The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-01
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

First Annual Report of the Commissiou.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The President today
transmitted 10 Congress the first annual report
of the Civil Service commission, with an en-
dorsement upon the good results which that
law has already accomplished. congratulate
Congress aud the people, and my ceRvietion is
that 1t will, henceforth, pr We TO be of still
more national benefit to the public service. I
heartily commend the zeal and fidelity of the
Commissioners and their suggestions for fur
ther legislation, and / advise the making of
such appropriations as shall be adequate for
their needs.
tSigned), CHESTER A. ARTHUR
After o general review of the civil service
law, the report states that the several results
which appear to be more direct objects, the
law and the civil service rules as understood
by the commission, are,
First official authority and influence
must no longer be used to impair the freedom
OF elections or to coerce the political action Of
citizens.
Standardization from those in the public
service, whether under the form of political
assessments or otherwise, for the purpose of
paying the expenses OF parties or candidates
must come to an end.
Third-Selections for executive service, on
the basis OF favor and partisan influence, must
be suppressed by requiring examinations and
other adequate tests of character and Capacity
as the conditions of entering the service.
Fourth-The true responsibility and inde-
pendence OF the legislative and executive de-
partments, under the Constitution, must be re-
stored and preserved.
The report says the number of places includ-
ed In the classified departmental service lat
Washington,) and subsequently, TO be fiIlad
from those certified on basis of examination.
,652; the mum Ger Of places classified 10 the
customs service at IL ports and 25 customs
offices TO which it extends, is, In all, 2573; the
number OF places embraced within the classifi-
Cation at % post offices (being the argest in
the union,) was on Jan. 1st, 1883, $3.50
Touching the eligibility of women TO certif.
ca,ion, the report says, no whore on the part of
the Com mission, or its subordiDates, is there
any favor or disadvantage allowed by reason of
sex. 1t Is still possible TO promise the spoils of
the hundred thousand offices as rewards of par
ty victory III the national canvass 1t is still
possible TO remove every person in the classi-
fed service ouce in four years, or once In four
months, but the vacancies can be filled only by
those who, irrespective of party, demonstrate
character and capacity.
Touching the subject of promotions, the re-
port dwells upon the difficulty of formulating
rules that would result in the material i'm
provement OF the service. 1t is admitted that
the chief OF the bureau Is peculiarly fitted to
select the best men for promotion, vet it ia
stated that examinations for promotion might
bo applied with advantage in soma parts of the
service.
The probationary clause is commended as re.
sulting in the selection of the best men for
government service. AS an indication of the
effect OF the application OF the rules in the Gus.
tom houses aud post offices, the report quotes
extracts from large number Of letters from
postmasters and collectors of customs at the
principal cities in the country, to the effect
that great benefit to and improvement of the
public service has resulted. The number of
persons appointed to these offices was in our
view, that no change In the civil service act is
row needed for fairly testing the new system.
Though the change was great, we are not
aware that public business has been anywhere
delayed, that any citizen has been injured, or
that any difficulty worthy of notice hinders the
Continuous enforcement of the act and rules
The report, in conclusion, says: We cannot
doubt that the most difficult stage is passed,
but 1T will require many years of careful study
and prudent adjustment to carry into full ef-
feet the practical methods authorized by the
civil service act.
In submitting the report it Is proper for the
commission 10 declare that in every stage in
Its work it has had constant and uHwavering
support OF the President.