The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-12

toned, the power to remove for even the most
partisan and selfish reasons remains unchanged.
The changes are only in Che opportunity of filling
the vacancy with faYorites and henchmen, and
in the greater peril from frowning, hostile
public opinion.
Whether this taking away of such causes for
removals will keep meritorious officials longer
in their places will depend upon the question
whether an administration is more anxious to
promote the interests of the people to bride
elections by patronage and appease the camors
of patisans by making vacancies 1t is still
possible to promise the spoils of 100, 600 Offices
canvass. 1t is still possible to remove every
person in the classified service once in four years
or once in four months. But the vacancies can
be filed only by those who, irrespective of party,
demonstrate superiority in free, open competition
of character and capacity"
To every person requesting to enter the CLASH
fled service blank application paper is sent,
The filling of this paper is the first step In the
applicants examination. In the proper blanks
he gives his name. age, residence and occupa-
ton for each Of the past five years. and such
other facts in regard to himself and his expert
ence, education and qualifications are i'm
portant to be known. All these statements are
made under oath, and are required to be con-
irmed by the vouchers of not less than three nor
more than five persons, who state in blank GER
tlfeates on the same sheet, their knowledge of
the appl cant and their belief of the truth OF his
statements, and vouch for his character, capac-
ity and good reputation. No recommendations
outside of these vouchers are allowed to be
ceived or considered by the commission, the ex-
a1niners or the appointing officers.
The application thus filed is returned to the
commissioner or to the proper examining board,
and if its statements show that the applicant is
regularly vouched for, and that he is entitled by
age, health and citizenship to be examined for
the service he seeks, his name is entered upon
the proper record with the date of his appli-
cation, and his paper is placed on file. When
the next examination is held, at a point that
seems convenient for him, he is notified to be
present
If the applications on file at any office are in
excess of the number that can be examined at
enc time, the earlier applicants are summoned
frst except that the duty of apportionment
may require those to be first examined vino are
from States whose qualified applicants are
in deficient numbers. This excludes all prefer
of applicants through favor or patronage,
and is in the spirit of section of the act which
makes all willful and corrupt obstruction of the
right of examination criminal offense The
applicants who are in excess of the number that
can be examined at one time stand first upon
the record to be notified for the next eXamina-
ton Examinations are held as frequently as
the needs of the service require. Thus far all
applicants Except some from the District of
Columbia, where the number is excessive and
in one two similar cases outside) have been
notified to attend the first examination held
after their applications were received.
The application paper is itself a sort of pre-
liminary examination. 1t asks the same ques-
lions than any business man or appointing off
GER would desire to ask concerning the cireum-
stances, health, character, and experience of the
applicant, and it frequently deters from the ex
amiuations unworthy or incompetent persons,
who find themselves unable to answer satisfac
torily the inquiries proposed, unwilling to
give the information asked for. Of the hungry
host of place seekers, many are wendell out by
the necessity Of making this sworn statement
of their career.
1t is quoted as significant that Governor Cleve-
land after stating in late message that New
York leads the States in the Inauguration of a
comprehensive system of civil service" declared
that the children of our citizens are educated
and trained in schools maintained at the com
mon expense, and the people as whole have a
right to demand the selection for the public
service of those whose natural apttudes have
been improved by the educational facilities fur
nished by the State"