River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-25
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Fun Text of Pendleton's Bill as
Enacted by the Senate and
House.
One OF the Most important Measures
ofthe Sessions Now the Law OF
the Land
Apn 10 regulate end Improve the civil service Of

&
Whereas, common justice requires that, so far as
practicable all citizens duiY qualified, shall be al-
lowed equal opportunities on grounds q personal
fitness, for securing ahpf lafmeut. employm and
promotion 10 the subordinate 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
70 answer the requirements OF public service;
and whereas Justice, as well as economy. efficiency
and integrity In the public service will be promote ed
~ substituting open and uniform cornpsttiYe, ex-
arninations for examinations heretofore held in
pursuance Of the statutes Of SOB and 500. there
fore,
sentatiyes of the United States Of America in
gress assembled, that the presidentis 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 COM
missiouers, and the said three Commits
-ioners shall Constitute the United states
civil service commission The said com mission
srs shall hold no other official place
ander the United States. The president may re-
move any 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
conform to the said conditions for the first seec-
lion Of commissioners. The commissioners shall
the said commissioners shall be paid his necessary
travelling expenses incurred in the dsehargs OF bis
duty as commissioner.
mssi ,ners, first, aid the president. as he may
request in preparing suitable rules for carrying
his act into effect; and when the said rule shall
lave been promu gated. il shall be the duty of ali
Officers OF the United States in departmapts and
offices to which any spch rules paag reaEe, to IN
all proper ways IN CARRYING tho said rules and any
notifications thereof into effect.
Sec 2. And. among other things, the said rules
shall provide and declare as nearly as conditions OF
good administration will warrant, as follows:
First-For open comp titiYe examinations fer
testing the fitness Of applicants for the public ssrv-
ice now classified or TO be classified hereunder.
such examinations shall be practical IN their char
lcteF ANA 80 far as may be shall relate to those
matters which will fairly test the relative capacity
and fitness of the persons examined 10 discharge
the duties OF that service into which tney seek to
be appointed,
second-That all offices, places aud elnploymeuts
50 arranged or to be arranged in classes shall be
He'd by selections according to grade, from among
hose graded highest as the results OF such COM
lettive examinations
Third-Appointment to the public service afore
aid in the departments at Washington shall be APP
uortioned among the several States and Territories
and the District Of Columbia upon the basis Of pop
ulaton as ascertaned at the last preceding census
Every application for examination shall contain
mong other things statement under oath setting
0Fih his or her bona fde residence at the time OF
making application as we'll as how long he or she
uas been a resident of sal d place.
Fourh-That there shall BIO period of proba
ion before any absolute appointment or employ
Ffth-That promotions shall be from the lowe,
grades to The higher On the basis of merit and COM
Sixih-That no person 10 the public service is for
that reason under any obligation to contribute 20
any POLITICAL or render any political service, and
for refusing 10 do 50.
Seventh That no person in the said service has
any right, in his official authority or influence, 10
coarce the political action Of any person or body
Eahth-lhere shall be non competitiye exann-
atoms in all proper cases before the commission
when competent persons dc not compete after no.
tice has been given of the existence of vacancy,
under such rules as may be prescribed by the COM
missioners as 70 the manner of giving notice, and
competition may not be found practicable
Niuth-1hat 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, Of he rejection OF any
such persons after probation, Of trans
fers, designations and removals, and OF
the data thereof, and record OF
the same shall be be kept By the said commission,
and any necessary exceptions from the said nine
fGndamsntal provisions Of the rules shall be set
forth in connection with such rules, and reasons
herefor shall be stated IN the annual report OF the
commission.
SIC. 3. The said commission shall, subject to
rules that may be made by lie president, make
regulations for and have control OF such examina-
tons, and through It's members or examiners it
shall supervise and preserve the records OF the
same, and The said commission shall keep minutes
of its own proceedings.
