The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-07-20
IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Report of the Commission ~ Interesting
Facts and Figures.

Facts and Figures.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-The fourth re-
port of the Civil-Service Commission
shows that between January 16, 1885, and
june 80. 1887, 436 examinations were held
in various parts of the country for the
whole classified service; Is, 965 men and
1887 women were examined and {, 30 men
and 1886 women successfully passed.
The total percentage of failures was
81 per cent men and 1876 per cent. women.
OF the successful applicants 4, 302 men and
100 women received appointments. 1t is a
notable fact that since the enactment of the
CivilServiee law no women have been ap-
pointed from the following named States
and Territories: Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota. Montana, New
Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Washington and
Wyoming.
The report discusses the subject of APP
portionment and makes an argument
against the suggestion that appointments
should be apportioned among Congress
sional districts; recommends the extension
of the classified service to embrace
employees of the railway mail service,
the field employees of the Indian and Labor
bureaus, the Indian schools service, the
graded clerks in the several departments
of the Quartermaster- Generals Office in the
War Department, and certain other posi-.
tions in the civil service. Schemes
of uniform departmental customs and
postal classifcations are submitted,
which have in view the bring
ing of all the employees of the several
branches of the civil service under the
operation of the Civil-Service law and
rules. Many of these suggestions have
lately been adopted by the President and
put into operation.
Among the concluding paragraphs of the
report are the following:
"The act entitled AN act to regulate and i'm
prove the civil service of the United States has
been in force now nearly four years and half,
part of that time under the administration of
one party and part under that of another.
That there has been accomplished in the ex-
ecution of the law all that its sanguine
friends expected is not claimed; but with
out any degree of inexactness in statement
it may be said that in the results of its
execution IS shown the wisdom of the princi-
pie OF divorcing the subordinate officers
of the Government from politics and
elections and making continuance in Office de-
pendent not upon party service, but upon merit
and good behavior. In this respect the law has
produced results which are not extravagantly
described as surprising.
"The demoralizing methods of the patron
age system of appointments have been re-
placed, within the classified service, by the
better methods of the law, under which the
demands of common justice are complied with,
so that in so far as practicable, all citizens
duly qualified shall be allowed equal oppor-
tunity on grounds of personal fitness, for Sc
curing appointment and employment in the
subordinate civil service.
The patronage system is utterly at variance
with the genius and spirit of our institutions,
which will protest against the surrender to
any party of the interests of the Nation, and
refuse to consent that this Government shall
ever become, what the patronage system de-
veloped into full fruitlon would make 1t, a Gov
eminent of the ofice-holders, by Office -givers,
for offce-seekers.;
The report was prepared by Commission
er Oberly and is signed by the three men,
bers of the commission, Mr.. Lyman dis
senting from the regulation Of 1887 requir-
ing the certifcation to the head of an Of
flee of the whole list Of eligibles for pro-
motion