Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-18
Report of 4he civi,-service Commits


TBy telegraph 70 tho Dispatch.l
WAsHINGTOS, July 1.-THE fourth report
OF the CiyilS Service Commission has been
completed and placed in the hands OF The
President for Transmission to Congress. II
contains 731 printed pages and not only
covers the transactions Of the commission
since January l6, 1886, 10 June 30, 1887, tue
period described by the report, but gives de-
tails and resume OF the work Of the COM
mission since January Is. 1888, the date OF
approval OF the act under which the COM
mission was organized. II contains com
preheusiye history Of the civil service from
the first Classification thereof in 1858, all
Of which has been compiled from original
data. The report shows that between Janii-
ary 1G. 1886. aud June 30, 1887, 26S examine
tions were held in various parts OF the coun-
Try for the departmental service at Washing-
ton; 81 for the custom-houses, and Ill Tor
post.oflices. making total OF 436 examine
tons for the whole classified service.
At these EXAMINATIONS 1866 men and
1,sS7 women were examined, making total
OF Is $50 persons. Three thousand one
hundred and forty-seyen men and 1,lS0
women were examined for the departmental
service Mt Washington; 3.90S men and 100
women for the customs service. and 6.9lO
offices. OF the whole number examined
9,2lO men and 1916 women successfully
passed, making total Of 1916. or the
whole number 5,106 iailed-4, 7jj men and
81 women. The percentages OF failure IN
these examinations were: In departmental
examinations $50 per cent. men and 1919
per cent. women, the averages being 3l2
per cent. In the customs service 3I.C per
cent. men and % per cent. women, the
average being 31.2 per cent
In the postal service 3l.4 per cent. men
aud 1873 per cent. women, the average beng
30.1 per cent. The total percentage OF fail
ures was 81 per cent. men and 1S.6 per cent.
women the average beng 32.2 per cent OF
9.2l0 men and |, $50 women who successfully
passed these examinations 4j2 men and %
women have received appointments In de-
portmental service, 32l9 men and 81 women
in the postal service, and GAL men and no
women in the customs service.
OF appointments made during the period
covered by this report, twenty were claim
ants OF the right Of preference In civil APP
pointments accorded to honcfably discharged
soldiers and sailors; and this Is about the
total number OF such claimants who during
the period referred to passed examinations
for classified departmental service. six of
these twenty were appointed In the Interior
Department.
The reDort recommends the extension OF
the classified service 10 embrace employees Of
the railway maIl service, field employees OF
the Indian and labor bureaus, Indian school
service. graded clerks ia the several depart
ments OF the uarlerma-teT-GeneraPs Office.
in the War Department, aud certain other
positions in the civil service.
The report also speaks ef the wisdom of the
principle Of divorring the subordinate Off
GERS Of the Government; from politics and
elections and maklnQa continuance in office
dependcnt not upon party service, but upon
merit aud good behavior.
The report was prepared by Commissioner
Oberly, and is signed by three members OF
the commission.