Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-02
REPoRT OF T0E ClvIL SERVICE
CoMMussloN.

WARRINGTON, Feb. 2S.-The report
pages, and states that the several re-
objects of the Law and the civil service
rules, a. understood BY the commission,
are. first, that Official authority and in
fluenco must not longer be used TO irn-
pair tho freedom Of elections, or cosroe
the political action Of citizens second.
extortiOn from those In public service,
whether under the form Of political as
sessments or otherwise for the purpose
of paying expenses Of parties or candi-
dates must como 10 an end third, &C.
Lotions for executive service on the ba-
sis Of official favor aud influence must
DO suppressed by requiring examina-
tions and other adequate lists Of char
acter and capacity a. conditions Of en-
terinQ this service (; fourth, the tru, 70
sponsibility and independence of the
legislative and executive departments
under the constitution must be restored
aud preserved. Upon the subject Of
political assessments the report says
there have been several violations of
Law, but trihing sums were obtained.
The illegal practices ceased when pub
lilo attention was called to il. The
amount collected from Federal officers
since the act went into eject 10 not more
that one-half or one fourth a. much ~
formerly. The evils Of the ep0ils sys-
TEN are cot forth at great length, and
the benefits derived from oompetitile
examination are fully described. The
difficulty attending purihoation Of the
civil service u dwelt on ct length, and
the statement u made that in large Of
floes the power and opportunity for in.
trigue for selfish interests are great. In
the three branches of classified service
the number Of placee flied on tho baai6
Of competitive examination 10 in the az
gregate 1884. The increase since made
in the classified service carried Il to
over 1900. The opinion 10 expreesed
that salutafv eject would follow the
selection Of chiefs Of bureaus, post mas
torn. aud collectors at large, from subor-
dinates, Who would DO experienced rath-
or than noted fer partisan activity. to
those positions. The report says that
soldiers and sailors, h0no1ablv dis
charged by reason Of disability. II eapa-
BILE, are preferred, and nowhere 10 there
any favorable advantage allowed By
reason Of oex. Tbs committee hold that
the power Of removal and il exercise
for lust reasons are essential both 70 the
discipline and efficiency Of the public
servico. "A life tenure Wsuld b defen-
sible. il possible" Gays the report, /" 10
the promise Of the spoile of 10000 Of
Scss a. reward for party victory in .
national canvass. IL u still possible TO
remove everv person in the service onos
in four years or ouoe In four months,
go 49, a. ~~>>o~saa can ~ nHlaA snlv
BY thOee Who, irrespective OF party,
demonstrate superiority il free, open
competition Of character and capacity.
Il appears from statistics presented WITH
the report that 60 per cent Who ontere4
The ssryios through eompstisivs sxami-
nations we're oducatsd In common
schools alone, and The Commission eou-
slider d uuQuootiouahle that the naeaon
BY. bestovin9 ~ ofnoes on the most
moritori0us whom The States have odu
Gated as pablie sxpsnss. viii really hon
or and stimulate The pe6lis scoeol .ys-
tom Of the ooantrv. Ihs rspors ave
extlaots from . large number Of lsttess
received from Postoassere and CoaIeo-
tors, showing that great benedte have
acosued 70 the paolic esrvioe by me e.
forcement Of The civil service rules. IL
b sueRsseed tA.t The party 49, = no
LONGER apuliod In The sD1soeion at Posi-
mastere and Colleotogu, and that every
corrupt exeroiea oe power IN the n0mi-
nation. promotion. sFanesse q coee1a-
sion, svsn thoaeA The eoeraps eoaods.,,
alton may not b . "snin9 q veaees
should b an oReues under ~ 6giesrv
lava The Oommissioo, In oonolusioo,
declares the civil osgviCe IN uuooooeco
a. w&a0A ~ ~ 0nRk