The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-01-04

On Wednesday of last week the Senate pass
ed by vote of 80 to 3, what is known as the
Pendeton civil service bill, from the fact thai
it was introduced by Senator Pendleton of
Ohio. The bill was prepared originally, how
ever, by DOrman B. Eaton, President of the
Civil Service Reform Association and has
been amended in but few particulars 1t
applies only to the Departments and to custom
houses and post-offices having fifty or more
appointees. The following is a synopsis of the
measure as passed by the Senate
The bill provides for commission of three
representing both political parties with a sal
airy each Of $500, who shall prepare rules for
competitive examinations of applicants for Of
fee. Officers are to be appOrtiOned upon a
basis of population among the states, and
promotions shall be from lower to higher
grades. Political assessments and removals
for refusing to make such payments are pro
hibted. The commission il to make report to
| the President, and Investigations for his guild
ance. The commissioners are to employ
chief examiner, at salary Of $1,000 year and
4 secretary and stenOgraphtr at $1,000 salary.
The commission shall sit i'll part at Washing
ton, and when at work in any state, Shall call
TO their aid three or more officials of such state.
Examinations shall occur in each state at least
twice year. Collectors and postmasterS, and
other United States officials are to give the eX-
aminerS convenienceS in their buildings when
possible. Penalties of fine and imprisonment
are fixed for deception or false testimony be-
fore the commission. Clerks i'll custom houses,
postotfices, and in the departments at Wash
ngtOn are to be classified, so that promotions
may be made for experience and fitness in
regular order. On and after six months from
the passage of this act, promotions shall take
place only after proper examination. Nepot-
ism is forbidden, in that not more than two
persons of the same family can be eligible to
the various grades of clerical office covered by
the bill. Members of Congress may give cer-
titicates of character. but other interference by
them is not allowed. Incorporate persons
shall not be allowed to retain clerkshipS or to
be appointed thereto. Political assessments. or
collections by senators and representatives are
forbidden, and soliciting moneys of clerks in
their offices is prohibited All violations of the
act are punishable by fine not exceeding
$4,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding three
years, or by both fine and imprisonment.
The measure is not all that the advocates of
civil service reform DESIRE nor does it wholly
meet the views of those mainly instrumental in
securing its passage, but all these regard it as
a step in the right direction. The fate of the
bill in the House will now be watched with in
terest In the Senate the Democrats delayed
but could not prevent its passage. In the
House it will be comparatively easy matter
for them to send it to the speakers table from
which it can only be taken out of its regular
order by tWo-thirds vote.
Should the bill become law, it is reported
in official circles that the President will appoint
Dorman B. Eaton, of New York, and L. G.
Graves, Chief of the National Bank of Re-
dempton Agency of the Treasury Department,
as the two Republican commissioners author
lied by the bill. The third commissioner. who
is to be Democrat, is not yet named. Mean
while the President is comply ing in advance
with the provisions of the bill. He has decided
that there shall be no removals for political
causes that hereafter all employees of tn" GOV
ernmcnt in the Treasury Department, if com
petcnt to perform the duties of their position,
will be retained, and he wishes them all to dis
tnctly understand that it means them as we'll
as their subordinates.