St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-12
WHAT CITIL SERVICE MEANS and
WHO IRE AFFECTED BY 1T.


| ST. PAUL, Mimi, March II, 1ss5.-Dear
| Sir: Will you please explain to the
many readers of your very valuable paper what
is meant and who affected by the civil service
reform. Please answer through the columns Of
the GLOBE, and oblige a lifelong Democrat.
T. II. Ollie.
Mr.. JEFFERsON's standard OF fitness,
capability and honesty embodies the whole
theory of civil service reform, but the details
by which these virtues in the civil service
are to be attained and utilized are the work
of law and the efforts of those who have
charge of the several departments of the
government. The purpose of the civil ser
vice law is to introduce business methods
into governmental departments and insure
the permanency of the merit system over the
spoils system. In short it means the doing
away of Hubbellism and Dorseyism, and the
substitution of Clevelandism.
The civil service law which went into effect
Jan. 16, 1888, is sometimes COMPOUNDED with
the tenure of Office act which was passed by
congress during the conflict with ANDREW
JOHNSON in 1867 and was subsequently mod
flied. The two laws, however, are distinct
ments. There are probably 100, 900 persons
in the civil service of the government, the
number varying from time to time accord
ing to the exigencies of the public business.
To not above fifteen thousand of this vast
army of government employees do the civil
service law and the rules established by the
president under it now apply.
All officers required to be nominated to the
senate by the president are exempt from the
provisions of the civil service law. So, too, all
persons employed in the various executive de-
| partments at Washington receiving salaries less
| than 5000 per annum and more than 81, 800. The
competitive offices are divided into the depart
mental Washington service and the customs SER
viceand postal service in offices throughout the
| country where there are fifty or more employees.
The st. Paul and Min neapolis postoffices
are the only ones in Minnesota to come I'M
der its rules.
The rules of the service exempt from COM
| petitive examination the following: The conf
Dental clerk or secretary of auy head of de-
partment or office; cashiers or collectors !;
cashiers of postmasters; superintendent Of
money order divisions in postoffices; the direct
custodians of money for whose fidelity another
officer is under bond, and some others.
The civil service commission appoints
boards of examiners in the departments and
| throughout the country wherever required.
Minute directions are given as to the meth
DDS of examination. There are no restrictions
on the poaoer 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. The rules adopted by President
ARTHUR for the enforcement Of the law are
numerous and somewhat prolix. These rules
may of course be changed by the president
at will.
So it will be seen that the vast power of the
president and heads of departments over the
patronage of the government is but little
curtailed by the law. There is a wide discre-
ton to be exercised entirely within the pale of
| the statute.
The machinery of the law is all directed to
| the government of appointments, and so far
as it applies contemplates a non-partisan
public service. The spirit of the law was so
wholly disregarded during the last ampagn,
there are but few officials now in place who
might not be justly removed for the course
they pursued in the last presidential contest.
Mr.. CLEVELAND has a delicate and respon-
sible duty to perform in this connection.
The people have put the Democratic party in
possession Of the government with Mr..
CLEVELAND at the helm. The party is re-
sponsible to the people for its administration,
and consequently ID expected to be its own
competent Judge of its agents. The Demo-
cratic party has now mission to fulfill not
mere purpose to accomplish. 1t is bound
to give the country good, honest government.
Mr.. CLEVELAND is expected to lead in this
matter, and if dsplacing inefficient Republic
cans by the appointment Of efficient Demo-
Gratis Is craftsmanship, then we want to see
him steadfast and unyielding partisan. If
efficient Democrats cannot be found to fill
the Offices as matter of course an efficient
Republican ought to be retained. But every
thing else being equal if there is preference
he is expected to give it to the Democrat,
for the Democratic party is responsible for
the present administration of the govern
ment. The people have set up a high
standard, and it is expected that the Demo
cratic party will live up TO it. To all human
foresight there is every reason to believe that
the people will not be disappointed in their
just expectations. The laundering cheers
and the hearty salutations and the buoyant
confidence exhibited at the national capital
on Inauguration day, and in heart responded
to from one end of the land TO the other,
were not bestowed upon an unworthy repre-
sentative of the hopes and desires and spira-
tons of the republic. The country is start
ing out under Mr.. CLEvELAND's administers
ton upon a career of renewed and lasting
prosperity, as propitious and benignant as
the beautiful and inspiring weather which
smiled on Inauguration day.