Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-26
Civil service Reform in Massachu-
sets.

Massachusetts is going into the bust
ness of civil scrNi ice reform in a wholesale
way. The last Legislature passed an act
ITO improve the civil service of the Com
monWcalth and the cities thereof and
the commissioners appointed under it
have just reported rules and regulations
for carrying il into effect. and these have
been approved by the Governor and Coun-
ell. The rules recognize the independence
of the various appointing powers within
the limitations of the law, and declare
that the power of removal is not impaired,
and then 20 on To provide for the appoint
mcnt of local boards of examiners and for
the establishment by the commissioners
of such minor rules Of procedure as shall
hc found cNpedcnt The rules divide the
States civil service into two CLASSES, the
first comprising the "OlliCiul service of
the Commonwealth and its cities, and the
second the "labor service" of Boston. no
provision being made for the laborcrs of
other cities. The official service or first
division is subdivdcd into schedule
A." including the clerical service,
and schedule b. including prison OIL
GERS, 1ircmcn, district and city lothcr than
Boston, policemen and Boston policemen.
The Labor service" of Boston includes
male day laborcrS in the various public
departments. For the police and fire ser
vice physical examinations are to be pro
Vidcd. The literary examinations are to be
practical, must make no political or re
liGiuus distinction, must be extended to
applicants in the order of their applica-
tions, and shall. where it is possible, he
+ b,I in .l,.r b.,, IA, l.
! filled The subjects of examination are
rudimcntary. including for the highest
/ class only the subjects of photography and
/ pcnmanship, simple arithmetic. interest
/ and book keeping, elements of the English
| language and letter writing, and the cle-
ments of the geography, history and GOV
crnmcnt of the United States, of the
| State and city. together with such special
! knowledge Hs the Office may demand
! Appointments are to be made upon Il
six months probation, by the power now
prescribed, from lists of three or more eli
giblc persons who nave passed the exam
nation. Reports are to he made ~ the
commissioners of the conduct and service
of probation who are to he regarded as
/ permanent after -iN months satisfactory
service. Transfers may be made To offices
! of the same grade rs that occupied, and
+ promotions to offices for which the APP
pointcc has been declared, upon cNamiuu-
tiun, eligible. In the case of labOrrr~, Il
/ register is to he kept of all who give salts
| factory evidence Of their capacity for
Labor aud industry and Suhricty, from
which register lists are To be imnd"llnIlN
/ selected ny lot or otherwise, preference
being given 10 our soldiers and sailors,
and to hose having families dependent
upon them.
This is above all days II day to he merry
at home. 1t is the household festival, the
flrcsde holiday; the occasion sacred to do
nestle reunions and family gatherings
and iolitics that,hcgin in the delight of the
little ones and end by reaching the whole
circle with their charming contagion.
Even with those who regard the religious
observanccs Of the day as its most import
ant feature it is u day of religious rejoic-
ing rather than of the seyerer phases of
religious formality, and in this aspect its
celebration harmonizes happily enough
with the spirit of the common invitation
to be merry. 1t is Il day of rcvelries that
are decorous rather than eNtravagant Il
day of charities and generous remem-
brances and if it begins with the discor-
dant notes of joy over discoveries made in
juvenile stockings it has pleasanter har-
monies somewhat later in the day when
the chorous comes around
Winds whistle free,
What care we
Gathered about the mahogany tree