Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-26
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

An Interesting Account of Hts Work
 tngs shown by the Report of the
 Commission.
 WASHINGTON, March 25.-The following message from the President was sent to Con- gress to-day:
 EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 25 1886. To the Senate and House of Representatives:
 r b oD or be h dav
 January last. The exhibit thus made of the opera sented of the results following the execution of the civil service law cannot fail to demonstrate the scheme for a reform in the methods of administer ing the government is no longer experiment steadily advanced in the esteem of those charged with public administrative duties, while the peo- been confirmed in their high estimates of it's value and efficiency With the benefits it has already se- with it's promise of increased usefuiness easily ap preciated, the cause is commended to the liberal care and jealous protection of Congress.
 GROVER CLEVELAND.
 The third annual report of the civil ser vice commission sent to Congress by the President to-day covers the year from Janu- ary 16, 1885. to January 16. 1s86 The whole number of persons examined during the year has been 7,062, of whom 6,872 were males and 730 females. The whole number thus far examined since the act was passed has been IT, ,416. Of the 7,062 examined dur ing the year 5,O34 attained the minimum of sixty-fve per cent, which makes them eligi- ble for appointment; 2,56S failed to show that degree of proficiency and consequently are ineli3 3ible for appointment The average of all those examined was thirty years, from which it would appear that there must have been on an average a period of from seven to sixteen years of periodical life inter vening between the time of co mpleting their education and the time of their entrance in- to public service. 1t is further shown that the average age of those who failed is less than six months above the average of all those who succeeded, so that the longer e1- perience of business life is almost the exact equivalent of 6 more fresh recollection of what had been learned in the schools or col leges. From this result it would seem that the examinations have been such as to al most equalize the chances of success between those best posted in their studies and those most experienced in business affairs. The ed ucation of those examined during the year Exclusive of the SIT who took the special examination) was follows: 6,053 only in the public schools; 658 in part in colleges ana Tn part III business colleges. II ~o class those who have attended business col leges with those who have been in other col leges those educated in the public schools alone more than eighty two per cent of the whole number examined, and those who have been in college are less than eighteen per cent If business colleges are not SO classed the ratio will be that of eighty two per cent. educated in the schools to fourteen per cent. in the colleges. AS bearing upon the probability of discrimi- nation and also upon the character and capac- ity of those appointed under the rules it may be stated that during the year ending Janu- ary 16 the six months probationary term of 35S appointees to the departments at Wash ington most of them appointed under the last administration, expired. Yet everyone of them except eleven has been given per manent appointment and one of the eleven at first so appointed has been restored. It 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 appointed are rejected after & trial of six months in doing the public work This includes all rejections if there have been any for political reasons.
 The report states many particulars of the evils that were to be removed and how far they have been remedied under the new sys- tenn based upon the free competition of merit. Political assessments have been in considerable measure suppressed. Solicita- tion and pressure for appointments have been greatly limited The members of Con- gress have been relieved from much annoy ance. Those administering the government had their time much less taxed by office seek CTS than formerly and consequently had much more time for doing the public work. The ability to dictate appointments and en force assessments, which has been the strength and the profit of partisan manipu- lators and demayogues, has been al unfinished in the same degree that faithful study in the schools and good character and reputation in private life have been encouraged and rewarded. Parti- san activity in the departments is much less than when the act was passed. Each Of the more than IA 900 places subject to the exam nations is, the report says, so much taken from the spells to be dispersed by patronage mongers and so much added to the prizes to be won by the most worthy applicants. The report shows how the examinations strength en the school system of the country and that the general results have been salutary in New York and Massachusetts, where the sSs- tenn is established. they have been in the federal service It sets forth the trial of the new system in the States as we'll as in Canada. The commission declares that it has no patron age and no power to grant favors, that the numbers of those who attempt according to the old spells methods to secure favers at it's hands Is as nothing to the numDer Wno made such attempts during the first six months They have found their efforts useless. The growth of sentiment favorable to the new system is declared to be rapid.
 Concerning the President and his Cabinet the report has this language Under all circumstances and in every part of it's work during the year, not less than in previ- ous years, the commission has had the cor dial and unswerving support of the Presi- dent. In no instance has the commission bad occasion to complain of lack of friendly support on the part of any head of a depart | ment, but on the contrary it has had decisive evidence from each of purpose to enforce | the rules in good faith. President Cleveland has neither allowed their application to be diminished 1 by single officer nor con ented to the ap- pointment of single officer in violation of the | rules. The commission expresses the views l of the President in declaring that the en l forcement of the new system thus far has SC clearly demonstrated it's beneficial effects 1T various ways that it should no longer be re st | ded as experimental, but as & part of tn 1 gsablished part of the government. By th!