Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-14
CTVIL SERVICE REFORM.

TIE WORKING AND RESULTS OF THE SYSTEM
DURING THE FmsT YEAR OF ITS EXISTENCE.
President Arthur has transmitted to Con-
gress tho first annual report Of the civil-ser-
vice commission with this endorsement;
"Upon the good results which that law has already
accomplished congratulate Congress and the people,
and 1 avow my conviction that It will henceforth
prove to be Of still national benoht TO the pub
lie service heartily commend the zeal and fidelity
Of the commissioners and their suggestions for fur
ther legislation and advise the making Of such ap
preparation as shall be adequate for their needs"
After general review of the civil service
law, the report states that the several results
which appear to be the more direct objects of
the law and the civil-servce rules as under
stood by the commission, are -
First That ofdcla authority and influence must
no longer be used to impair the freedom of elections
or to coorce the political action Of citizens.
Second. Extortion from those in the public
vice, whether under the form Of political assess
ments or otherwise, for the purpose Of paying the
expenses Of parties or candidates, must como to al
end.
Third. Selections for the executive service on the
basis Of official favor aud partisan influence must be
suppressed by requiring examinations and other ado-
quate tests Of character and capacity as the condi
tons Of entering this service.
Fourth. The true responsibility and Independence
OF the legislative and executive departments under
the constitution must bo restored aud preserved.
The report says it is too early to speak
with dehniteness Of the effects of these rules.
Though violation OF either rule is made
good cause for removal, the utility of such
rules must in some degree rest in their power
as precepts for obviously only gross forms
of their violation can be easily proved.
Upon the subject Of political assessments
the report says; An investigation now being
conducted by the commission tends to show
that the 18th section of the act has been VIC
lated by private citizen from each of two
states, in the form of surreptitiously sending
or carrying circulars into the departments at
Washington, by which contributions were So
licted from those in public service in aid of
the public funds of those states. We are sat
isfed, however, that but trifling sums have
been secured, and this illegal practice ap-
pears TO have ceased upon public attention
being called to it, Inquiries have justified
the conclusion that not moro than one.fourth
to one-half as much money has been collect
ed from federal officers as in a like period
before the law went into effect, and that while
a feeling Of complete safety in declining to
pay is by no means attained, this diminution
in the amount collected shows how much has
heretofore been secured by reason of fear Of
removal or hope of promotion. The com
petitive examinations, it says, allow no mo-
nopoly by any party, faction, or officials of
the privilege of being examined. The diff
culties attending the classification of the civil
service are dwelt upon at length. The abuses
W bb bubpAbhoSu luNAthbb RtOuAtAIlChl EhtlO
with the magnitude of the office, and at large
offices the power and opportrnity for in.
trigue and selfish influence are dangerously
great. The number ot pAcesg included in
the classified departmental services at WASH.
ington, and consequently to be filed from
those certified on the basis Of examinations
is 5G52. The number of places classified in
the customs service at the IL ports and %
customs offices to which il extends is in all
2j73. The number of places embraced with.
in the classification at the % post Offices (be-
ing the largest in the Union) was January l,
1888 5G99.
Ample authority is conferred upon the Pres.
ident by the act to require the new system to
be extended to other parts of the executive
service whenever in the light of the expert
ence gained, the public advantage is likely
TO be promoted thereby. But if a more en-
lightened and independent sentiment devel-
oped among the people shall hereafter so en-
courage the President, heads of departments
aud the Senate, that they will cooperate in
requiring the selection OF chief of bureaus
and postmastors and collectors at the larger
offices from among the subordinatos at such
Offices who would bring business experience
rather than partisan activity to those posi-
tions, there would be yet greater extension
given to the merit system Of office, and a new
and sautary ambition would be awakened
among subordinates. And, beyond that,
there would be a great relief from the solic
itation and controversy which attend appoint
ments to. such positions.
Touching the eligibility of women to GER
tihcation, the report says Nowhere on the
part Of the commission or its subordinates is
there any favor or disadvantage allowed by
reason of sex. The commission hold that
the power of removal andits exercise for Just
reasons are essential both to the discipline
and the efficiency Of the public service. A
life tenure would be indispensable. The
| power to remove for even the most partisan
and selfish reasons remains unchanged. 1t is
still possible to promise the spoils of hun
| dred thousand offices as the rewards OF party
victory in the national canvass. It is still
possible to remove every person in the classi-
fed service once in four years, or once in
four months. But the vacancies can be filed
only by those who, irrespective of party
demonstrate superiority to free, open oompe-
| ton of character and capacity.
Touching the subject of promotions, the
report dwells upon the difficulty of formu-
| lating rules that would result in the material
| improvement of the service. 1t is admitted
that the chief Of q bureau is peculiarly fitted
to select the best men for promotion yet it
| is stated that examinations for promotion
| might be applied with advantage in some
| parts of the service. The probationary
clause is commended as resulting in the Sc
lection OF the best men for government ser
| vice. AS an indication of the effect of the
application of rules in the custom.
houses and post-ofioes, the report quotes ex.
tracts from a large number of letters receiv-
ed from the postmasters and collectors OF
customs at the principal cities in the country
TO the effect that great benefit to and improve
ment of the public service has resulted
These suggestions are made for the more ef
fectual accomplishment of the civil-service
act;
l. It would seem plain that since the sub.
ordinates in at the postofiices and customs
offices, to which the rules extend, are no long
er appointed on the basis of party test, con
sstency not less than the efficiency of the
service forbids the application Of that ties
for the selection of collectors or postmaster
at such Offices Only on that condition car
these offices be taken out OF party pol
itcs and become-in fact, as they are in legR
purpose-mere business agencies of the gov
ernment.
2. The new system would be mucl
strengthened by such an amendment of oui
bribery laws as would bring within then
other corrupt considerations for oficia
wrong doing than those which are merely pc
cuniary. Every corrupt exercise of the pow
er of nomination, promotion, transfer or con
firmation, even though the corrupt considers
ton may not be "thing of value" shoul
surely be an offence under our bribery laws
The ciyilservice law enacted in the state o
New York last winter supplies the deficiency
In our view no change in the oivil-service &C
is now needed for fairly testing the new sYs
tenn.
The report in conclusion says: ave can
not doubt that the most difficult stage i
| n.,Ns : v.-sn
careful study and prudent adjustment to car
ry into full effect the practical methods AZ
thorized by the civil.serv act. The cler
cal force of the commission, however, is in
adequate. 1t has been worked beyond tn
customary hours of the departments.
least one additional clerk seems indispensi
BILE. In submitting this report, it is prope
for the commission to declare that in ever
stage of its work it has had the constant an
unwavering support of the President"
Furniture.