The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-08-02
clvIL-SERvIcE REFORM.

civlL-SERvIcE REFORM.
Tho President Sends . Message to Con.
grcss the SulJect-The Work Of the
Commission Reviewed and the People
Congratulated on the Benefit to the
Cause AccrHinG from Recent Legisla-
fiOn.
WAsHTxGToS, July 24-The President
has sent to Congress the following mes
sage:
ITO the Congress OF the United States:
Pursuant TO the second sect on OF chapter ~
OF the laws Of 1881 entitled An act to regulate
and improve the civil-servicc OF the United
States herewith transmit the fourth report
OF the United States Civil Service Commission.
covering the per cd between the 18th day OF
January. 1885, and the lst day OF July, 1885,:
While this report has special reference to
the operations OF the commission during tho
period above ementioned. it contains, with its
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
struciive TO all who desire improyemen Mt in nd.
ministrative methods. During the time COW
cred hy the report 1852 persons were ex-
anined for admission in the classified civil
service OF the Government In all its branches,
Of whom 1910 passed the examination. and
B. ING failed OF those who passed the exam.
nation 2,91 we're applicants for admission
10 the departmental service ut Washington,
2,5l. were examined for admission TO the Gus
toms service, and 5,222 for admission TO tho
postal service. During the same period 54s ap-
pointmcnts we're made from the eligible lists
TO the departmental service, 64l to the customs
service. and 3,.5i to tho posta! 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 tions independently OF the new law.
The comm ssiOn has no record OF the separa-
tons in this numerous class, and the dis
crcpancy apparent in the report between tho
number OF appointments made in the re-
spcctive branches Of the service from the
list OF the commission and the small num-
bcr OF separations mentioned, is, to . 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 certfication. which vacancies
were filled by appointment from the eligible
lists.
In the departmental service there occurred
between the 10th day OF January, 1886, and the
3Jth day of June, 1885, among the employees ap-
pointed from the eligible lists, under Civil
service rules, seventeen removals. thirty-sx
designations and Ave deaths. This does not in-
| special pension examiners. four By removal
| nye by resignation and five by death.
In the classified customs and postal ser
zee. the number Of separations among those
who receive absolute appointments under civil
service rules are given for the period between
the lst day Of January. 1886, and the 3Oth OF
June. 1887. II appears that such prepara-
tions in the customs service for the
time mentioned embraced tweniy-one re-
mosals, tive deaths, and eighteen rcsignations
ana in the postal service 256 removals 50
deaths. and 3GJ designations More than year
has passed sincs the expiration OF the period
covered by the report Of the commis-
on. Within the time which has thus
| ELAPSED many important changes have
| taken place in furtheran.e Of 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-.
forccment OF the statute more ef.
fectivc and greatly increase its use-
fulness. Among other things, the scope
Of examinations prescribed for those who
seek TO enter the classified service has
been better defined and made more practical
the number OF names TO be certified from tho
| Gig bic lists to the appointing officers from
which q selection Is made has been reduced
| from four 10 three, the maximum limitation Of
the age Of persons seeking entrance TO the clas-
sifed service 10 45 years has been changed,
and reasonabl. provision has been made for
the transfer of employees from one department
10 another in proper cases. plan has also
beea devised providing for the examination OF
applicants for promotion in the service, which,
when IN full operation will eliminate all chance
OF fayor;tsm in the advancement OF employees,
by making promotion a reward OF inert 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.
A. n af m of ha
departments positions could be obtained with
out ciyil-service examination because they
were not within the classification OF ssuch de-
parfmcnf. while in other departments an ex-
amin lton and ceriiiication were necessary to
1 obtain positions OF The same grade. because
such positions were embraced in the CLASSIC
| fications applicable 10 those departments.
/ The except on OF laborcrs, watchmcn, and
messengers from examination and classifica-
| ton, gave opportunity in the absence Of any
| rule guarding against il, for the employment,
free from civil-seryice restrictions, OF persons
under these des gnations, who were Immediate
/ ~ detailed TO 60 clerical work.
"All this has been obviated by the applica
/ ton TO all the departments of an extended and
| uniform classification, embracing grades OF
/ emf loyes not heretofore included, and by the
/ adoption Of rule prohibit ng the detail OF
| laborers, watchmen or messengers to CLERICAL
| duty.
/ The path OF CivilService reform has not
/ at all times been pleasant nor easy the scope
| and purpose of the reform having been much
msapprehended; 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 1t. Thus, parti.
| sans Of the patronage system have naturally
/ condemned 1t. Those who do not understand
/ its meaning either mistrust II, or when disap.
| pointed because in its present stage 1t Is not
| applied to every real or imagined i'll, ac-
| cuse those charged with its enforcement
with faithleSsneSS to Civil-Serylce reform.
| Its Importance has frequently been underesti-
| mated and the suppor, OF good men has thus
been lost by their lack OF interest in its success
| Besides all these d'fficulties those responsible
for the administration OF the Government
| in its executive branches have been
! and still are often annoyed and irrttated by tho
employees, VINO remain in place as the bene-
| fc aries. and the relics or reminders OF the
vicious system OF appointment which CIVIL
Service reform was intended TO d!splace.
And yet these are but the incidents OF an
| advance movement, which is radical and far
reaching. The eople are, nutw tbs tand .ng. to
been made. ana upon the firm, practical 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 continua-
tion and increase OF the favor and berality
which have lately been evinced by the Con-
gress in the proper equipment OF the COM
mission for its work, with a hrm but con-
seryative and reasonable support OF the reform
by all its friends, and with the disappe arance
OF opposition whi, must inevitably follow its
better UNDERSTANDING the execut on OF the Civ
ilSelv.ce law can not fail to ultimately answer
the hopes in which it had its or GIN.
/ "GROvER CLEyELAND.
Executive Mansion. July %, 1885,"
A VILLAGE IN ASHES.
Ioslyn. w. r., Destroyed by Fire--Fifteen
| Hundred People Homeless.