Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-01
cIvIL-sERvicE REFORM.

1 80 ~SA
| WASHINGTON. March %, 1sss.-The third
| annual report of the Civil Service Com.
| mission sent to Congress by the Presi-
| dent yesterday, covers the year from
January 16, 1885, to January l6, 1856. It shows
| comprehensive execution of the Civil
Service rules, the particulars OF W hich
are fully set forth. Applicants have been
examined within the year from every
State of the Union, and from every Territory
1 except Utah.
! The whole number of persons examined
under the commission during the year has
! 730 were females The whole number thus
far examined since the act was passed has
| of the 1852 examined during the past ye ar
| 5,034 attained the minimum of sixty five per
cent, which makes them eligible for APP
pointment, and ,56S failed to show that de-
! gree of proficiency and consequently are In :
| eligible for appointments.
| The average age OF those examined was
thirty years, from which it would appear that
| there must have been on an average period
of from seven to eight years of practical life
| their education and the time of their en-
| trance into public service.
ayersge aae Of tbosa ho ehs Is ass
six months above the average age of all
! those who succeeded. so that the longer ex-
perience of business life is almost the exact
equivalent of mere fresh recollection of
what had been learned in the schools or COL
leges From this result it would seem that
| the examin ations have been such as to al
most equally divide the chances of success
between those who are best posted in their
studies and those who are most experienced
n business affairs. This is probably con-
irary to the general belief.
| the wear IexeIusiye of the ~ who took the
| special examinations) was as follows. Six
thousand and fifty three only In the public
part in business colleges II we class those
who have attended business colleges with
those who have been in other colleges those
educated in the public schools alone are
more than eighty two per cent. of the whole
number examined. and those who have been
In college are less than eighteen per cent. II
business colleges are not SO classed, the ra-
ito will be that of eighty-six per cent edu-
the colleges.
The whole number of appointments made
has been 1876, each for the probationary pc
Rod of six months. If to those we add $500,
the number made during the previous eigh.
teen months under the rules, 1t shows that
i,l76 have been appointed in two years. This
is between one third and one fourth of the
nations extend ana that ehose IN
Office when the Civil Service act took effect
will be replaced by applicants exam
ten y aaasr Every t one Of eight these
| examinations has been open to all alike
Spnfons Na hes been to
| desiring to be examined, that any discrim-
inatiOn had been made on political or re-
ligious grounds, or that he had stuff cred any
prejudice by reason of his utilization with
any church, party or faction. The adherents
of each of the great parties being nearly
equal in number, 1t would seem to be just
inference that about two thousand Republi-
cans and about two thousand Democrats
have secured places in the public service
under the Civil Service act.
AS bearing upon the probability of dis
elimination, and also upon the character
and capacity of those appointed under the
rules, it may be stated that during the past
six months probationary, term of 35S ap
DOlntR6S departments WASHINGTON.
and most of them appointed under the last
administration, expired during the year
ending the fourth day of January last. Yet
every one of them except eleven has been
given permanent appointments, and one of
been restored 1t seems to be thus proved
by experience that the examinations are
adequate test of business capacity that
only about one out of forty of those who are
appoiHted are rejected, after a trial of six
months, in doing the public work. This in
cludes all reflections, If there have been any,
for political reasons.
The report shows that in the previous
year all but two OF the 100 whose probation
had expired were permanently appointed.
In other words, out of 4S9 persons VIII ose
probationary terms had expired before the
found worthy of permanent appointments.
In regard to the character of those APP
There had been before the 10th OF January
last 725 appointments to the departments at
Washington from those examined under the
18TH of January last there had been in ali
just fourteen removals since the rules were
made-but one was only by reason of the
completion of work. In other words, about
l-56 of those appointed have been removed.
There are more than IA 900 places subject TO
$3.50 in the departmental service at Wash
inSton: 1873 in the customs service, and
several additional post offices are likely to
come under the examinations dur ing the
current year.
The report states many particulars of the
evils that were to be removed, and how
far they have been remedied under the
new system, based on free open compe-
been in a considerable measure suppressed;
solicitation and pressure for appointments
have been greatly limited; members Of
annoyance; those administering the
Governments have had their time
@ ers than less a ny haHs
sequentlv had much more time for doing
the public work. The ability to dictate APP
has been the strength and the profit of the
partisan manipulators and demagogues,
has the report says been diminished In the
schools and good character and reputation
in private life have been encouraged and
ments is much less than it was before the
Civil Service act was passed.
sanG n o she eubeet to the
Is the report says, much taken from the
spoils to be dispensed by PATRONAGE mSngers,
by the most worthy applicants. The report
shows how the examinations siren CITIZEN the
school system Of the country. and that the
York and Massachusetts,, where the system
is now established, as they have been IN the
trial of the new system in these States, as
we'll as in Canada.
The commission further declares that
power to grant favors Il says that the
humber of those who attempt to try the old
spoiIs methods to secure favors at its hands
is nothing compared with the numbers who
made such attempts during the first six
they nave
to the new system is declared to be rapid all
Concerning the President and his Cabinet,
the report has this language: Under all cir
cumstances, and IN every part OF Its work
through the past year not less h .nan ha IN ab
cordial and answering support OF the Pres.
ident In no instance has the commission
friendly support on the part of any head of
a department. but, on the contrary, 1t has
had decisive evidence from ,as each ct t pHr
President Cleveland has neither allowed
their application to be diminished by sin
pointmept of a single officer in violation
Of the rules. The commission expresses
members of his Cabinet in declaring that
the enforcement of the new system thus far
has SO clearly demonstrated its beneficial
effects in various ways that it should no
longer be regarded as experimental, but as
part of the established policy of the Govern
ment. By the common consent of those IA
miliar with their practical working, the lead
ing provisions of the rules and the great
principles on which the Civil Service Is based
have been shown to be consistent with
sound business methods in the administra-
ton as they are in the intelligence, Justice
and liberty which are the vitality and
strength of our institutions.
1t has thus been made clear, says the re-
po,t, that those having charge OF the great
departments. who are most responsible for
the we'll doing of the public work, who best
know the abuses, and who are consequently
the best judges of the proper methods of
reno wing them, are convinced of the utility