Morris tribune., 1883-01-20
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Full Text of PendletOn's Bill as
Enacted by the Senate and
House.
One of the Most Important Measures
ofthe Sessions Now the Law OF
tho Land

w DefSuS, COIllLiiN doAAS " 1850 49,
practicable, all citizens duty qualified shall be al
owed eoual opportunities on grounds of personal
S,uess. for securing appGi ltment. employing n and
promotion ie the subordinate civil service OF the
limited States: and, whereas, justice TO the pubic =
ikswise requires that the government shall
have tha largest choice among those hkelv
10 answer the requirements OF pubic service:
and whereas iustics, as well as economy, efficiency
ana integrity in the public service will be ell
BY substituting open and uniform competitive ex-
limitations for examinations heretofore heid III
nursuance of The statutes of 1853 aud 1899, there
Tore.
seutativss of the United States OF America In con-
rress assembled, that the PRESIDENTS authorized to
appoint. by and with the consent OF the senate,
three persons, not more than two of whom shall be
.dherents of the same party, va as s,vi! service oom SOm-
sioners shall constitute the United states
,ivil service commission. The said commission
s ss shall 1aa United h1.d States 9a 0' TSe president SsnS,ntf may S'4 rec
move any commissioner. and any vacancy in the
position of commissioner shall be so hlled by the
president. by and with the consent OF the senate, as
to conform TO tho said conditions for the first selec-
ton of commissioners. The commissioners shaii
each receive q salary of $4,000 a year, ana each OF
the said commissioners shall oe pa,a ms necessars
travelling expenses incurred in the discharge OF MS
Sec. !, That il shall be the duty Of the said COM
missi 'ners, first, to aid the preslaent: as nc may
request, in preparing suitable rules TOT carrying
this act into effect; and when the saia ruts shsii
have been promu gated, IL shall be the outY OF an
NficArS of the UNlteG states III aHN
Offices to which any such rules may relate. to ana IN
ali proper ways in carrying the said rules ana any
notifications thereof iuto effect.
Sec. .. And, among other things, the SAD ruies
shall provide and declare as nearly as conditlons OF
good administration will warrant, as rolloWs:
First-For open competitive examinations rr
| testing the fitness of applicants for the public serV-
ice now classified or to be classified hereunder
Such examinations shall be practical IN their char-
acter, and so far as may be shall relate to those
matters which viii fairly test the relative capacity
aud htnaas np fha OPFSOnY examined 10 OlSClaTSe
the duties of that service into which the! seSh u
be appointed.
Second-That all Offices, places and employmeuts
so arranged or to be arranged in classes shall be
SHED by selections, according to grade, from among
| hose graded highest as the results OF such com.
petitive examinations.
Third-Arpolntments to the public service afore-
sal in tie departments at Washington shall be APP
portioned among the several States and territories.
and tie District Of Columbia upon the basis OF pop
ulation as ascertained at the last preceding census.
Every application for examination shall contain
among other things a statement under oath settlns
forth his or her bona hde residence at the time oil
making application as well as how long ne or she
has been a resident Of said place.
Fourth-That there shall be a period OF proba'
| ton before any absolute appointment or employ
ment aforesaid.
Fifth-That promotions shall be from the lower
grades to the higher on the basis of merit and COM
Sixfh-That no person in the public service is TO,
| that reason under any obligation to contribute &c
any political or render any political service. ano
that he will not be removed or otherwise preJudlced
for refusing to do so.
Seventh That no person In the said service has
| any right, in his official authority or influence, &c
coerce the political action of any person or body.
EiGhth-1here shall be non-competitive examin-
atoms in all proper cases before the commission
when competent persons do not compete after no.
tice has been given OF the existence OF a vacancy,
under such rules as may be prescribed by the com
missioners as TO the manner OF giving notice, and
competition may not be found practicable
Ninth-That notice shall be given in writing by
the appointing power to the commission of per
sons selected for appointment or employment from
among those who have been examine OF the place
of residence OF such persons. fthe REJECTION OF any
such persons after prooatlon. OF trans
t tsn' d destinations fhHrsot ana and removals record ap' Of o
the same shall be be kept by the said commission,
and any necessary exceptions from the said nine
fundamental provisions of the rules shall be set
forth in connection with such rules, and reasons
therefor shall be stated in the annual report of the
commission.
rules that may be made by the president. make
regulations for and have control OF such examina-
tons, and through irs members or examiners 1t
snail supervise and preserve the records OF the
same. and the said commission shall keep minutes
Sec. 4. The said commission may make inves-
LEGATIONS concerning facts. and may report all mat
ters touching the enforcement and effects OF said
rules and regulations, aud concerning the action OF
any examiner or board or examiners, hereinafter
provided, for its own subordinateS and those 10 the
public service in respect to the execution OF this
act.
