The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-11
THE CIVIL SERVICE
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION FOR
THE PAST YEAR.

rhs Merit System OF Appointment and
Promotion Lauded - sundry RECON-
mendations-The PubIic-Debt Statements
Shows "a Decrease of Nearly S5,0OO,OOO
I'm Our Obligations.
The annual report OF the Civil Service
Commission is a vigorously written docu-
nent considerable OF it being devoted to the
.audation Of the ''merit" system, and, by
i'm plication denunciation OF the patron
age system. The Commissioners claim
that the advantages OF the former
have now been demonstrated beyond
any dispute. They declare that the
criticism of the politicians that the exam
nations are not practical are very far
from the truth, and show that the ques-
tions are invariably framed with due re-
gard 10 the particular class OF work upon
which the applicants for position are to
enter. 1t il further claimed that the ex-
aminations are conducted with strict inn
Partially and that every effort has been
made by the commissioners to prevent vio-
lations and evasions of the law.
The commission recommends that tn ey
be given power TO administer oaths, as
they are now directed by law to make ex-
aminations touching the enforcement and
effect of civil service rules; that local
boards of examiners lie made up of persons
not in the government employ, so that
they may be independent of the appointing
officers, or, better still, that a central
board OF twenty examiners be esta blished
at Washington, who shall mark all papers,
and, finally that the appropriations for
the support of the commission be in
creased. In this connection il is stated
that the clerical force employed during
the year has been overworked, and that,
Notwithstanding this fact. the marking OF
examination papers was fully two months
in arrears at the end Of the year. The
present force in the employ of the COM
mission numbers fourteen, and an increase
of eight is asked. The estimate of the
expenditures for the coming year ia S53,-
00U, provided there be no extension of the
system, but this the commission think 10
ad vsabe.
The following is statement of the in
terest-bearing debt of the United States:
Bonds at AZ per cent. sl244l3,000
Bonds at4 per cent................. CO, 100
Refunding certificates at per
cent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1l1,OJO
Navy pension fund at per cent. 100000
Pacific railroad bonds at G per
cent. ............................. 64.623.5l2
Principal. ....................... ss4267o,22
Interest. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. s624,7os
Total. .......................... 1851, 3O4.OCO
DEBT or WHICH INTEREST HAS CEASED SINCE
MATURITY.
Prlnclpal. ........................... sl,Sf1,23
INTEREST,". ..................... 1o2,0H
Total. .......................... sl.90O.202
DEBT BEARING NO INTEREST.
Did demand and legal tender
notes ........................ 1886 ~ 45s
Certificates OF deposit.............. 13140.000
Gold certificates. ................... 12}4S3il9
silver certificates ................... 1904 $50
Fractional currency, less $3.50
g34, estimated as lost or destroy
ed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Goi4132
Principal. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S76i,069,095
TOTAL DEBT.
Interest. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S,77S, $50
Total a. 617 g72 40
Less cash items availa-
BILE for reduction OF
debt $40, 042227
less reserve held for
redemption of u. >.
notes lOO,OJJ, OOO
521.042,.:227