The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-31


sion's Rules Be Amended and Improved.
WASHINGTON, March 30-The President has
sent the following letter to the Civil-serv,ce
Commission, recommending an extension of the
limits of the classified services:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGToN, March p, 1888.
To the United States Civil-servics Commission:
: Gentlsmen-I desire to make a suggestion re-
gardlng subdivision G., General Rule Ill, of the
amended ciyil-service rules. promulgated Feb.
2, 1888. 1t provides for the promotion of an
empoye in department. who is below or out
side of the classified service, to q place within
said classified service In the same department.
upon the request of the appointing officer, upon
the recomme endaton of the commission and ap-
proval of the President, after non com petitive
examination. in case such person has served
continuously for two years in the place from
which it is proposed to promote him, aud ''be
cause of his faithfulnsss and efficiency in the
position occupied by him. and because of his
qualifications for the place to which the appoint
ing officer desires his promotion" 1t has occurred
to me that this provision must be executed with
caution, to avoid the application of 1t to cases
not intended, and the undue relaxation OF the
general purposes aud restrictions of the civil
service law. Non-competitive examinations
the exceptions TO the plan of the act, and the
rules permitting the same should be strictly
construed. The arising under the
ception above recitej should be very few, and
when presented they should precisely meet all
the requirements specified and should be sup
ported by facts which will develop the basis and
reason OF the Application OF the appointing OLl-
Ger, and which will commend them 20 tbs judg-
ment of the commission and the President. the
sole purpose of the provision 10 to benefit the
public service, and 1T should never be permitted
TO operate as an evasion of the main feature OF
the law, which is competitive examinations. AS
these cases will first be presente 70 the commis-
sion for recommendation, have to request that
you will formulate plan by which their merits
can be tested. This will naturally involve
statement of all the facts deemed necessary for
the determination of such applications, includ
ing the kind OF work which has been done by the
person proposed for promotion, and the consid-
erations upon which the allegations of the faith
fulness. efficiency and qualifications mentioned
IN the rules predicated.
What has already been written naturally sug.
gests another very important subject to which
invite your attention. The desirabiliry of the
rule which have commented upon would be
nearly If not entirely removed, and other DIM
the civil-service law would be obviated If there
was a better and uniform classification Of the
employees in the different departments. The
Importance of this is entirely obvious. The
present imperfect clAssi6cations hastily made
apparently with but little for uniformity,
and promulgated after the last presidential elsc-
ton and prior TO the installation of the present
administration, should not have been permitted
to continue until this time 1t appears that IN
the War Department tho employees were divided
on the 10Th day Of November, 1884. into eight
classes and ubelasses, embracing those earning
annual salaries from 5000 to = 000 The Navy De-
partmenE was classified on Nov. %. 1884 and its
employees divided into seven classes and
sub. classes, embracing those who received
pual salaries from S720 10 81, 800. In the Iate.
rior Department the classification was made or
the 9th day of December. 1884. It consists OF
eight classes and sub-classes. and embraces em-
LContinued on Second Pagel