Sec. ,. The said commission snail make an an
nual report to the president for transmission to
congress, showing its own action, rules and re2uia.
tions, aud exceptions thereto in force, the practical
effects thereof, and any suggestions 1t may approve
for the more ~efectual accomplishment or the pur-
poses of this act.
Sec. 6. That The said commission is authorized
TO employ u chief examiner apart, whose duty 1t
shall be. under its direction, to act with examining
boards so far as practicable, whether at Washing
ton or elsewhere. and secure accuracy. uniformity
and justice in all their proceedings which shall be
| at all timAs omen to him. The chief examiner
shall be entitled to receive a salary at the rate OF
$4,000 per year, and he shall be paid his neces-
of his duty. The commission shall have a
secretary, to be .abpointed by the presi-
dent. who shall receive, a salary OF
$1,000 per annum. It may. when necessary, en-
ploy a stenographer and messenger, who shall be
paid when employed. the former at the rate of
s 1900 a year and the latter at the rate of 5000 a
year. The commission shall at Washington, and in
one or more ulaces in each State and Territory
where examinations are to take place, designate
and select a suitable number Of persons-not less
than three-in the official service of the United
States. residing in the said State or Territory. after
consulting the head of the department or
ofaGs in y which i bs sgoh Of Pe snsm;n.r ssfy asd n no o az
any time substitute any other person in the said
service living In such territory in place OF any one
SO selected. such board Of examiners to be SO 10.
Gated as to make it reasonably convenient and in
expensive for applicants to attend before them, and
whore there are persons to be examined In any
State or Territory, examinations shall be held
therein at least twice each Gear. It shall be the
duty Of collectors, postnaasters and other officers OF
the United States at any place outside OF the Dis
b. tho president or by the said board to be held, to
allow a reasonable use of public buildings for hold
ing such examinations. and in all proper ways facil.
Sec. 4. That it shall be the duty of the secretary
OF the interior to cause suitable and convenient
rooms and accommodations to be assigned or pro-
vided, and to be furnished, heated and lighted, a.
the CITY of Washington for carrying on the work OF
the said commission and the said examiners, and tc
cause necessary stationery and other articles to be
supplied and necessary printing done for the said
Sec. 8. That any said commissioner, hammer
cLpyist, messenger or any person in the public serv-
ice who wilfuIly and corruptly, by himself
or in corporation with one or NOR
other persons. defeats. deceives or OBJ
right of examination according to any such rules OIL
regulations, or who shall wifully, corruptly and
falsely mark, grade, estimate Or report upon the ex-
animation or proper standing Of any person ex
amined hereunder. or aid in SO doing, or who shall
wilfuily aud %corruptly make any false representa-
!, lions concerning the same, or concerning a person
nish to any person any special or secret in
formation for the purpose of either i'm.
proving or injuring the prospects o.
examined. for being aapointed, employed or pro-
NOTED. shall for each such ofense be deemed guilty
punished by a fine of not less than 800 nor more
than $1,000. or by Imprisonment not less than ten
days nor more than one year. or by both such fine
and Imprisonment.
Sec 9. That within sixty days after the passage
OF this act 1t shall be the duty of the secretary Of
the treasury, in as near conformity as may be to
the classification of certain clerks now existing
under the l63d section of the revised statutes
First-To arrange in classes the several clerks and
persons employed by collectors, naval officers. sur-
yeyors and appraisers, or either of them, or being
In the public service and their respective Offices in
each custom district where the whole number OF the
said clerks and persons shall be altogether as many
rs fifty; and therefore from time to time on the
direction Of the president the secretary shall make
the like classification or arrangement of
clerks and persons 80 employed. In connection with
any said ONCE or ofces IN any other custom dis
trict, and upon like request and for the purposes of
this act, the said secretary shall arrange in one or
more of the said classes. or of existing classes Of
any other clerks, agents or pereo ns employed under
his department In any part of the said district and
not now classified. and every such arrangement and
classification, upon being made, shall be reported
to the president.
Second-Within the said sixty days it shall be
the duty OF the postmaste general, in general con-
formity to the said l63d section, to separately ar
range in classes the several clerks and persons
employed in the public service, at eacn postofice