New-York tribune., 1884-03-01
THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.
s,psr REPORT OF THE. COMMISSIONERS

aeut 10 Congress the following message - III
with the act of Congress approved January 10 Io9
entitled an act TO regulate and Improve the NiNn "
- ., T-od s,a,e. the Civil Service Commission mas
made 70 the President its first annual report n
,no, a herewith transmitted, together Win eonhn
ca,ions from the heads Of the seVefa EAec"'''"
,nents Of the Government respeeuhx 'he -
s4r, of the law under which the Commission mas
b,en acting Upon the good results whicn toat law nuS
,., aoeou nIisbei I congratulate Congress ana the
l. aud avov my conviction that It VIII heneeforth
grove 20 he of still signal benefit to the public
scrv,ee heartily commend the zeal and fidelity OF the
"Reminiscences and suggestions for further egsla-
non and advise the making Of such an Appropriation as
saal be adequate for their needs"
THE OBJECTS OF THE LAW.
The report makes volume OF sixty seven closely
rrinted pases and begins with the statement that the
first report branch OF the executive service
the purpose and methods OF which by many nunder
stood should present all the facts ana explanations needed
for a correct Judgment After general review or the
Civia Service law and the preminar1es OF orgauiza-
tor o the Commission report that several re
suits which appear to be the direct objects Of the
law aud the Civil Service rules understood by the Com
mission
Fsrst-That official authority and influence must no
longer used impair the freedom OF elections or 70
eoerCe the political action OF citizcns. go
Scoond-ExtortiOn from those in the public service
WISE the purpose OF paying the expenses Oh parties
candidates must come to an END: ,o .o,,.o ON ,bo
basis official favor and partisan influence must ne sup
rresse by requiring examinations aud other adequate
fests character and capacity the conditions or en-
teTing this service
Fotrh-The true responsibility and Independence Of
the legislative and executive departments under the Con-
siitutiOn must be restored and preserved
Rules No and of the Civil Service embody the prin-
crles under the first and second heads The re-
port says It is early speak with defniteness OF the
effect OF these rules The influence Of old habits and
theories affects conduct long after standards OF duty
have been accepted. Though violation OF either rue
Is made good for removal the utility oi such ruies
as precepts for obviously only gross forms
Ihe first steo toward the protection Of al rights is the
distinct recognition Of them and the pubhc scknowleS
ment OF duty to protect them. I0al step az ieist mas
Iic - viii reonire NOR andacifv Ia invade and there
viii reader courage TO defend the freedom which II
Is the object of Che urst two rules 70 guarantee No case
Of the violation OF either in the particulars referred TO-
has been sjd before the Commission. Whether IN the
period the Civil Service rules went into effect thei
has not been diminished tendency the part Oi tederai
officers medle with the political action OF citizens,
AID more vigorous and general condemnation OF the
careful observation OF the facts which a. open to al
o;aers to the members Of the Commission.
A REDUCTION N THE POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS
COLLECTED.
