Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-01-04
PENDLET0N'S BILL.

/ seventeen pays OF constant D1SeuS
| sfon-A Glorious Day for All Homes
| Eeformers-FuH Text OF the I'm
pOrtant Measure.
| The Hon. Geo. FL. Pendleton has
succeeded in getting his great anc
much-talked-of civil service reform
bill passed by the senate. 1t is a great
victory for the civil service reformers
all over the country. The full text OF
the bill is as follows:
A bill to regulate and improve the civil service
of the United States;
WHEREAS, Common justice requires. so far as
practicable, that all citizens duly qualified shall
be allowed equal opportunities on grounds of
personal fitness for securing appointment, en-
ployment and promotion in the Subordinate civil
service of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Justice to the public, likewise, re-
qUires the government shall have the largest
choice among those likely to answer the require
ments of the public service; and,
WHEREAS, Justice as well as economy, eff
cheney and integrity in public service, will be
promoted by substituting open and uniform COM
petitive examinations for examiu ations hereto
fore held in pursuance of the statute OF 1858 and
1855;
Therefore, be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United States of
America in congress assembled, That the pres-
dent Is authorized to appoint by and with the
consent of the senate three persons, Tot more
than two of whom shall be adherents of the
same party, as civil service commissioners, and
said three commissioners shall constitute the
United States civil service commission. Said
commissioners shall hold no other official place
under the United States. The president may re-
move any commissioner, and any vacancy in the
postien of commissioner shall be so filed by the
president, by and with the consent of the senate
to conform to said conditions for first selection
of commissioners. The commissioners shall each
receive a salary of SO, 800 year and each of
said commissioners shall be paid his necessary
travelling expenses incurred in the discharge of
MS duty as commissioner.
Section l. That it shall be the duty of said
commission first, to aid the president as he may
request in preparing suitable rules for carrying
this act into effect, and when said rules shall have
been promulgated it shall be the duty of all off,
GERS 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 d any
notifications thereof into effect.
Section 2. Among other things said rules sh all
provide and declare as nearly the conditions of
a good administration will warrant, viz: first for
open competitive examinations for testing the
fitness of applicants for p,-olic service now CLASH
fed or to be classified hereunder, and such exam
nations to be practical in their character and so
far as may be, shall relate to those matters
which will fairly test the relative capacity and
fitness OF persons examined to discharge the duties
of the service into which they seek TO be ap-
pointed; second, that all Offices, places and en-
ployments so arranged or to be arranged. in
classes, shall be filed by selections according to
grade from among those graded the highest as
the results OF such competitive examinations;
third, appointments to the public services afore-
said in departments at " Washington, shall be ap-
pointed from among the several states and terri
tories, and the district of Columbia upon the
basis of population ascertained by the last CEN
sus. Every application for examination shall con-
tain among other things q statement under oath
stating his or her bona tide residence at the time
of making the application, as we'll as
how long he she has been
resident of the place; fourth that there shall be
period of probation before any absolute ap-
pointment or employment aforesaid; fifth. that
promotions shall be from lower grades to higher
on the basis OF merit and completeness sixth that
no person in the public service is for that reason
under any obligation to contribute to any politi-
cal fund render any political service and
that he will not be removed OF otherwise preiu-
diced for refusing to do so; seventh no person in
said service hasthe right in bis official authority
or Influence to coerce political action of any
person or body; eighth, there shall be
non competitive examinations of all
proper cases before the commissioners
When competent persons do not compete after
notice has been given of the existence of a va
cancy under such rules as may be prescribed By
the commissioners as to the manner of giving no.
tice, and competition may not be found praotica-
bic; notice shall be given in writing by the ap-
pointing power to said commission of persons Sc
lected for appointment from among those who
have been examined, of the place of residence of
such persons, of rejection of such persons after
promotion, of transfers, designations and remov-
ais, and of the date thereof, and record of the
same shall be kept by said commission, and any
necessary exceptions from said fundamental
provisions of rules shall be set forth in connec-
UITh Snh rlIlpg and hoII he
stated in the annual reports of the commission.
Section 3. Said commission shall be subject to
rules that may be made by the president make
regulations for and have control Of snch exami-
nations and through its members or examiners
shall supervise and preserve records of the same,
ana said commission shall keep minutes of its
own proceedings.
Section 4. Said commission may make investi-
cations concerning facts and may report all
matters touching the enforcement and effects of
said rules and regulations and concerning the ac-
tion of any examiner or board of examiners here
matter provided for. It's ewn subordinates and
those in public service shall respect the execution
of this act.
Section 5. Said commission shall make
annual report to the president for trans
mission to congress showing its own action, rules
and regulations and exceptions thereto in force
the practical effect thereof, and any suggestions
it may approve for more efectual accomplish
meGt OF the purposes OF Llls act,
Section 6. That said commission is authorized
to employ chief examiner apart, whose duty
shall be- under its direction to act with the ex-
aiming board as far as practicable, whether at
Washington or elsewhere and secure uniformity
aud justice in all their proceedings which shall be
at times open to him. The chief examiner shall
be entitled to receive salary at the rate of So 600
year and shall be paid necessary travelling
expenses incurred in the discharge of his duty.
| The commission shall have q secretary to be
appointed by the president, who shall receive a
salary OF 81 500 per annum. 1t may when neces-
sary, employ a stenographer and messenger who
shall be paid when employed, the former at the
rate Of 81 500 per year, the latter at the rate of
| $500 per year. The commission shall sit at
Washington, and in one or more places III each
state and territory where exami nations are to
take place, designate and select suitable number
OF persons not less than three in the official SER
vice of the United States residing IN said state or
territory, after consulting with the head of the
department or Office in which such persons serve.
to be members of tho board of examiners. and
may at any time substitute any person in said
service living in such territory in place
OF any one selected. Said board of examiners
shall be so located as to make it reasonably con-
yenient and inexpensive for applicants to attend
before them, and where there are persons to be
examinee in any state or territory the examiners
shall be he therein at least twice each year. 1t
shall be tie duty of collectors postmasters and
other officers of the United States at any place
outside of the district of Columbia, where exam
nations are directed by the president, or by said
board, to be held, to allow a reasonable use of
! public buildings for holding such examinations,
and in all proper ways to facilitate the same.
Section Z. That it shall be the duty Of the