River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-07-26
CivlL-sERvIeE REFORM.

clviL-sERvIeE REFORM.
The President Sends Message to Con-
gress ON the subject-The Work of the
Commission Reviewed and the PeoDls
Congratulated on the Benefit to the
Cause Aceruing from Recent LegIsla-
tion.
WASHINGTON, July 24-The President
mas sent TO Congress the following mes
sage:
To the Congress OF the United States:
pursuant TO the second section OF chapter "a
OF the laws OF 1888, entitled An act 20 regulate
anc improve the eivil-service of the United
States, herewith transmit the fourth report
OF the United States Civil Service Commission.
covering the period between the 10th day Of
January, 1856, and the LIST day OF July. 1857:
While this report has special reference To
the operations OF the commission during the
period aforementioned, it contains, with It's
accompanying appendices, much valuable in
formation concerning the inception OF Civil
Service reform and its growth and progress.
which can not fail to be interesting and in.
structive 10 all who desire improvement in adj
ministrative methods. During the time COW
cred by the report 1859 persons were ex-
amined for admission in the classified civil
service OF the Government in all its branches,
OF whom 10, 7s6 passed the examination. and
8, JOG failed. or those who passed the exam
10 the departmental service at Washington,
2,547 were examined for admission 10 the Gus
toms service, and 5,222 for admission TO the
postal service. During the same period 547 ap-
pointments were made from the eligible lists
to the departmental service, Gal TO the customs
service, and 8, s6f 10 the postal service
Concerning separations from the classified
service, the report only informs us of such
as 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 to
persons then In the service, comprising
full complement OF employees, who obtained
their pos tons independently of the new law.
The commission has no record Of the separa-
tons In this numerous class, and the dis
crepaney apparent in the report between the
number OF appointments made in the re-
spective branches of the service from the
list OF the commission and the small mum
Der OF separations mentioned, is, TO a great ex-
tent, accounted for by vacancies OF which no
report was made TO the commission, occurring
among those who held their places without ex.
animation and csrtifcation, which vacancies
were filled by appointment from the eligible
lists
In the departmental service there occurred
between the 10Th day OF January, 1855, and the
Both day OF June, 1887, among the employees ap-
pointed from the eligible lists, under Civil
service rules, seventeen removals, thirty-six
designations and five deaths. Tnis does not in
clude fourteen separations in the grade OF
special pension examiners, four by removal
five by resignation and five by death.
I'm the classified customs and postal ser
vice, the number of separations among those
who receive absolute appointments under civil
service rules are given for the period between
the LIST day of January, 1885 and the Both OF
June, 1887. IL appears that such prepare
tons in the customs service for the
time mentioned embraced twenty-ono re-
movals, five deaths, and eighteen designations
ana in the postal service Csc removals, So
deaths, and 469 designations. More than a yeaI
has passed since the expiration OF the Feriod
covered by the report OF the commits
sion. Within the time which has thus
elapsed many important changes have
taken place in furtheranoe OF a reform in
our civil service. The rules and regulations
governing the violations OF the law upon the
subject have been completely remodeled in
such manner as TO render the en-
forcement OF the statute more ef-
fective and greatly increase its use
fulness Among other things the scope
OF examinations prescribed for those who
seek 10 enter the classified service has
been better defined and made more practical,
the number of names 10 be certified from the
eligible lists TO the appointing officers from
which selection is made has been reduced
from four TO three, the maximum limitation OF
the age OF persons seeling entrance to the elias.
and reasonable provision has been made fof
the transfer of employees from one department
TO another in proper cases. 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 favoritism in the advancement of employees,
by making promotion reward of merit ana
faithful discharge of duty.
Until within few weeks there was no uni
form classification Of employees in the different
executive departments of the Government.
AS result OF this condition in some of the
departments positions could be obtained with
out civil-service examination, because they
were not within the classification OF such de-
partment while in other departments an ex-
amin ltion and certificate were necessary TO
obtain positions OF the same grade, because
such positions we're embraced in the cIassi.
fications applicable to those departments.
The except on OF laborers, watchmen, and
messengers from examination and classified
ton, gave opportunity in the absence OF any
rule guarding against il, for the employment,
free from civii-service restrictions, Of persons
under these designations, who were immediate
~ detailed TO do clerical wbrlf
All this has been obviated by the applica
ton TO all the departments OF an extended and
uniform classification, embracing grades of
employees not heretofore included, and by the
adoption OF a rule prohibit ng he detail OF
laborers, watchmen or messengers to clerical
duty.
1.-The path OF Cvil-Scrvice reform has not
OF all times been pleasant nor easy. the scope
and purpose OF the reform having been much
misapprehended; and this has not only gwen
rise TO strong opposition, but has led 10 its
invocation by its friends TO compass objects
not in the least related TO it, Thus, parti-
sans OF the patronage system have naturally
condemned it. Those who do not understand
its meaning either mistrust il, or when disap-
pointed because in its present stage II is not
applied to every real or imagined ILL., &C
cuse those charged with its enforcement
with faithlessness to Civil Service reform.
Its Importance has frequently been underesti.
mated, and the support OF good men has thus
been lost by their lack OF interest in its success
Besides all these diffieulti 5. those responsible
for the administration OF the Government
in its executive branches have been
and still are often annoyed and irritated by the
disloyalty TO the service, and the insolence OF
employees, who remain in place as the bene.
fic aries, and the relics or reminders of the
vicious system of appointment which CIVIL
Service reform was intended to displa c.
And yet these are but the incidents Of an
advance movement, which is radical and far
reaching. The Teople are, netwithstandn 10
be congratulated upon the progress which has
been made and upon the firm, pr ct-cal and
sensible foundation upon which this reform
now rests.
With a continuation OF the intelligent
fidelity which has hitherto characterized the
work of the commission, and With continue
tion and increase of the favor and berality
which have lately been evinced by the Con-
gress in the proper ecu pment OF the COM
mission for its work, with hrm but con-
servative and reasonable support of the reform
by all its friends, and with the disappearance
of opposition whit h must inevitably follow It's
better understanding, the eXecut on OF the CIV
II. Serv ce law can not fa'l to ultimately answer
the hopes in which it had its or gin.
"GROvER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion July 23 1883"
WILL CARRY ON THE FIGHT.