Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-04-07
NEEDS or THE clvIL SERVICE.

NEEDS OF The CIVIL SERVICE.
Presidont Cleveland writes ! Letter ON
tho SUBJECT ind Urges Extension .;
tho Limits Of tho classified Service.
WASHINGTON, March 81 The President
mas sent the following letter to the Civil
Service Commission recommending an ex-
tension Of the limits Of the classified
iervice:
: EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. G.,
March 81 1SS8.-10 the United States Cyuis-
Sesvice Commissioners Gentlemen: / desire to
make suggestion regarding subdivision, gen
eral rule 3 OF the amended Civil Service rules,
promulgated February 2, 1898 It pro-
vides for the promotion OF an
smploye in department who is below or
outside OF the classified service, 70 q place
within said classified service In the same
department upon the request Of the appointing
0mcer upon the recommendation of the COM
mission and the approval Of the President,
after non-competitive examination, in case
such person has served continuously for two
years in the place from which 1t is proposed to
promote him and because Of his faithfulness
and efficiency III the position occupied by him
and because OF his qualifications for the place
to which the appointing officer desires his pro-
notion
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 and
restrictions OF the CivilService law. Non-com-
petitive examinations are the exceptions to
the plan OF the act and the rules permit
ting the same should be strictly
construed. The cases arising under the excep-
ton above recited should be very few, and when
presented they should precisely meet all the re-
Quirements specified and should be supported
by facts which will develop the basis and reason
OF the application OF the appointing officer, and
which will commend them to the Judgment Of
the commission and the President The sole
purpose Of the provision is to benefit
the public service and 1t should never be per-
mitted to operate as an evasion of the main
feature OF the law whichis competitive exam
nations AS these cases will first be pre-
sented to the commission for recommen-
dation, have to request that you will
Its can be tested. This will naturally
involved a statement OF all the facts deemed
necessary for the determination OF such appli-
cations, including the kind of work which has
been done by the person proposed for promo
ton, and the considerations upon which the al
legations OF the faithfulness, efficacy and quail
ifcations mentioned in the rules are predicted.
What has already been written naturally
suggests another very important subject, to
which invite your attention. The deslrability
of the rule which have commented upon
would be nearly, II not entirely removed,
and other diff1culties1 which now embar.
rass the execution of the Civil-Sefvice
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 classif1cations hastily made,
apparently with but little care for uniformity,
and promulgated after the last Presidential
election, and prior to the installation of the
present Administration should not have been
permitted to continue till this time. It appears
that in the War Department the employees were
divided on the 18th day of November, 1884, into
eight classes and sub-classes embracing those
earning annual salaries of from $500 to &, OOO
The Navy Department was classified Novem-
Der q, 1884, and its employees were divided in
to seven classes and sub-classes embracing
those who received annual salaries of from
500 to $780, In the Interior Department
the classification was made on the 9th day OF
December, 1884, It consists OF eight classes
and sub-classes, and embraces employees re-
ceiying annual salaries of from $40 to 81, 900.
On the I'd day OF January, 1885, a classifca-
ton of employees in the Treasury Department
was made, consisting OF six classes and SUBJ
classes, including those earning annual salaries
Of from $500 to $500.
In the Post-ofice Department the employees
were classified on February 6, 1885, into nine
classes and sub-casses, embracing persons
earning annual salaries Of from $40 to $4,000.
ION the 18th of December, 1886, the Bureau
OF Agriculture was classified in manner diff
ferent from all other departments. and present.
ing features peculiar to itself.
+" It appears tha the only classification in
the Department of State and Department of
Justice is that provided for by section 1853 of the
Revised Statutes, which directs that employees
in the several departments shall be divided into
four classes It appears that no more definite
classification has been made in these depart
ments.
81 wish the commission would revise these
classifcations and submit to me a plan which
will as far as possible make them uniform and
which will especially remedy the present con.
dition which permits persons to enter grade
in the service in The one department. without
any examination, which in another depart
ment can only be entered after passing such
examination. This think could be done by
extending the limits Of the classified service
rather than by contracting them.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
One of the Commissioners said Yesterday
that the views of the Commissioners are in
full accord with those of the President
- ~