Sec 4. The said commission may make inYes-
legations concerning facts, and may report all mat
ters touching the Enforcement and effects Of said
rules and regulations, and concerning the action OF
auy examiner or board OF ex4ninefs, hereinafter
provided, for its subordina and those in the
public services ia respect TO the execution Of this
Sec g. Tho said commission shall make an
nul report to thu president for Transmission to
congress, showing its own action, rules aud regula-
items and oxceutious her to in force, the pfaet cal
effects thereof and any suggestions 1t may approve
for the effectual accomplishment OF the pur-
roses Of this act
Sec. That he said commission is authorized
70 employ chief examiner apart. whose duty II
shall be- under its direction, toact 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
al a timaS to him, the chief examiner
shall be entitled to receive salary at the rate oil
IS, 90 per year, and he shall be paid his neces
sary travelling expenses itcnrred in the discharge
of his duty. The commission shall have a
secretary to be appointed by the presi-
dent, who shall receive salary OF
81 900 per snnum. 1t may, when necessary, en-
ploy stenographer and messenger, WHO shall be
paid when employed. the former at the rare Of
S., 600 year and the latter at The rate of 5000
year The commission shall at Washington, and IN
one or more places in each State and Territory
whore examinations are to take place, designate
and select a suitable number of persons-not less
than three--n the official service OF the tinted
States. residing in the said State or Territory after
consulting the head Of the department or
oflce IN Which such persons serve, 10 ue
members of a board Of examiners, ana may az
ans time substitute any other person IN the sad
service living IN such territory IL place of any
so selected, such board of examiners TO be SO To-
Gated as to make 1t reasonably convenient and IN
expensive for applicants to attend before them, and
where there are persons to be examined in any
State Territory, examinations shall os hesd
therein at least twice each year. Il shall be the
duty Of collectors, postmasers and other ofhcars Of
the United States at aaY place on side OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia, whore examinations are directed
b the president by the said board to be held, 70
allow reasonable use OF pubic buildings Tor hold
ing such examinations aud in all proper ways faclt-
Sec 7. That it shall be the duty of the secretary
OF the interior to cause suitable and convenient
rooms aud accommodations to be ASSIGNED or pro-
vided, and to be furnished, heated AID tJhteds AZ
the CITY of Washington for carrying on the work OF
the said commission and tue said examiners, ana 10
cause necessary stationery and other articles to be
supplied and necessary printing done for the sa'd
commission
cupyist messenger or any person in the pubic serv-
ice who wilfuliy and corruntly. by himself
other persons defeats, deceiyfs or OBJ
sfructs any person in respect TO bis or her
right OF examination according 10 any sleh rules OF
regulations or who shah weuHy, coFruptly ana
falsely mark, grade, estimate report upon tue eX-
animation or proper Standing Of any person eX-
amioed hereunder. or aid IN SO doug. or VINO shat
wilfuIly and corruptly make any false representa-
tious concerning the same, or conc srnng person
examined, or VINO shall wifully and eoErubiiy fur
nil 70 any person any special or secret IN
formation FOR tho purpose Of either I'M
rruyipg or iujuring the prospects or
chances Of any person So examined, or to be
examined. for being appointed, ennloye6 or pro-
noted shall for each such ofIenso he deemed guilty
oil a msdempanor, and upon conviction thereof he
punished by tine Of not less than LOO nor more
than 5l,oDu or by imprisonment aoa 20 " y
days more than one year, or By both saca Hne
and imprisonment
SEE o That within sixty days after The passage
OF this act X shall be The duty Of the secre airy OF
the treasury, in as mar conformity as may pc 70
the classification Of certain clerks now existing
uu1cr the 1864 section OF the revised statutes
Fir-tTo arrang in classes the several clerks and
persons employed bv collectors, naval officers sur
vevors and appraisers, ethec OF them, or being
in the public service and their respective Offices IN
each Gus ON district where tho whole number OF the
said clerks and persons shah BE- atoSs her as many
a. fifty: and therefore from tina 10 time on the
direction of the president tho secretary shall MAKE
the NE Classification or arr2ngement Of
clerks and persons so employed Ia connection win
any said Office Offices IN any oiher custom us
ric, aud upon like request and for the purposes Of
this act, the said tary shall arrange II one OF
more Of the said classes or Ct existing classes OF
any other clerks, agents or persons employed under
his department in part Of the SAID alstre ana
not now classified, and every such arraEF ment ana
classification, upon being made, shall be reported
70 the president
Second-Within The said sixty days Il shall be
the duty of the postmaster general IN general con-
formty to the said 63a section, to separately ar
range In classes the several clerks and persons
employed in the public service, al eacn postoHlce
or under any postmaster OF the United states where
the whole number Ut the said clerks and persons
shall together amount to as many as atty, ana
thereafter. from time to time on direction Of the
president, II shali be tho duty Of the postmaster
general TO arrange in like eassss. clerks ahd
persons 50 employed in postal service 10 c9hhec-
lion with any other p8stofHce, and every sheu ar
rapgement and classification upon being mace shaii
be reported to the president.
Third-Tbat from time to time sad secretary,
posi master general and each Of the beads OF ue-
partmeuts mentioned in the 15sth section OF tie
revised statutes and each head OF an ofee shas on
direction OF the president, and for facilitating the
execution of this act. respectively revise any then