The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-05
NEEDS or THE CIVIL SERVICE.
President Cleveland Writes . Letter on
the Subject aud Urges Extension Of
the Limits Of the Classified service.


President Cleveland Writes . Letter on
the Subject aud Urges Extension Of
the Limits Of the Classified service.
WASHINGTON, March 31-The President
has sent the following letter to the Civil
Service Commission recommending an ex-
tension OF the limits Of the classified
service:
"ExEcUTIvE MANSION, WASHINGTON. d c.,
March y. lSSs-To Ms United States fitH-
.Serrice onmssi0a-Gentlemen: I desire to
make suggestion regarding subdivision. gen.
eral rule 3 OF the amended Civil Service rules.
promulgated February ?. 1853. II pro-
vides for the promotion OF an
employe In department who is below or
outside OF the classified service, TO place
within said classified service in the same
department upon the request of the appointing
ofi1cer upon the recommendation OF the com-
mission and the approval OF the President,
after . non-competitlve examination, in case
such person has served continuously for two
years in the place from which 1t is proposed to
promote him and because OF his faithfulness,
and efficiency in the position occupied by HIM
and because OF his qualifications for the place
to which the appointing officer desires his pro-
notion
ut has occurred to me that this provision
must be executed with caution. to avoid the
application OF IL to eases not intended and the
uu0uC TCluA1NiOu III IHc kGNeEaI PURPOSES anu
restrictions OF the Civii-Scrvicc law Non-com-
petitive examinations are the exceptions to
the plan OF the act and the rules permit
ting the same should be strictly
construed. The cases arising under the excep-
tion above rected should be very few. and when
presented they should precisely meet all the re-
quirements specified and should be supported
by facts which will develop the basis and reason
Of the application Of the appointing officer, and
which will commend them to the judgment Of
the commission and the President. The sole
purpose Of the provision is to benefit
the public service and 1t should never be per-
mitted to operate rs an evasion OF the main
feature OF the law which Is competitive exam
nations. As these cases will first be pre-
sented to the commission for recommea-
dation. have to request that you will
formulate plan by which their mer-
its can be tested. This will naturally
involved statement OF all the facts deemed
necessary for the determination Of such appl.-
cations. including the kind OF work which has
been done by the person proposed for promo
ton. and the considerations upon which the al
legations OF the faithfulness. efficacy and quail.
tfications mentioned IN the rules arc predicted.
What has already been written naturally
suggests another very important subject. to
which invite your attention. The desirability
OF the rule which / have commented upon
would be nearly, il not entirely removed,
rass the execution OF the Ciyl-Service
law would be obviated ii there was q
better and uniform classification OF the
employees in the different departments. The
importance OF this Is entirely obvious. The
present imperfect classifications hastily made,
apparently with but little care for uniformity,
and promulgated after the last Presidential
election, aud prior to the installation OF the
present Administration should not have been
permitted TO continue till this time. II appears
that In the War Department the employees were
divided on the 18th day OF November, 1854, into
eight classes and sub-classes embracing thos
earn .ng annual salaries of from 500 to - ooo.
The Navy Department was classified Noyem-
Der p, 1884. and its employees were divided in
to seven classes and sub-classes embracing
those who received annual salaries OF from
ts0o to sl,SO. In the Interior Department
the classification was made on the 9th day oil
December, 1854. II consists or e.ght classes
and sub-classes, and embraces employees re-
ceiving annual salaries OF from ss20 to 5000.
On the I'd day OF January, 1856. a elassitica-
ton OF employees IN the Treasury Department,
was made consisting OF six classes and sub
cla11cs, including those earning annual salaries
OF from 500 to sl.s0O
I'm the Post-office Department: the employees
were classified on February 8. 1885. into II ne
classes and sub-classes embracing persons
earning annual salaries OF from $50 to &. dOO
Of Agriculture was classified in N amer diff
ferent from all other departments. and present
ing features peculiar to itself.
1T appears that the only classification in
the Department Of State and Department ol
Just &c Is that provided for by section l63 OF the
Revised Statutes. which directs th2t employees
in the several departments shall be divided int
four classes. 1t appears that no more dctinit
classification has been made in these depart
Ments.
II wish the commission would revise these
classifcations aud submit to me plan which
VIII as far rs possible make them uniform and
which will especially remedy the present con
dition which permits persons to enter a grade
In the service in The one department without
any examination, which in another depart
mcnt can only be entered after passing such
examination. This think could be done b,
extending the limits OF the classified service
rather than BY contracting them
- ..GROyER CLEVELAND.
One of the Commissioners said yesterday
that the views of the Commissioners are in
full accord with those of the President