The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-13
THE CIVIL sERyioH.
Second Report of the Commissioners Traus.
p,ittad IN rnnyFas.

Second Report OF the Commissioners Trans
mitted to Congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The President
has transmitted TO Congress the second
annual report of tue Civil Service Com
mission, covering the period from January
10, 1851, to January is, 1885. In hisletter
OF transmittal lie says: -
"The commission is in the second year
OF It's existence. The President congratu-
latcs the country on its success, its labors,
commends the slbjecttothe favorable con-
sideration Of Congress, and esks for an ap.
preparation to continue tho work."
The report is comprehensive docu-
ment, giving q full account OF the action
OF the commission and the results achiev-
ed. 1t says the the civil service law has
been found practicable andetlectiveforthe
accomplishment Of its purpose. During
the year pensions have been examined
from every State and Territory except
Idaho. One hundred and sixty.two ex.
aminations have been held, and I, ,;Iif per-
SONS examined. OF whom 6, ,5o5 were males
and S292 females. or those examined 4, l4l
passed at grade showing them compe-
tent for service, and :, ,20G failed. The av-
erage ago OF all examined was nearly
thirty years.
The great body OF public servants, the
report says, are being drawn from that
class
EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The whole number Of appointments
made under the commission has been
2,a22. The reportdeclares that the com
mission has no reason TO believe that dis
elimination on political grounds has been
made in these appointments, andpositiye-
iv asserts TINT none has been made in
connection with examinations. 1t is de-
clared that no complaint has come 10 the
commission by any person exa6iined, or
desiring to be examined, OF any such dis
crimination. The opinion Is expressed
that about one half Of these appointed
have been adherants OF each ofthe great
parties. AS bearing upon the question OF
discrimination, the report calls attention
to the fact that appointees TO the depart
ment at Washington have served out the
probationary period OF six months, during
which their politics would not usually
have become known, ,yeteyery one OF these
appointees received unconditional reap
pointment except two, and one OF the
excepted cases was that of resignation.
Only q single complaint was made of polit-
ical Discrimination against any appoint
ing officer, and that was the case OF a post
master in Ohio, and after the investiga-
tion by the commission the evidence APP
peared in support Of the charge. There Is
no discrimination by tho commission In
examinations or otherwise on the ground
OF sex. The appointments to the depart
ments have been
ApPoRTioSEp AMONG THE STATES
and Territories in conformity to the act,
and the table attached to the report shows
that very close approximation to the ex-
act appottionment has been Gecured.
Tie report says that any provision OF
the law favorable to soldiers and sailors Is
preserved under the civil service rules;
that the rules have greatly checked re-
moyals for party and selfish reasons. al
though they in no way abstract, but rather
facilitate, removals for good cause; and
that the collection OF political assessments
has been In large measure arrested.
The report advises legislation upon the
model OF the New York law OF 1884, ap-
proved by Governor Cleveland, which for
bids any one, whether public officer or
not, 10 solicit contributions from persons
in the public service.
The report quotes the language Of the
last annual message OF the President to
the effect that the good results anticipated
from The new system have been more than
realized, and declares that such is the
view OF every member OF the Cabinet.
Nearly twenty pages Of the report are
devoted to extracts from letters writtcn To
the Commission by several postmasters
and custom officers where the examina'
tions are held. While there are In these
letters criticisms Of some parts Of the new
system, the testimony is, in the opinion el
the commission, decisive and unanimous
as to its great usefulness as whole. The
relief from the vexatious and demoraliz'
ing solicitation for Office which before
took much OF the time OF such officers
seems, the report says. TO have been very
great.