Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-24
CIVIL SERVICE.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TRANSMITTING
THE REPORT OF THE CoMkIssIeE.
What Kas Been DoHe-Not an Easy Path
What Is Hoped
Yor

PURSUANT 10 the kfcOnu eftttOu W theP''i
81 OF the laws OF 1888, entitled an
act TO regulate and improYe TIE ctvn
service Of the United Ststes," herewltn
transmit the fourth report OF the United states
Civll-SeTvice Commission. covering Inc pc
Rod between the 18th day OF JANUARY, 1856,
and the Ist day Of July, 1887.
While this report has especial reference 10
the operations OF the commission during the
period above mentioned, 1t contains with us
accompanying appendices muchysluable IN
formation concerning the inception OF civil
service reform and its growth and progress
which cannot fail TO be interesting and IN
siruclive 10 all who desire improvement IN
administrative methods.
During the time covered by the report
1882 persons were examined for admission
10 the classified civil service Of the Govern
ment in all its branches, OF whom 1915
passed examination. and 5,l06 failed. Of
those who passed examination 2.9II were APP
plcanis for admission TO the Departmental
service at Washington. Twenty-Five hundred
and forty-seyen were examination admission
10 the customs service and 5,222 Tor adlnis-
sion TO the postal service. During TIE same
perlod Jl7 appointments were made from
eligible lists to the departmental service, G4l
70 the customs service. and 3, 25i 10 the postal
service.
Concerning separations from the classified
service the report only Informs Oisuch as nave
occurred among employees in the pubic ser-
vice wbo have been appointed from eligible
lists under tue clvil.seryice rules. When
these rules took effect they did not apply 10
persons then in service, comprising luh
complement OF employees who obtained their
positions independently OF the new law. Inc
commission has no record OF separations IN
tins numerous class, and the discrepancy ap-
parent in the report between the NUMBER OF
appointments m de 10 the respective branches
OF the service from llsts OF the commission
and The small number Of separations men,
TONED Is to great extent accounted Tor by
vacancies OF which no report was made 10
the commission occurring among those VINO
held ineir places without examination ana
certitcatiop. which vacancies were hled ny
appointment from eligible lists.
In the departmental service there occurred
between the l0ih day Of January, 1885, ana
The 30lh day Of June, 1881, among emploies
appointed from eligible lists under eiylI.ser-
vice rules, seventeen removals, thifty-slx re-
signations, and i've deaths. This does not
include fourteen separations in the grade OF
social pension-eXamlners, four by removal
i've by resignation, and five by death.
In the classified customs and postal SER
vice the number OF separations among those
who received absolute appointments under
civlI-service rules are given for the period
between the lst day Of January, 1856, and
the 3Otb dav OF June, 1887. II appears that
such separations 10 customs service for The
time mentioned embraced twenty-one re-
moyals. five deaths, and eighteen resigna-
lions, and In the postal service two hundred
and hitvslx removals, twenty-three deaths,
and four hundred and sixLy-nine resigna-
tons.
More than a year has passed since the eX.
piratlon OF the period covered by the report
Of the commission. Within the time which
has thus elapsed many important changes
have taken place in iurtherance OF the re-
form OF our civil service. Rules and regula-
tions governing the execution OF the law upon
the subject have been completely remodelled
in such a manner as TO render the enforce
ment OF the statute more effective and great
~ increase It's usefulness.
Among other things the scope OF the eX-
aminaions prescribed for those who seek to
enter the classified service has been better de-
fined and made more practical. The number
OF names to be certified from eligible lists 10
the appointing officers from which the seiec-
ton is made has been reduced from four to
three. The maximum Limitation OF the are
OF persons seeking entrance TO the classified
service 10 iOrty-dye years has been changed.
and reasonable provision been made for the
transfer OF employees from one department to
another IN proper cases. A plan has also
been devised providing for the examination
Of applicants for promotion In the service
which, when in full operation. will eliminate
all chance OF iayorltism in the advancement
OF employees by making promotion reward
Of merit and faithful discharge OF duty.
Until within a few weeks there was no uni.
form classification OF employees in the different
executive departments OF the Government.
As the result OF this condition In some OF
the departments positions could be obtained
without civil-seryice examination, because
they were not within the classification OF
such department, while in other depart
ments examination and cer'ihca.ion were ne
cessary to obtain positions OF the same grade,
because such positions were embraced in the
classification applicable TO those depart
ments.
The exception OF lahorers, wa'chmen, and
messengers from examination and classilca-
ton gave an opportunity, IN the absence OF
any rule guarding against II after employ
Dersons under these designations who were
Immediately detailed 10 do clerical work.
All this has been Obviated by application 10
all the departments OF the extended and uni
form classification, embracing the grades OF
emuloy6. not heretofore Included. and by
the adoption OF u rule prohibiting detail Of
laboreIs, Watchmen, or messengers to clerl-
cal duty.
Tie path Of ciyil.serylce reform has not
at all times been pleasant nor easy. The
scope and purpose OF reform have been much
mis4pprehended, and this has not only gwen
rise 10 strong opposition, but has led 10
in0ocltOns by its friends TO compass objects
MOI IN the least related TO IL, Thus pariisans
OF the patronage system have naturally con-
demned IL. Those who do not understand
lis meaning either mistrust II, or when dis.
appointed because in It's present Stage It is
not ap3led to every real or Imaginary III.
accuse those charged with It's enforcement
with faiihlcSsness % clvil.aervice reform.
us Importance las frequently been
underesilmaled. and the support OF good
men has thus been lost by their lack Of .n-
tercs. IN ITS success. Besides these dill .ul-
ties those responsible for toe administration
OF the Government in its executive branches
nave been and are s'iil often annoyed aud
lrrtated by di,Ioyalty TO tie service and the
insolence OF employees who are employed
in places as benedciaries IN releases and re-
minders OF the vicious system Of appoint
ment which civi-seryice reform was in-
tended 10 dlsplace.
And vet these are hut incidents Of the adj.
vance movement, which is radical and Tar
reaching. The oDlc are Notwithstanding
to be congratulated upon the progress watch
7bas been made and upon the firm. practical
ana sensible foundation upon which this
reform now rests. With the continuation
OF the intelligent fidelity which has hitherto
characterized the work OF tue commission;
with the certain increase OF favor and Hoe
rality which have lately been evinced by
Congress IN the proper equipment OF the
commission for It's work; with firm but
conservative aud reasonable support Of re-
form by all it, friends, and with the disap.
peaiance OF opposition, which must ineyita-
bly follow lis better understanding, the eXe-
cution OF the ciyilservice hw cannot fail TO
ultimately answer the hopes in which it had
lis origin.
lSiQnedl GROVER CLEVELAND.
Iyecutire Hdnsion, July, 1883.
OVER Ius OLD Battlefield.