The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-31
The Civil Service.

nv ~ ~
WASHINGTON, December. 2I.-The
following are The essential provis
ions of the bill to regulate and inn
prove the civil service as passed by
the Senate to-day:
The bill provides for the appoint
ment by the President, subject to
confirmation by the Senate. of three
persons (at a salary of $4,000 each
and travelling expenses not more
than two of whom shall be adher-
ents of the same party, as civil SER
vice commissioners, and said three
commissioners shall constitute the
United States Civil Service Commits
sion. These commissioners shall
aid the President IN making suita-
BILE rules for carrying the act into
effect. The rules shall provide for
open, fair and practical competitive
examinations, and that applicants
who pass highest shall be selected
for appointment. Appointments in
the executive departments at Wash
ington shall be apportioned among
the several states, &c, OF the basis
of population. There shall be a pc
ROD Of probation in cast of appoint
ments, and promotions shall be
made from lower TO higher grades
on the basis of merit and competi
ton.
No person in the public service is
for that reason under any obligation
to contribute to any political fund,
or to render any political service,
and he will not be removed or 9TH
~erwise prejudiced for refusing to do
20. and that no person in said e r
vice has any right to Use bis official
authority or influence to coerce the
political action of any person or
body.
There shall be nou-competitive
examinations in all proper Cases be-
fore the commission, when compe-
tent persons do not compete after
notice has been given of the exist
ence Of the vacancy, under such
rules as may be prescribed by the
commissioners as to the of
giving notice, competition may not
be found practicable. Any diverg-
ence from the rules laid down shall
he reported by the commissioners.
who shah give their reasons there
fnr, their report to De sent annually
to the President for TRANSMISSION ~
Congress. The commissioners may
appoint a chief examiner. at q salary
of $1,000 a year and travelling ex-
penses /; also, a secretary, at y salary
of $500 a year; also. a stenogra-
pher whea necessary, and q messen-
ger.
The commission shs.,. at Wash
I:ugfon and in one or more places in
each stsL' or territory where exami-
nations are to take place, designate
y EBmber of persons, Eut hiss than
three, 10 the official service vi Ihe
United States, residing in said state
or territory. after consulting the
head of the department of Office IN
which such persons serve, to be
members Of boards Of examiners,
and may at any time substitute any
other person In said service living
in such lerriloTy in the place of amy
eue 20 selected. Suci, board of ex-
aminess shall be 30 located as ~
make il reasonably convenient and
inexpensive for appiicasts ~ attend
before them (; and where theirs aTe
persons to be examined in any state
OF territory, examinations shall be
held .theseia at least twice in acn
year.
Fines and imprisGnEaeats are pre-
scfibed for any person in the psoi'c
service who wiliully or corrQytly
obstructs the Op. rations VI the STR
vice by giving information, abstract
ing documents and wfongiuiiy
grading applicants for appointment.
Each head of a department shall
within sixty days classify his
employees, AND Ehall from time 10
time, by direction OF the President,
make such revision OF the list as is
called for by the good of the public
service.
Whenever there are two or mcrs
members of a family in the public
service in the grades covered by this
act no other members of such fami-
ly shall be eligible 70 appointment
to any Of such grades. 10 recon.
mendation OF any person who shall
apply for office or place under the
provisions of the act which may be
given by any senator or member 0I
The House Of Representatives, ex-
cept as to age character of or resi-
dence of the applicant, shall be re-
ceived or considered by any person
concerned in making any examias.
ton or appointment under this act.
No person babitually using intox.
ieating beverages in excess snail De
appoiEted to or retained 10 any of
fee, business or employment 70
which the provisions Of this act are
applicable. No Senator or Repre-
sentative. or territorial delegate OF
the Congress. or Senator, K~epresen-
~tative or delegate elect, or any off
Ger Or employee of either Of said
Houses, and no executive, judicial,
npilitary or naval officer of the
United States, and no clerk OF en,.
ploye Of any department, branch OF
bureau of the executive, Judicial OF
military or naval service of the
United States, shall, directly or 10.
directly, solicit or receive, or be IN
any manner concerned in collecting
or receiving, any assessment, SUBJ
scription or contribution for any DO
lucal purpose whatever. from any
officer, clerk or employee of the
United States. or any department,
branch, or bureau thereof, or from
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