Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-05
The Civil-Service Law.

II Is a mistake to suppose that the CIVIL.
service act applies TO n majority OF the Fed.
eral officials. On the contrary, 1t applies
as now administered to only about fourteen
thousand. All the offices filed by the Pre-
sident by and with the advice and consent
OF the Senate are excepted, we believe. So
are all post-oflices and custom.houses in
which there are less than fifty persons en-
ployed. There is scarcely an Office
In Virginia, we suppose, which comes
under the law. Most OF the Federal Offices
in tfis State are country postmasters, OF
bred. There can be no competitive exam
ination Of persons applying for these offices.
The trouble is. In most cases, we suppose,
to find suitable person who is willing to
accept the Office OF postmaster, and furnish
a proper room In which to keep ID. The
New York World has the following:
NUMBER OF OFFICES TO DE FILLED.
According to the first report OF the Civil
Service Commission, which was made JAN
uary 10. 1884:
The number OF places included in the
classified departmental service lat Washing
toni, and consequently to be filed from
those certified on the basis OF the examina-
tons, is, as nearly as we can ascertain, 5,652.
The classification OF the customs offices
TO which the act at first extends was made
by the Secretary OF the Treasury on the
26th OF March, 1888, into five classes, OF
which those in the lowest receive an annual
compensation OF 5000, and the highest Tex.
Guiding those confirmed by the Senate) re.
ceiving salary OF Sl,s00 or over. The
number OF places thus classified in the GUS
toms service at the eleven ports and twen-
| ~ five customs offices 10 which 1t extends
| is in all 2.5I3.
A classification OF those in the post-oflce
TO which the act at first extends was made
by the Postmaster. General into four classes
on the 4th day Of April, 1888. The high
est class embraces those who receive an an
nual compensation of 1880 or over, and
the lowest those who receive compensa-
ton of $500 or less, but the latter includes
no person employed merely as q laborer
or workman. The whole number OF places
embraced within this classification mt the
twenty-tbree post.ofiices (being the largest
In the Uuion) was january !. 1881 $500.
In the three branches OF the classified
service, therefore, the number OF places TO
be filed on the basis OF competitive exami-
nations Is in the aggregate 1924. The
increase since made in the classified service
| carries the number above $4,000.
| This corresponds 10 the statement re-
| Gently made by Senator Pendeton-that
the ciyil.service law applies to only about
fourteen thousand places under the Gov
eminent. The whole number Of persons
employed In the civil service OF the
United States is about one hundred
and ten thousand. Of whom a large pro-
portion are laborers or workmen. There
are about forty.nine thousand postmas-
tiers. and there are about five thousand
men in the railway-mail service, and
five thousand more in the inter-
nal-revenue service outside OF washing.
ton. At present the civii-service law APP
plies only TO offices that have as many as
fifty clerks. Whether II shall extend to
those that have less depends entirely upon
the President, as "ample authority is con-
ferrcd upon the President by the third
clause OF the sixth section Of the act to re-
quire the new system TO be extended to
other parts OF the executive service when-
ever, In the hight Of the experience gained,
the public advantage Is likely to be pro-
NOTED thereby"
As yet the Jaw has not been applied TO
/ the diplomatic service, 10 the United States
minis, nor 20 the railway postal service,
but the Commissioners are now preparing
10 have IL extended 10 all these. II they
succeeded, the places 10 be filed according
10 the regulations Of the clvil-seryice law
will be very largely increased. II may be
said that this endeavor will depend entirely
for It's success ON the disposition Of the new
President.
The following provisions Of the law are
too often overlooked:
"That no person habitualiy using intoxi.
eating beverages 10 excess shall be APP
pointed to or retained In any office, APP
pointment, or employment TO which the
provisions OF this act are applicable" !;
"that no person under enlistment in the
army or navy OF the United States shall be
examined under these rules" and "that
whenever there are already two or more
members OF family In the public service
In the grades covered by tins act, no other
member OF such family shall be eligible to
appointment 10 any OF said grades" and
| that
"No recommendation Of any person who
shall apply for Office or place under the
provisions OF this act, which may. be given
| by any senator or member OF the House OF
Representatives, EXCEPT a. to the character
or residence OF the applicant shall be re.
ceiyed or considered by any person con.
cerned ia making any examination or APP
pointmeEt under this sct."