Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-22
The niuil.s.ruinn Law


The 0ivil.servioe Law.
In view Of the fact that President
elect Cleveland has declared that he
will observe the requirements Of the
civil-service law, the provisions of that
law become q matter of interest to
some Thousands of famished Demo-
Gratis.
The civil-service law is entitled,
"An act to regulate and improve the
civil service Of the United States" 1t
provides "for open competitive exami-
nations for testing the fitness Of appli-
cants for the public service" and those
applicants who pass the best examine
tions and receive the highest grade OF
marks shall be given preference in
making appointments, subject TO
certain qualifications. Appointments
to the public service shall be appor-
toned among the several states and
territories upon the basis Of their
population, Applications shall con-
tain statements, under oath, setting
forth the actual places of residence Of
applicants. Clerks and employees in
the various departments are to be
classified and arranged in different
grades. mo officer or clerk shall be
appointed, and no person shall be em-
ployed to enter or be promoted in
either of the classes now existing until
he has passed an examination. This
does not apply TO workmen or laborers.
Where two or more members of a
family are already in the pub
lie service, no other member Is
eligible to any appointment
mo recommendation of any
person who shall apply for office under
this act, which may be given by any
senator or member OF the house of rep
resentatives, except as TO the character
Of the applicant, shall be received or
considered by any person concerned in
making any appointment under this
act"
Under the rules of the civil-service
commission, applicants for appoint
ment are 10 be examined In orthogra-
ply, penmanship and copying arith-
metic-fundamental rules, fractions
and percentage interest, discount, and
elements Of bookkeeping and of ac-
counts; elements of the English Ian
guage, letter-writing and the proper
construction of sentences; elements OF
the geography, history and govern.
ment of the United States.
No one Is entitled to examination for
admission to the postal service under
sixteen OF over thirty-five years Of age
In the customs service, under twenty.
one or over forty-tive years, except
clerk or messenger, who may not be
under eighteen.
This is au epltome of the civil-servicC
law, and ifnot evaded or repealed 1t is
quickly seen that politics can hay,
little to do with appointments to gov
e!nmental positions. The entire adj
ministration of the public service, with
promotions and appointments, is mad,
to depend upon the fitness and intelli
gence of applicants for appointments
The ideal scheme looks Il
the filling of all higher grades
becoming vacant by the promotion OF
subordinate employees; and in the fill
ing of lower grades preference is given
to those only who have been examined
and stand highest among the compel
itors for the places in the various
classes. Politics is seen to have moth
ing to do with getting appointments
A Republican stands as good show
as Democrat, ifhe passes as good al
examination.
In actual practice, this ideal schem,
Will amount TO little. There ar,
many ways of evading it and max
ing the law dead let
ter. Everything depends upon tn
inclination of Mr., Cleveland. Profes
sions of interest and friendship for th,
c0vil-service law are not always con
elusive. President Arthur has poset
as supporter OF that law, yet Demo
Gratis have not been overwhelmed will
appointments under it,. When tn
tables are turned and Democrats
president and Democratic heads of de
partments have the appointing power
1t viii usually be found that Demo
cratic applicants stand highest on th
lists when there are fat oilices to b
filled.