The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-19
CIVIL SERVICE.
Report of the Civil Service Commission
Last Years Work-The Work to be Ac-
compiished-Notes.

complished-Notes.
WASHINGTON, February 12.-The Pres
ident has transmitted to Congress the
second annual report of the Civil Service
Commission. covering the period from Jan
uary 16, 1884, TO January Is, 1855. In his
letter of transmittal, he says: The conf
mission is in the second year of its exist
ence. The President congratulateS the
country upon the success of its laborS, COM
mendS the subject to the favorable consider
alton OF Congress, and asks for an apprO-
priatiOn to continue the work." The re-
port is a comprehensive document giving a
full account of the commission and the re-
suits ithaS achieved. Ii says the civil service
law has been found practicable and effective
for the accomplishment OF its purpose.
During the year persons have been eX-
amined from every State ana Territory eX-
cept Idaho. One hundred and siXty-tWO
examinations have been held. and 6331
persons examined, of whom 5.535 were
males and So females. OF those examined
4,141 passed at a grade showing them
competent for public service, and 2.206
failed. The average of all examined was
public servants, the report says, are being
drawn from class educated in public
schools. The whole number of appoint
ments made under tine the Commission have
been 1922. The report declares the COM
| mission has no reason TO believe that any
discrimination on political grounds have
been made in these appointments, and posi-
lively asserts none has been made in con-
nectiOn with tile examinations. 1t is de
clared that no complaint has come to the
Commission by any person examined or de
string to be examined, of any such dis
elimination. The opinion is expressed that
about One-half of all those appointed have
been adhcrents of each of the great parties
As bearing upon the question of diScrimina-
ton, the report calls attention to the fact
that one hundred and nine appointeeS to the
departments at Washington have served out
the probationary period (siX mOnthS). dur
ing which their politics would naturally
have become known, Yet every one of these
appOinteeS received unconditional reap
pCintmeut except two and one of the eX-
| cepted eases was that of 4 resignation.
! Only single complaint was made OF pOiti-
/ cal discrimination against any appointing
| officer and that was the case OF Il post
master in Ohio. After investigation by the
! of the charge. There is no discrimination
| by the commission in examinations or other
| wise, on the ground of sex. The appoint
ments to the departments have been appor-
| toned among the States and Territories in
| conformity to the act and table attached
| to the report shows very close approXima-
| ton to the exact appOrtiOnment has been
| secU-ed. The report says that every pro-
/ vision, that has been favorable to the
| soldiers and sailors is preserved under the
! civil service rules; that the rules have
| greatly checked removals for partisan and
/ selfish reasons, although they in no way OBJ
] struct but rather facilitate removals Tor
! good cause; and the collection OF political
! assessments has been in 4 large measure
arrested. The report advises legisla-
! ton upon the model of the New
/ York law of 1891. approved by Governor
! Cleveland, which fOTbidS any one, whether
/ Il public officer or not, to solicit cOntribu-
! tiunS from persons in the public service.
! The report quotes the language of the last
/ annual message OF the President TO the eff
| feet that the good results anticipated from
| the new system have been more than real
J lied, and declares such is the view of every
member of tie cabinet. Nearly twenty
/ pages of the report are devoted 20 extracts
I
| by several pO,tmaSterS and customs officers
( at the Office where examinations are held.
| While there are in these letters criticisms OF
some parts of tie new system, the test
monv IS. in the opinion of the CcIenisSion.
decisive and unanimous as to lis great use
| fulneSS as whole. The relief from the
veXatiOuS and GemoraliZing solicitation for
/ Office. which before took much of the time
Of such officers, seems, the report says, to
have been very great. The report
| summarizes the general results as follows:
| First-That partisan and prospective tests,
| long enforced at the gates Of departments
and ut the great Offices. may without loss of
any kind and with increasing support rom
| the people, be rejected. and that i'll then
! place the test of character and capacity, ir
! respective of political or religious opinions
! be substituted.
! Secondhand with the growing approval
| of Congress Itself, shown lay the increased
| appropriations Tor the Commission as the
| great relief and advantage In the depart
| ments and Offices declared by those vino pre-
! side over them, the old system OF Congress
| sional influence and official favor for Secur
! ing appointments may be arrested If not de
/ StroYed-
| TbirC-That the system of open, free pub
| lie examination under a Don-partisan com
! mission may be successfully conducted fol
/ testing the character and capacity needed
in the public service, without extending the
| examination except for small numbei
| of special places beyond the subjects deemed
| so essential to success in private bushes:
| and for the discharge of the common dutie:
| OF Il citizen that they are required TO b(
taught at the public expense in the common
| schools throughout the country.
| Fourth-IEat the merit system of Office o.
/ which such examinations are the most i'm
| portant part, even under al the disadyant
! ages attending its first introduction has
| proved itself capable Of supplying for public
work officers, at least as capable as those SO
cured under any other system without intro
! ducing any evils peculiar TO itself
Fifth-That the new system is rapidly sup
! pressing the old practice under which mem
hers of Congress were almost compelled b.
| their constituents to become hunters anC
I partments, whereby a steady encrOachmen
| was being made by the legislative upon thu
| executive department, if indeed. the practice
was not equally destructive of the indepene
ence OF both.
| NOTES.
The Solicitor of the Treasury has referred
the offer of Madame Airline, to compromise
the suit pending against her in Chicago fOl
violation of tie customs laws, TO the United
States District Attorney at Chicago for IN
7estigatiOn and report. The acceptance oil
the offer is subject in turn tn the approval
of the District Attorney, Solicitor OF the
Treasury and Secretary of the Treasury.
First mptro.ler Lawrence has given the
opinion that the rate of compensation TO he
allowed telegraph companies for services
rendered the Government as fixed by the
Postmaster General on the 4th of SepteIn-
Der, 1854, shall govern the rate to be allowed
the entire fiscal year beginning July l, 1854
The condition OF Speaker CarlisleiS mucf