Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-02
Civil Service and Tenure-Of ONCE
Laws.

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talked OF, but from inquiries tina. reach
us we Judge is imperfectly understood
1t is one OF the laws which the Presi-
dent took an oath to see faithfully exc
cuted, SO it is not a matter of choice
with him, the enforcement of this law
There are probably 10000 persons in
the civil service of the Government,
the number varying from time to time,
according to the exigencies of the pub
lie business and the action of Congress
as to the severa, branches of 1t. To
not above fifteen thousand OF this vast
army OF Government employees do the
Civil Service law and the rules estab-
lished by the President under it now
Apply. But its application may at any
time be extended. All officers required
to be nominated to the Senate by the
President are exempt from the provi-
sions of the Civil Service law. So,
too, are all persons employed in the
various executive departments at
Washington receiving salaries less
than $500 per annum and more than
1900. The competitive Offices are
divided into the departmental Wash
ington) service and the customs ser
vice and postai service in offices
throughout the country where there
are fifty or more employees. The rules
of the service exempt from competitive
examination the following: The con-
fidentiai clerk or secretary of any head
of a department of office; cashiers or
collectors; cashiers of postmasters;
superintendents ofimoney orders, di
visions in post Offices; the direct Gus
todians of money for whose fidelity
another officer is Under bond, and
some others.
The Civil Service Commission ap
pointed by President Arthur now
consists of Messrs. Eaton, Gregory and
Thoman, the latter Democrat and the
other two Republicans. The commits
sion selects the boards of examiners
in the departments and at such other
places throughout the country as may
be required. These examiners are
persons in the service. Notices in
writing are mailed eight days in ad
vance to all applicants in the postal
and customs service of the time and
place of examinations. There are
minute directions, as to the methods
of examinations and value of the an
swers to questions which cannot be
here detailed. There are no restric-
tions on the power Of removal-but IN
case of vacancy created that way or
otherwise, the new appointments must
be made from those who have passed
the competitive examination. Provis-
ionsl of the law forbid the appintment
of two members of the same family
to the same grade of Office; make vio-
lations Of the law by any employee OF
the Government misdemeanor and
prohibit the consideration of any spec
lal recommendation of an applicant by
a member of Congress or senator. ex-
cept as to the character of the appll-
cant. These are the leading features
of the law. The rules adopted by
President Arthur for the enforcement
of the law are numerous and some
what prolix. These rules may of
course be changed at will by the
President.
The machinery Of the law..is all di
rected to the government OF appoint
ments and so far as it applies contem-
plates an absolutely non partisan pub
lie service. The spirit of the law was
wholly disregarded in the late cam
paign, and there are few officials now
In place who might not be justly re-
moved for the course they pursue d in
the late Presidential contest. The
pertinence of Governor Cleveland's re-
mark in his letter to the Civil Service
Association will, therefore, be per-
ceived. The vast power of the Presi-
dent and the heads of departments
over the patronage of the Government
is but little curtailed by the law
There is wide discretion to be exer-
cised entirely within the pale of the
statute; but we Judge it probable
President Cleveland will direct the ex-
tension of the law to other branches
of the public service than the postal
and customs.
The Tenure of Office law effects
quite!another class OF appointments
those made by the President, ana
confirmation by the Senate is necessa-
ry. This includes the great mass of
the valuable add influential positions
under the Government, and takes in
all postmasters whose salaries are ST.
600 or over. The Tenure-of- Office
law was enacted during the conflict
between President johnson and Con-
gress when Congress went to the ut
most of its constitutional power if it
did not exceed it to curtail that of the
President. Later Grant became Presi-
dent, the statute of 81 was modified.
The Presidents Lower now respecting
officers appointed by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, is con-
ceded to be about as follows: During
the sessions of the Senate, the Presi-
dent may nominate successor to any
Office and if the senate confirm such