The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-07-27

49, E~AeOAD NNA1 G4hHlAlCO IOE AOmlea
sion in the classified civil service OF the
government in all its branches; OF whom
lu,146 passed for examination and 5.l46
lalied. OI those who passed the examina.
ton, 2,917 were applicants for admission
20 the department service at Washington
z'o41 were examined for admission to the
customs service and 5,222 for admission
20 the postal service. During the same
period 4 appointments were made from
the eligible lists to the departmental
service, GAL to the customs service and
3, 254 TO the postal service.
Concerning separations iron the classified
service, the report informs us OF such as
nave occurred among employees in the
public ~eervioe, who had been appointed
nom the eligible lists under civil service
rnles. When these rules tool effect they
did not apply to the persons then in the
service, comprising q full complement of
employees, who obtained positions indie
penuently OF the new law. The commission
has no record OF the separations in this
numerous class, and the discrepancies APP.
parent in the report between the number
oil appointments made in the respective
branches OF the service from the lists OF
the commission, and the small number of
separations mentioned, is, TO a great ex-
tent, accounted for by vacancies OF which
no report was made to the commission,
occurring among those who held their
places without examining certificate, which
vacancies were held by appointment from
the eligible lists. In the departmental
service there occurred between Jan. Il,
1886, and June 80, 1887, among the EN-.
pIoyes appointed from the eligible lists
under civil service rules, IT removals, SO
designations and five deaths. This does
not include IA separations in the grade OF
special pension examiners, four by emo
al, five by resignation and five by death.
In the classified customs and postal service
the number oil separations among those
who received absolute appointments under
civil service rules are given for the period
between Jan. /, 1886, and June 80, 1887.
1t appears that such separations in the
customs service for the time mentioned,
embraced 21 removals, five destinations,
10 deaths, and in the postal service 256
removals, 23 deaths and 50 designations.
Agar has passed since the expiration
OF that period covered by the report Of the
commission. Within the time which thus
elapsed many important changes have
taken place in fuTtherance Of a reform in
our civil service. The rules and regula-
tions governing the violations OF the law
upon the subject rave been completely re.
modelled in sue a as to render
the endorsements of the statue more effect.
i've and increase its usefulness. Among
other things, the report OF the examine
tions prescribed for those who seek t
enter the classified service has been de.
fined and made more practical, the num-.
Der OF the names to be certified from the
eligible lists to the appointing officers
from which 10 select, has been reduced
from four to three, the maximum limata-
ton OF the age OF persons seeking entrances
to the classified service to 45 years has
heen changed, and reasonable provision
has been made for thetransfer OF employees
from one department to another in proper
cases. A plan has also been devised proyid-
ing for the examination OF applicants for
promotion in the service, which, when in
iuli operation, will eliminate all chance OF
iavoritism in the advancement OF en-
ployes by making promotion a reward OF
merit and faithful discharge OF duty.
Until within a month there wal no uni.
foFmity in filling vacancies in the different
executives departments OF the government.
As a result OF this condition in some OF the
departments positions could be obtained
without civil service examination, because
they were not within the classification or
such department., while in other depart
ments an examination and certificate were
necessary TO obtain positions OF the same
grade, because such Dositions were embrace
edin the classifcations Of applicants to
those departments. The exemption OF la.
bOrers, watchmen aud messengers from
examination and classification, gave OPP
portunity in the absence OF any rule gaurd-
ing against it, for the employment free OF
civil service restrictions, OF persons under
these designations who were Immediately
detailed to do clerical work. All this has
been obviated by the application to all the
departments of an extended n Uniform
classification, embracinggrades Of employ.
ment not heretofore included and by the
adoption OF the rule prohibiting the detail
OF 10 borers, watchmen and messengers TO
clerical duty.
The path OF civil service reform has NOT
It all times been pleasant or easy, the
scope and purpose Of the reform having
been much misapprehended, and this has
not only given rise to strong opposition,
but has led to its invocation by friends to
objects not in the least related
to it. This, partisans Of the patronage
system have naturally condemned. Those
who do not understand it's meaning, either
Inistrust it, or whom disappointed because
10 its present stage it is not applicable to
every real or imaginary III, accuse those
charged with its enforcement with faith.
~lessness to civil service reform. Its impor-
tance has frequently been uDdeFestimated,
and the support OF good men has thus
been lost by their lack Of interest in it's
success. Besides all these difficulties. those
responsible for the administration OF the
govern ment in its executive branches have
been and still ara often annoyed by the
d~isioyaity to the service of those who
remain in place as its beneiciaries,
and the relics or remainders OF the
vicious system Of appointment which civil
service reform was introduced TO displace.
aud yet these are but the solicitations Of
an advance movement which IL radical
and far ruaching. Thepeupie are, notwith-
standing, to be congratulated upon the
progress which has been made, aud upon
the firm, practical and sensible foundation
upon which this reform nor stands.
With q continuation OF the intelligent
fidelity which has hitherto characterized
the work Of the commission and increase
81 the iayor and libernlity which have
been evident By the congress IN The proper
equipment OF the commission forits work,
with q nrm but conservative and reason.
able support of the reform by all its friends
and With the disappeaEanca Of opposition
which viii inevitably follow It's better I'M
derstanding. the execution of the civil ser.
vice law cannot lail to ultimately nswer
the purpose Tor which IL had its origin.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, July 23. 1888.
a pelIbehafe Crime.