
for the public service. The applicant must
also affirm his qualification under sec of the
civil service act which is as fellows: THAT
no person hahitually using intoxicating bever-
ages to excess shall be appointed to or retained
In any office, appointment or employment to
which the provisions Of this act are apphca-
ble."
Every regular application must be supported
by proper certificates Of good moral character,
health and physical and mental capacity for
doing the public work. the certificates to be in
such form and number as the regulations of
the commission shall provide for. But no GER
tificate can be received which contains any
language inconsistent with the 10th section OF
the civil service act. No one shall be entitled
TO be examined for the classified postal service
If under Is or over 80 years Of age, or for the
classified customs service or for the classified
service at Washington il under IS or over 45
years Of age, and no one shall be examined for
q customs inspector who is under 81 years Of
age, But these maximum limitations of age
shall not apply to those who have been honor
ably discharged from the military or naval SER
vice during the last war, and are otherwise
duly qualified.