Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-04

lean wrecking vessels and machinery
to assist the American vessels while
in distress in Canadian waters, and as
to whether the Canadian wrecking vessels
and machinery were permitted to operate in
American waters. 1t was referred.
House at 4.05 adjourned.
General Congressional News
The President approved the promulgated
revision of the civil service rules, which
makes several very important changes in the
system of appointments upon tests of fitness
applied to applicants for places in the de-
partments at Washington and in the classi-
fed custom and post offices. The commits
sion has also revised the civil service
regulations to conform to the new rules
as these revisions have been under consider
alton by the commission the greater part of
the year. Both received careful considera-
ton by President Cleveland He made
changes and notifications, both of matter
and phraseology. Not one of the old rules
and regulations remains III its original form.
few of the most salient features Of the
now rules are as follows: First, they are
divided into parts, general rules, depart
ment rules, custom rules and postal rules.
Second, the general rules, five in number,
lars to all parts of classified service and to
some parts of the service not yet classified
under law or rules BY these rules it is made
an otfense, punishable by dismissal, in any
officer of the executive civil service, lst, to
use official authority or influence for the
purpose of interfering with the elections or
controlling results thereof; or I'd, to dismiss
or cause to be dismissed, or use influence of
any kind to procure the dismissal of any
person from any place in the service, be-
cause such person refused to be coerced in
political action, or because he refused to
contribute money for any political
purpose, or to render political service.
1t especially provides that any Office clerk or
employe of the government shall be dismiss
ed from service for violation OF sections IL +,
r. IL or Ii of the civil service act, which
prohibits receiving and soliciting political
assessments, discharging, promoting or
changing the rank of any employe, or threat
ening or promising to do so, ON account of re-
fusal to make political contributions. 1t
also provides that no question i'll any examl-
nation shall be SO framed as to elicit the po-
litical or religious opinions of the applicants,
and for the dismissal of any examining or
nominating officer seeking to ascertain those
opinions, or who shal discriminate on ac-
count DI sutil OpiHlDus DN StHtIdi
the several non competive examinations pro-
yide,i for, and the rcompulsory examination
provision US suggested by the committee was
amended by the President who added the
words, but persons in classified service who
was honorably discharged from the military
or naval service of the United States, and
widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and
sailors shall be exempt from such eyamna-
ton"
Another important feature is that
which gives authority to the ap-
pointing or nominating officer to whom
the commissioners may send the names
of persons declared by them eligible to GER
tain places, to object in writing to all or any
one person thus certified, stating that for rea-
sons particularly specified such persons or any
of them, are not capable of performing the
duties of the vacant place, and the commits
sioners are directed to make certiiicaton of
other names if the objections made are
good and well founded. The general rules
also provide that soldiers and sailors honor
ably discharged, because of sickness or
wounds, shall be certified for appointment in
preference to others. Persons of higher
grade in examination and in making any re-
duction in any branch of classified service
honorably discharged soldiers and sailors,
also widows and orphans of deceas-
ed soldiers and sailors shall be re-
tained in preference to all other persons
The departmental rules authorize the classi-
fication of commissions Independent of bu-
reaus, as well as departments at Washington,
and prescribes the examination that must be
provided to test fitness for admission to this
branch of the service. They provide that
the following officers be appointed without
IN. yata ar
fidental clerk of the head of each classified
department. and each assistant secretary
thereof, also of each head of the bureau, ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, direct Gus
todians of money, for whose fidelity another
officer is under official bond; disbursing
officers who give bond, and persons employed
exclusively in the secret service; for chief
clerks and chiefs of divisions the maximum
age limitation of forty-hye years is abro-
gated and the minimum limitation is raised
from eighteen to twenty. Soldiers and sail
ors who have tie claim of preference in civil
appointments are let in at 10 per cent. in all
other eases the minimum grade of eligibility
is raised from - To 20 per centum. The
number of names To be certified to an ap-
pointing officer from which to select for an
appointment, is reduced from four to three.
systems of transfers are arranged. and spec
ial examinations are provided for certain po-
sitions in the customs ami postal service, and
the appointment of the most responsible Off
GERS without examination is allowed.
The House committee on commerce, gave
a hearing on Friday to a number of prom-
neut men, including Judge Daley of New
York, ex-senator Mcdonald and Mr.. Hitch
cock of New York, who urged the passage
of a bill granting charter TO Nicaragua.
The House committee OH the merchant
marine and fisheries devoted its entire ses-
sion Friday morning, to arguments from per-
sons interested in bills prohibiting the capture
! of menhaden on the Atlantic ocean, within
the limits OF the coast