New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-24
CLEVELAND AND REFORM.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
MANY ITEMS OMITTED IN THE REroRT-How THE
TRIbuNE's" PUBLICATION WAS RECEIVED AT

TRIbUNE's" PUBLICATION WAS RECEIVED Al
THE CAPITAL.
Washington, July % (specian.-Tho publication IN
The Tribune to-day OF rogues gallery created
sensation here Half hour after the arrival OF the
mall train from New-York copies OF The Trpune ~ee
at a premium. In the streets and hotels as much as
so cents was offered for single copy OF the paper
but the fortunate was In most cases un"iling
TO part with tho prize At tho Capitoi memooi' VI
Congress studied tho list with great care Dcmocrats
stood aghast at tho showing presented ana even NC
pubcans expressed establishment that the general JAN
delivery upon the advent OF Mr.. Ccvciahas huinin''-
tration should have been so thorough
The publication, II must be confessed. was very
opporunc view Of the fact that the President sent
to Congress to-day message transmitting inc uoinss
OF his Civil Service Commission for tho last year
Though the President asserts that the report contains
much valuable information concerning tho ihcepuoh
of Civil Service Reform and It's growth and progress,
which cannot fail to be interesting and Instructive
no fails altogether to point out that II has, under his
Administration, been extended to take In thieves.
swlndlcrs backless, dead beats, mlrdereis' paiio'-
box suffers, rulans, drunkaris and woman DeatcH'
At tho White House, II IS said, The Tribune was
read to-day with than usual interest. 10 escape
embarrassing references to the subject by callers tho
President took the earliest opportunity 20 drive out
to "Red Topn Tho Presidents message reads as fol
lows
To the Congress OF the United States:
Pursuant to the second section OF Chapter 81 OF tho
Laws OF 1888 entitled act to regulate and Improve
the Civil Service OF the United States" herewith trans
init the fourth report OF the Untd States Civil Service
Commission covering the period between the sixteenth day
OF January 1885, and the first day Of July 1887
While this rcport has especial reference to the operations
OF the commission during the period above mentioned IL
contains with its accompanying appendices much valuable
information concerning the inception oil CiV Service e
and its growth and progress which cannot ia 70 DC
Interesting and instructive to s Who desire Improvement
ntlp fImAC
the report 10 persons examined for admission IN
The classified Civil Service OF the Government 10 all us
branches OF whom 1918 passed the exsmihotohs ana
5I06 failed or those who passed the examination Zei'
we've applicants admission to the Departmental service
a. Washington. Twenty-Five thousand and forS'seven
were examined Tor admission the customs service ana
222 for admit sim the postal service. Dorins inc
period 547 appointments were made ron the eRioe
In departmental service there occurred oel"ech
service and 1924 10 the postal service
Concerning ,aons from the classified service the
report only informs OF such 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 apply the persons then In
the service comprising full complement OF employees who
obtained their positions independently OF the new law
Commission has record OF the separations IN ths
numerous class discrepancy apparent In the report
between the number Of appointments made In tho re-
specvc branches OF the service from the lists OF the Con
mission and the small number OF separations mentioned Is
to great extent accounted for by vacancies OF which no
report made the Commission occurring among those
who held places without examination and certinca-
ton which vacancies filled by aIpcntmca. from the
eligible lists.
In the Departmental Service there occurred between
the 10th day OF January, 1886, and the Both day OF
June 1887, among the employees appointed from the
eligible lists under Civil Service rules II removals. 30
designations and deaths. This does MT Include IA
separations in grade OF special pension examiners
by removal, by resignation, and by death.
In the classified customs and postal service the
number OF separations among those who received absolute
appointments under Civil Service rules are given Tor the
period between the 1st day January, 1886, and the
Both day OF June, 1887 1t appears that such separa
lions in the customs service for the time mentioned
embraced 81 removals. deaths, and eighteen resigna-
lions, and In the postal service. 2o6 removals, 20
deaths, and 400 designations
More than O year has passed since tho expiration OF
the period covered by the report Of the Commission
Within the time that has thus elapsed many important
changes have taken place In furtherance OF reform
in our Civil Service The rules and regulations gov
erning the violations Of the law the subject have
been completely rcmoeed in such manner TO render
OF the statute effective and greatly
Increase Its usefulness
Among things the scope of the examinations
scrbed for those who seek TO enter the classified service
has been better defined and made practical the
Der OF be certified from the eligible lists to the
appointing officers from which selection Is made has
reduced three, the maximum Limitation
age persons seeking the classified
service to ortyve years has been changed and reason
provision been ado for tho transfer OF employees
from ono department another IN proper cases plan
devised providing for the examination Of a
pcants promotion in the service which, when In full
operation, will eliminate all chances OF favoritsm In the
advancement OF employees by making promotion reward
Of merit and faithful discharge OF duty
Until within a weeks there uniform classic
cation employees in the different Executive Departments
OF the Government As result OF this condition. in some
Of tho departments positions could be obtained without
Civil Service examination because they were not within
tho classification of such department while in other de-
parments an examination and certncaon were necessary
TO obtain positions OF the grade because such posi-
tons wero embraced In tho cssscations applicable TO
those departments.
The exception OF lsborcrs, watchmen and messengers
from examination and classification gave opportunity
in the OF rule guarding against It, for the
employment from Civil Service restrictions of per-
sons under these designations who were immediately de-
tailed TO do clerical work
All this has been obviaed by the application to oil tho
dcpartmens Of an extended and uniform classification.
embracing grades OF employees not heretofore Included
and by the adoption rule prohibiting the detail OF
laborers watcbmen. or messengers to clerical duty
The path OF Civil Service Reform has not at all times
been pleasant or easy The scope and purpose Of the
reform have been much Inexperienced; and this has
not only given rise TO strong opposition but has leo 10
its invocation by its friends to compass obects not In
the least related to Thus partisans OF the patronage
svstem have naturally condemned IT, Those who do not
understand It's meaning either mistrust It, or when dis
appointed in It's present stage 1t is not applied
to every imaginary ILL., accuse those charged with
It's enforcement with fathessness to civil Service He'
form Its importance has frequently been underest'
mated and the support good has thus been lost
by their lack in It's success Besides all these
difficulties those responsible for the administration
OF the Government in It's executive branches nave e'h
and st arc often annoyed and rtated by the disoyay
IN the service and the nsOence Of employees, who remain
in places as benecares and the relies OF the VICIOUS
system OF appoint which Civil Service Reform was
intended TO displace.
And vet these are incidents Of an advane m,ve-
which is radical and farreaching The people are
,andnC be congratulated upon the progress
which has made, and the firm, practical and
sensible foundation upon which this reform now rests
With continuation OF the intelligent fidelity which
hitherto characterized the work OF the commission
with continuation and increase OF tho favor and lbcraty
which have lately been evnced by the Congress in tho
proper equipment Of the Commission for its work. with
firm but and reasonable support Of the
form by friends and with the disappearance OF