The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1884-03-07

The Report or the Commission /
Transmitted 10 Congress.

|dav:
TO the Senate and House Of Represen.
natives: in compliance with an act oI
lconetese. approved January l6. 1882. en-.
'itied IAN aci 10 regulate and improve
me civil service Of The United Sta,es.'
ne civil service commission has made ID
The president its first annual renort
That report is herewith transmitted. 20
getner with communication from Tho
eads Of the several executive depart
menie Of the government respecting ths
practical working ofthe law under which
the commission has been acting. Upot
the good results which that law has a.
ready accomplished congratulate con.
gress and the people and ! nvow ~,
convic;ion that Il will hencefcrfh prove
10 be still more signal benefit 10 M
public service. heartily commend tht
zeal and fidelity Of the commissioner,
and their suggestions for further legisIa.
zion, and ] advise making such appro.
lpriations Us shall be adequate for theil
needs. CnFsrFR "a. ArruuR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 20.
The report makes volume Of sixty.
seven closely printed pages. II state.
Thar several results which appear to bf
more the direct objects OF The law and
civil service rules, as understood by The
are: First That official
authority and influence must no longer
b. nsed to impair the freedom Of elec-
tions, Or coerce the political ac'ion OF
'citizens. Second Exfortion from those
I'm public service, whether under the
form Of political assessments or other
wise, for the purpose Of paving the ex.
|penses Of parties or candidates. must
come 70 an enI. Third Selections for
executive service on The basis or Official
favor and psrtisan influence must be
Suppressed by requiring examinations
and other adequate tests Of character
and capacity as conditions or entering
this service. Fourth The true responsi.
|biIity and Independence Of Legislative
and executive departments under ths
constitution must Be restored and pre-
|ecrved.
Upon the subject OF political assess
|ment- the report says that there have
been feversl violations OF the law, bul
|trihing sums were occurred. aud the ille'
|gal practice ceased upon public attention
being called toif. The amount collected
from federal officers since The act wenl
info effect IL mt more than one half 81
one fourth - much rs formerly. The
evils Of the spoils system are set forth Al
great length. and the benefits derived
from competitive examinations full,
The difficulty attending the
elr fiiiration OF civil service IL dweli
- II.
that ~ large ofIises the power aud op-
ppriunity tor intrigue and selfish infIu.
ence are dangerously great. In the
branches of classified service. the number
ot places 70 be filled IN the basis OF com.
positive examination u. in The aggregate
l3p2s. and The increase since made IN
classified service carries the number
shove 1900 The opinion u expressed
that 4 saIuiary effect would follow the
selection of chiefs Of bureaus post.
masters and collectors a the large Offices,
from among subordinates, who would
bring business experience rather than
partisan activity 20 those positions.
Tile report states that soldiers and sail
ors honorably discharged By reason OF
II capable, are allowed the
preference. and nowhere IL there any "a
vor or disadvantage allowed BY reason
of sex.
The commission hold that the power
of removal and iis exercise for just rca-
sons are esscntisl. both 10 discipline and
efficiency OF public .e~vice. a life ten.
urc would be indefensible. It Il still
possible. says the report 10 promise
sp0iIs 10 q hundred thousand officers as
rev ards of party victory In . national
canvass. II il still possible TO remove
every person IL the classified service
once IN four years, Or once IN four
months. hut the vacancies can be filled
only by those who, irrespective ofparty.
demonstrate their superiority IN free,
open competition Of character and ca.
pac;ty.
II appears from the statistics present.
cd with the report that 65 per cent. OF All
those who entered the service through
examinations were educated
IN common schools alone. and the com
mission consider Il unQuestionabI that
the nation, hy bcstowing its Offices upon
the most mrritorious Of those whom the
states have educated at the public ex-
pensc, will greatly honor and stimulate
ihe public school systcm Of the country.
The report gives cxtracts from large
number az letters received from postmae-
tcrs aud collectors showing the great
bene nj that has accrued 10 the public in
the service Nv the enforcement Of the
civil service rules. II 10 suggested that
4 partv test be no longer applied IN the
It ...A &111u1 81