The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-24
CIVIL SERVICE.
The Presidents Message to Congress
Accompanying the Report of the
Civil Service Commission.
He Points Out the Valuable Infor-
nation Contained In 1t.
1t Is Instructive to Those Desiring
Improvement In the Service.
Mr.. Cleveland Concludes by Saying
That the Path of c,vil Service Re-
form Has Not Been Pleasant
Nor Easy.

| ARLINGTON, July E,-lhe lresluent
sent TO Congress today tho following mes
sage:
| To the Congress Of the United states
Pursuant TO the second section OF Chap
ter % Of the laws OF 1883, entitled "An
act TO regulate and improve the civil scrv-
ice of the United States, | herewith trans
init the fourth report OF the United States
civil service commission, covering the pc
Rod between tho l6tl day OF January,
1886, and the first day Of July, 1887.
While this report ha' especial reference
TO the operations OF the commission during
the period above men oned il contains,
with its accompanying appendices, much
valuable information concerningthc incep-
ton Of civil service reform and its growth
and progress, which cannot but be inter
esting and instructive to all who desire
improvement in administrative methods.
During the time covered 10y the report,
b,Sj2 persons were admittcd for admission
in the cinssiiled civil service OF the gov.
eminent in all It's branches, of whom TO-
1I6 passed the examination and =, 100
failed. OF these who passed the cNamin-
alton 2,077 are applicants for admission 10
the departmental service at Washington.
2,5i7 were examined Ter admission 10 the
customs service and b,2a2 for admission 10
the postal service. During the same period
| 5i7 appointments were made from the eli
| giblc lists TO the departmental service, Gll
10 the customs service and 3,2ji 10 the
| postal service.
| Concerning separations from the CLASH.
| fled service, the report only informs us VI
such rs have occurred among employees in
| the public service who had been appointed
| from eligible lists under civil service rules
| When these rules took effect they did not
| apply 20 the persons then in the service,
comprising full complcmentof employees,
who obtained their pos ions independent
| Is Of the new law. The commission has
| no record of the separations In this numer-
Gus class and discrepancy apparent In the
report between the nutilpr of appoint
mcnts made in the respective branches oi
the service from the lists Of the commits.
sion, and all number OF separations men
| toned ~ 90 4 great extent accounted Tor
by vacancies Of which no report was made
20 the commission, occurring among those
who held their places without examination
and ccrlifcation, which vacancies were
filed by appointment nom then eligible
lists.
In the departments service there oc.
CURED between the 10th day Of January,
1886, and the 18th day Of June. 1857,
among the employees appointed from the
eligible lists under civil service rules, sew
cnteen removals, thiry.six designations
and five deaths. This does not include
fourteen separations In the grade Of spo-
cial pension examiners, four 10y removal,
five by resignation and liye by death.
In this classified customs and postal ser
vice, the number OF separations among
those who received absolute appointments
under the civil service rules are given Tor
the period between the lst day Of January,
1885, and the 18th day Of June, 1887. II
/ appears that such separations m the Gus
toms service for the tiue mentioned, EN-
bmccd twcnty-one removals, five deaths
and eighteen designations, and la the pos.
tai service 2bJ removals, twenty.thnco
deaths aud 400 designations.
More than year has PASSED since the
\ expiration Of the period covered 10y the 10.
port Of the commission. Within the time
which has lust elapsed many important
changes have taken plrHr In iurihcranco Of
a reform in our civil service. The rules
and regulations governing the violations
Of the law upon tho subject have been
completely rcmodcled such a manner ~
TO render the enforcement Of the statute
moro effective aud greay Increase iis use
fulncss.
Among other things ihc scope Of cSami.
nations prescribed for those Who seek 10
enter the classified service has been better
defined aud made NOR practical, the mum.
Der Of names 10 be certified from the
eligible lists 10 the appointing officer from
which a selection " made, has been no
ducod from four 10 thifc, tho maximum
limitation Of the ago 0l persons seeking
entrance 10 the classified service 10 forty
five years has been changed, and rcsason'
able provisions have been made for the
transfer Of employees iflm ono department
10 another in proper cases. A plan has
also been devised pro, ling Tor the eEami.
nation Of applicants r. promotion la the
service, which, when In fall operation.
will eliminate all chansts VI iayoritism IN
the advancement Of employees by making
promotion reward Of merit aud faithful
discharge oi duty.
Until within few weeks there was no
uniform classification OF employees IN the
different executive departments Oi the
government. As re- uli Of this condition
In some Of the departments, the positions
could be- obtained wit out civil service cx'
] animation, because tlyy were not within
the classification OF such department,
while In other depart hcnts nm examine
ton and ccrtihcation were necessary 10
. obtain positions OF the anne grade, because
such positions were er lmccd ia the class
, ifications applicable those departments.
The exception Of labrfcr, waichmon and
J messengers from examination and classiii.
! cation, gave opportunity In the absence OF
any rule guarding against H. Tor the en-.
ploymenl, free from evil service rcstric.
lions, Of persons undo ihcfc designations,
who we're immedia,cl detailed 10 do eler'
! Teal work All this b.. been obviatcd by
the application 90 al the departments, oi
an extended aud uniform classification,
I embracing grades Of employees not hereto.
! fore included, and ly the adoption OF
q rule prohibiting The detail OF lhborcu,
|, waichmen or mosscng,m to 10 clerical
I, duty.
The path Of civil service reform has not
!, NJ all times been pleasant nor easy Ihe
purpose Of tie reform having been much
lnDisaunrehanded an tbs Las not "n'N