The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-01-05
CIVIL SERVICE.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The principal
features of the civil service bill, as passed by
the Senate to-day, are as follows: The
President Is empowered to appoint and the
Senate to confirm three civil service commits
sioners, not all of the same political party,
to conduct the competitive examinations for
admission to Office. The commissioners are
to receive salary Of $500 per year each
and travelling expenses; examinations to be
public, and Of a character to test the fitness
of the applicant for the kind of service he
seeks to enter; appointments to be appor-
toned among the States and Territories in
proportion to population; that there be, a
period of probation before appointment; that
promotion be on the basis of merit and
competition; that no one in the public ser
vice be removed for refusing to contribute to
any political party; where no competition
nor competitive examinations be held, the
rules to govern procedures are to be framed
by the president and commission. The COM
mission is empowered to employ chief ex-
The bill provides for board of examiners
selected from the public service, in one or
mere places in each State and Territory, who
shall hold examinations at least twice year;
any act tending to unfairness in these exam
jnatiens subjects the offender to a fine or
Imprisonment. It is made the duty Of the
secretary of the treasury and postmaster
general to begin classification of the en-
ployes of the customs and postoffice service
in sixty days after its passage, with view to
competitive examinations for promotion.
After the expiration of six months persons
nominated will be confirmed by the Senate
and not subject 10 the terms of the bill.
Then follows the temperance clause. The
coercion section is as follows: "rhat no
Senator, or Representative, or Territorial
Delegate in Congress, or Senator, Represent
alive, or Delegate-elect, or any officer or
employe of either of said Houses, and no
executive, judicial, military or naval officer
of the United States, and no clerk or en-
ploye of any department, branch or bureau
of the executive, judicial or military or
naval service of the United States, shall
directly or indirectly solicit or receive, or be
in any manner conc .rned in soliciting or re-
ceiving any assessment, subscription or con-
tribution for any political purposes what
ever, from any officer, clerk or employee of
the United States, or any department, branch
or bureau thereof, or from any persons re-
ceiving a salary or compensation from
moneys derived from the treasury of the
United States; that no person shall, in any
room or building occupied in the discharge
of his official duties, by any person or en-
ploye of the United States, mentioned in
this act, solicit in any manner whatever or
receive any contribution, money or any
other thing of value for any political pur-
poses whatever; no officer or employe of the
United States mentioned in this act shall
discharge, or promote, or degrade, or in any
manner change the official rank or compen-
sation of any officer or employee, or promise
or threaten to do SO, for giving, or with
holding, or neglecting to make any contribu-
tions Of money or other valuable thing for
any political purposes. No officer, clerk or
other person in the service of the United
States shall directly or indirectly give or
hand over to any officer, clerk or person In
the service of the United States, or to any
Senator or Member of the House of Repre-
sentatives, or Territorial Delegate, or other
person acting for such Senator, Member or
Delegate, any money or other valuable thing
on account of or to be applied in the promo
ton Of any political object whatever"