Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-04


and Frederick P. Storms, of Msssaehu.
sets, three eminent sanitary engineers,
to examine and report upon the system
OF sewerage existing in the District Of
Columbia. Their report, which is not
yet completed, will be in due course SUBJ
mitted to Congress. The report of the
Commissioners of the District is herewith
transmitted, and the attention of Con-
gress is called to the suggestions contained
therein.
THE QUADRO.CENTENNIAL.
The proposition to observe the four
hundredth anniversary of the discovery
OF America by the opening of Worlds
Fair or Exposition in some one of our
great cities will be presented for the
consideration of Congress. The value
and interest of such an exposition may
we'll claim the consideration OF the Gen.
eral Government.
CIVIL SERVICE.
On the 4th of March last the Civil Ser
vice Commission had but single mem
Der. The vacancies were filed on the
7th day of May, and since then the Com
missioners have been industriously,
though with an inadequate force, en-
gagged in executing the law. They were
assured that q cordial support would be
given them in faithful and impartial
enforcement of the statute, and of the
rules and regulations adopted in aid of
it. Heretofore the book of eligibles
has been closed to every one, except as
certifcations were made upon the requi-
siticn of the appointing officers. This
secrecy was the source of much euspi-
cion and of many charges of favoritism
in the administration of the law. What
is secret is always suspected, and what
is open can be judged. The commission,
with the full approval of it's members,
has now opened the list of eligibles to
the public. The eligible lists for CLASH
fed postoffices end custom houses are
now publicly posted in the respective
offices, as are also the Qualifications for
appointments. The purpose of the civil
service law was absolutely 10 exclude
other consideration in connection with
appointment under it than that of
merit tested by the examinations. 1t
proceeds upon the theory that both The
examining boards and the appointing
officers are absolutely ignorant as to the
political views and associations of all
persons on the civil service list. 1t is
not too much to say, however, that some
recent Congressional Investigations have
somewhat shaken public confidence in
the impartiality of the selections for APP
pointments. The reform of the civil
service will make no safe or satisfactory
advance until the present law and it's
equal administration are we'll established
in the confidence of the people.
1t will be my pleasure az it is
my duty to see the law executed
with frmness and impartiality. If
some Of its provisions have been fraudu.
lently evaded by the appointing officers,
our resentment should not suggest the
repeal of the law but reform in it's ad-
ministration. We should have one view
Of the matter and hold it with a SINGER
ity that is not affected by the considera-
ton that the party to which we belong is
for the time in power.
My predecessor on the 4th day Of Jan.
uary, 1889, by an executive order to take
effect March 18th, brought the railway
mail service under the operation Of
the Civil Service law Provision was
made that the order should take effect
sooner in any State where an eligible
list was sooner obtained. On the
18th day OF March Mr.. Lyman, then
the only member of the commission, re-
ported to me in writing that it would not
be possible to have the list of eligibles
ready before May LIST, and requested that
the taking effect of the order be post
poned until that time, which was done
subject to the same provision contained
in the original order as to States in which
an eligible list was sooner obtained. As
q results of the revision of the rules of the
new classification and of the inclusion of
the railway mail service, the work of the
commission has been greatly increased,
and the present clerical force is found to
be inadequate. recommend that the
additional clerks asked by the Commits.
sioner be appropriated for.
APPOINTMENTS AND REMOVALS..
The duty of appointment is d evolved
by the Constitution and by the law and
the appointing officers are held to respon-
sibility in iis exercise. The growth of the
country and the consequent increase of the
civil list have magnified this function of
the executive disproportionately. 1t can
not be denied, however, that the labor
connected with this necessary work is
increased ofs ten to the point of actual
distress by the sudden and excessive
demands that arc made upon an
incoming administration for removals
and appointments. But, on the
other hand. it is not trus that incum-
bency is conclusive argument for con-
tiuuance in Office. Impariiality, moder-
alton, fidelity to public duty and good
attainment in the discharge of it, must be
added before the argument is complete,
and when those holding administration
offices so conduct themselves as to con-
vince their Just political opponents that
no party consideration or bias affects in
any way the discharge of their public du-
ties, we can mere easily stay the demands
for their removal. 1 am satisfied that
both in and out of the classified serv.
ice great benefit would accrue from
the adoption of some system by which
the officers would receive the distinction
and benefit that in all private employ
mants comes from exceptional faithful
ness and efficiency in the performance VI
duty. have suggested to the heads of
the executive departments that they con
slider whether q record might not be kept
in each bureau of all those elements that
are covered by the terms "faithfulness'
and Efficiency" and a rating made
showing the relative merits of clerks of
each class, this rating to be regarded as
test of merit in making promotions.
1 have also suggested to the Post
master-General that he can, upon the
basis of the reports to the department.,
and of frequent inspections, indicate the
relative merit of postmasters of each