Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-26
CALIFORNIA; OPPORTUNITY

All political advancement that is made
must be upon the plane of greater honesty
in administration Of public affairs. Nothing
promotes this more than the fixity of posi-
ton in the civil service and the steps taken
that tend to the independence of the Coy
eminent employe. These two things
naturally carry with them higher ability
and secure for the Government the service
of a higher grade of workers. Men of
broader capacity will seek the service when
permaneucy is the reward, and freedom
from the domination Of political masters is
assured This has been demonstrated al
ready in the brief application of the conn.,
petitiyc examination system under civil
service reform laws in the Federal service,
and in New York and Pennsylvania. The
experiment is now about to be tried in
Massachusetts, That California will be
called upon TO adopt or reject business
principles in the adjustment of her civil
service to the progressive ideas of the day,
is now assured 1t will be CALIFORNIA; op-
portunity To decide whether she viii be
among the first, or the last, to unite in the
reform movement From the Civil Service
Reform Association Of California we have
received the first draft Of an Act it is pro-
posed To submit to the next Legislature of
this State
The provisions are drawn evidently
mainly from the Federal and the New
York laws on the subject, and would APP
pear In general 70 be open to but the mini
mum OF exceptions The proposed Act
provides that the Governor shall appoint a
non-partisan Commission, OF persons hold
ing no other office The Governor may re-
move a Commissioner for cause in the re-
cess of the Legislature The Commission
ers. three in number. are 70 receive travel
ing expenses and - per day for days Of
actual service The Board Is 10 prepare
rules for regulating the civil service of Tho
State. subject TO the approval of the Gov
ernor. II Is to regulate and control exam
nations held under the Act, and appoint
all examiners. 1t is toinycstgatc as 10 tn,
operation and enforcement OF the rules
and report 10 the Governor and Legislator,
bienniallv. There are TO be open compcti
tive examinations to test the fitness of APP
plicants for the public service, and to thcS,
may come any citizen Of good moral char
acter and suitable age. All vacancies ar
to be filed by selection from among thos
GRADED and certified by the Commission
but original entrance to the public Scryic
shall be TO the lowest grade within eac
class. and a probationary period must pre-
cede absolute employment AScertaInc
mort and seniority in the service, joine
with competitive examinations where ne'
qualifications are required, are TO const
tute the basis on which promotions are
be made. When competition IS impract
cable. non-competitve examinations ma
be held as to physical or mental fitneS
and when the examinations are who'll
non-competitive the filling of yacanci'
NAV be made by lot from among tho'
found fit
Iaborers and workmen are not to be sui
iect 10 examination or probation but al
TO be separately listed as to ableb-odiedne'
and character and the choice from the IL
is to be made by lot. State employees al
to be classified, and where the CommiSsIo
finds that the position requires special e'
perience or qualification, and that exam
ination will not determine it, and whe
ever else good administration requires 1t, N
law is not to apply. Elective and Judlci;
officers, custodians of public funds, an