The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-01-20
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Ref rm Bill as Amended and
Passed by the Senate Dec 81,
and by tla House Jan 4

II DILL 10 Regulate ana Improve
the Civil Service Of the United
| States.
WAEREAs, Common justice requires
that SO far rs practicable, all citizens
duly qualified shall be allowed equal
opportunities on grounds of personal
fitness for securing appointment, en-
ployment, and promotion in the sub
ordinate civil service of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Justice to the public
likewise requires that the government
shall have the largest choice among
those likely to answer the require
ments of the public service; and
WHEREAS, Justice as we'll as econ
omy, efficiency and integrity in the
public service will be promoted by
substil uting open and uniform compel
tive examinations for the examination
heretofore held in pursuance of the
statutes of 1853 and 1853;
Therefore be it enacted by the
Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America, in
in Congress assembled. That the
President is authorized to appoint by
and with the consent Of the Senate.
| three persons. not more than two OF
whom shall be adherents of the same
party, as civil service commissioners
and the said three commissioners shall
constitute the United States civil ser
vice commission. Said commissioners
shall hold no other official place under
the United States.
The President may remove anv
commissioner, and any vacancy in the
position of commissioners shall be so
filled by the President, by and with
the consent of the Senate, as to con
form with the said conditions for the
first selection of commissioners.
The commissioners shall each re-
ceive salary of $500 year. and
each Of said commissioners shall be
paid his necessary travelling expenses
incurred in the discharge Of his duty
as Il commissioner
SECTION l. That it shall be the
duty of said commissioners:
tirst-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
promulg gated it shall be the duty of all
officers Of the United States in the de-
p irtmeLts, and officer to which any
such rules may relate, to aid in all
proper ways in carrying said rules
and any notifications thereof into
effect.
Secondhand among other things
said rules shall provide and declare as
near as the conditions Of good admin
istration will warrant as follows:
CD For open competitive eXamina-
tions for testing the fitness of appl-
cants for the public service now CLASH
fled or to be classified hereinunder;
such examinations shall be practical
III their character, and so far us may
he, shall relate to those matters which
will fairly test the relative capacity
and fitness OF the persons examined to
discharge the duties Of that service
into which they seek to be appointed.
(2) That all the officers, places and
employments SO arranged, or to be ar
ranged in classes. shall be filled by
selections, according to grade from
among those graded highest as the re-
suit OF such competitive examination.
(3) Appointments to the public SER
vice aforesaid in the departments at
Washington shall be appointed among
the several States and Territories and
the District Of Columbia. upon the ba-
sis Of population as aseertained at the
last preceding census. Every appli-
cation for an examination shall con-
tain, among other things, statement
under oath, setting forth his or her ac-
tual bona fide residence at the time of
making the application, as well as how
long he or she has been a resident of
such place.
(4) That there shall be period Of
probation before any absolute appoint
ment or employment aforesaid
% That promotions shall be from
the lower grades TO the higher on the
basis of merit and competition.
o. That no person in the public
service is for that reason under any
obligation to contribute to any politi-
cal fund, or to render any political
services, and that he will not be re-
moved or otherwise prejudiced for
refusing to do So.
CD That no person in said service
has no right to use his official author
lty to Influence or coerce the political
action OF any person or body.
(S) There shall be non-competitive
examinations in all proper cases be-
fore the commission, when competent
persons do not compete, after notice
has been given Of the existence of the
vacancy if under such rules as may be
prescribed by the commissioners as to
the manner of giving notice, compe-
tition may not be found practical e.
90 That notice shall be given in
writing by the appointing power to
said commission Of the persons selected
for appointment or employment from
among those who have been exam
ined, of the place of residence of such
persons, of the rejection of any such
persons after probation, of transfers,
designations and removals, and of the
date thereof; and a record OF the same
shall be kept by said commission, and
any necessary exceptions from said
nine fundamental provisions of the