Upon the subject Of political assessments the report
says that an investigation being conducted by the
Commission tends 10 show that the twelfth section
Of the act has been violated by private
citizen from OF states, ia the form of surrpu
+ousv sending or carving circulars the departments
al Washington. by which contributions were solicited
those in the public service IN ad OF the p0hlrI
funds OF those states and OF the employees In
those departments appears have assisted IN the dsti-
button II these circulars but apparently without know
ing their contents or the purpose OF iher ~ buto me
Commissioners satisfied that only uinil sums nave
been secured and tins Illegal practice appears to nave
ceased upon public attention oee caheu 20 H. IIquLes
have justified the coucusOn that the amounts ior core
spending periods collected from the same number OF Fed-
eTal officers the into eject have not been
more tnan half to onciOurb much as former
", and that, while feeling OF complete saely m deh-
ing to pay Is by no means atI'ne.' .lIa III .i,o
amount cole cted would otherwise measure tne pgouOr-
ton OF the whole amounts before secured wch v" aI
by reason Of removal hopes Of pr0Iaoton The
evils o. the spOils system dd Tie ceecs OF me ClVI
Service system during President Grants AdnlnsldlOh
are pointed out
TIE report says that competitive examinations allow
no monopoly by any party faction, or officials OF the
privilege OF being examined The dlfhculSy attehGInS
the eiassi1catlon o. saS W. ~ ~ t % , tri II, 60
metfcal ratio with the magnitude OF the Office, and at
large offices power and opportunity Tor intrigue ad
sgttsh influence are dangerously great The OF
places included in the classified departmental service at
MasDingtOn), and consequently 10 ne ned irom th0se
certified the basis of the EXAMINATIONS, Is 061Z me
number Of places classified IN the Customs service az the
eleven ports and twenty iVe customs on9es 70 Wiich
extends, in all Z,573 The number o places eu uhtce4
within the classification the twenythre post offices
fDelng the largest III lhe iilohl Wa On l. $50
1863 In the three branches OF the CLASSIFIED service
eampettye examinations is in the aggregate 1924
The Increase since made, in tine cassled service carries
the numbers above l4,0OO
HOPING FOg AN EXTENSION OF THE SYSTEM,
Annie authority is conferred upon the President ny the
third clause O the sixth section Of the act 10 require the
new system be extended other parts Of the executive
peryiee whenever the light of the experience gained
the puhhce advantage is likely 70 be promoted thereby
No further legislation direction necessary.
But II enlightened and independent sentiment de-
veoped among the people, sha hereaei 50 rhcot i3c
they will cooperate enforcing joint policy whcn sd
require the selection OF chiefs OF bureaus ana OF post
masters and collectors the Larger Offices from nOns
the subOrdinafes at such Offices VINO would bring DuSi
POSITIONS there would yet greaer extension given TO
the system office and new aud sanitary ano-
ton would awakened among subOuilnat1>. An0 ne
you'd that would he great reiie from the solciia-
tOn Controversy which attend appointments TO such
Tue Commissioners express themselves completely
satisfied with the manner IN wEoh the members 0i the
examining boards Rave PERFORMED men euties r Con- On
eerlng soldiers and sailors lie report says; Every
honor bic service in the Army Navy or the United
States preserved in the Civil Service Act ami the rules
~, ] l.a y - ~ oo,'hv M We,srsed nom s,c -,c, ,y
reason DISABILITY incurred IN the Inc Of duty, he
shall exhibit the measure or c9parlty found TO- he
esSentiIl Civil Service, L. allowed preference"
Ia regard subjects for ANIMATION II is SAID that
IN the Dranchcs DO the questions 20 IlEtht tdh
is covered uy the ordinary instruction Ia the common
The reasons Tor the limiting four the number OF
persons certified 20 mi vacancy are even' ana
the Commissioners say: Ia vast majority o. cases We
have reason think tha those ccrtded were al tha
date unknOwn 70 te atpoIlHS olce5 itiS ne eVluelt
duy The appointing officer 10 select hs most ht OF the
four cerJined aud II The great majority o cae- the high
est ia grade among he certified has Dren appointed
Touching the eligibility women 10 cernaauOn. the re
i1rs ft rsa.,3 nj x Rale IL clsuse r. coufro1s The
ceTtiacaOn women FOR appointment 20 completely
that Commission has 40 discretion Oh the subject
rIIF POWER OF REMOVAL UNCHANGED.
The Commissioners hold that the power OF removal
and its exercise for just reasons essential both 10 the
discipline and the efficiency OF the public service
A nfe tenure would be ndefcnsibe. Many re-
movals, and these the most indelensble in former
years, unquestiOna0ly made not because the
person removed not useful public servant, bat be-
cause some powerful influence 20 be c0ncilated,
come tnend 10 De gatieG dangerous enemy
was TO be piaeatcd by putting particular person the
Vacancy Nevertheless, the power 10 remove even
the most partisan and selfish ged.
The changes are Only ia the opportunity OF nlmg
cancea with avOrltes ana hcnchucu. and
peril from frOwniug. hostile pubic opinion II l. still
possible 20 promise tie spOls u hundred thousand OIL
ees a. the rewards " party victory IN National yaas
LIS still possible u every person tsss
fr fnfrv nv ofgo in