The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-23
IMPROVING THE SERVICE.
A Talk with Civil Service Commits
sioner Gregory About the System.
How the Service of the Government Is Be-
ing Improved Under the Workings
of the New Law. f-

The second examination of applicants for gov
eminent positions was held by the civil service
board, in the federal courtroom in this city,
yesterday, under the direction Of John III. Greg
DRY, a member of tue commission, from WASH
ingt0n. There were twenty persons examined,
eleven of whom are applicants for positions in
the Indianapolis postoffice and nine in the de-
partments at Washington. Two Of the number
were ladies'. one being an applicant for posi-
tion in Washington and the other in the post
office in this city
Commissioner Gregory left for Cincinnati es-
terday afternoon, and will hold an examination
there to-day. Before leaving the city he was in
terviewed by journal reporter in regard to
the progress which is being made in the civil
service system.
THE WORKING OF THE SYSTEM.
"The service is working much more satisfac-
torily than was expected" Mr.. Gregory stated.
sit is applied to all offices which employ more
than fifty persons, and to ell the departments in
Washington. It is in the power of the President
to also extend the service to offices having fewer
than fifty employees. There are now twenty
three postofices and eleven custom
districts which are working under
the system. Examinations have been
held in all the cities where the system is to be
operated, aud appointments are being made
from the register of eligibles vacancies occur,
from two TO ten applicants having been given
employment in each of the offices, second ex-
animation is now being held, and more eligible
persons are being enrolled, from whom selections
can be made to fill the vacancies which are CON
tinually occurring The number of persons who
passed the first examination was not sufficient.
The postmaster is allowed four eligible persons
10 select from In making each appointment,
The increase OF the force in many OF the offices
allowed the postinasters on the lat OF July will,
of course, give employment TO some of the ap-
plicants, and the vacancies occurring are being
supplied with those on the civilservice rolls.
RULES FOR JUDGMENT.
"Tn conducting the examinations, by what
system or rules are the applicants judgeda"
can papers pass through the hands of the
board of examiners, and all are judged by the
same men according to the rules which govern
the service. In the Judgment OF penmanship.
there is no rule for fixing a per cent. of
proficiency, ami the three examiners are, there
fore, required to judge il each according TO their
own ideas. from which an average is made. In
photography aud all other branches, however,
there are rules by which the examination can be
judged and per cent fixed"
'HOw is the system working generallyP
cit has more than met our expectations. 1t
works more easily ami more satisfactorily than
we had any idea that it would. L have made it
q point TO ask the same question OF heads OF de-
partmenrs and OF heads OF offices 10 which the
service is now applied, and, without exception,
they have said that 1t is working well and that
they like it. IL saves them from the i'm portuni-
giving them better GLASS of employees than they
could get under the old system OF political pat
r0nage.
ADVANTAGES OF THE SYSTEM
They no longer forced to employ men
upon the mere consideration that they
arc related as cousin, nephew or brother
in-law to some man of political
influence, A postmaster takes some pride in
conducting his office in the most efficient manner
possible. and under the reform system he is
given capable men to select his force from
Therefore, they welcome 1t. When the first ex-
animation was held the applicants were most
all the hangers-on to the skirts OF the party,
but since the service has become better under
stood it has attracted tho attention of men en-
plOyed IN business pursuits and the applicants
at the second examination have been of better
class We anticipate continued Improvement.
The appointments are made upon no considera-
ton of politics. The asking of any such ques-
tons is forbidden, and all the officers have ex-
may be mentioned as proof that there is
political discrimination, that the two first APP
pOintnents made in of tho departments
were both Democrats The officers have shown
their good will to the system by selecting per-
from the register to fill vacancies before
they were required TO by law. 1t is evident, l
CONFIDENT believe, that the service ia growing
In popular esteem. Ii mas been simply vague
theory. 1t ia now an established fact and peo-
pie no longer look upon 1t as theory. The pas
sage of the law has made more converts than ali
the talk and work by oivl-service reformers for
years"