, 1889-12-05

public confidence in the impartality of
the selections for appointments. The
reform of the civil service Will make no
safe or satisfactory advance until the
present laws and its administration are
well established in the confidence OF the
people. 1t will DO my, pleasure, us 1t Is
my duty, to see that the law Is enforced
with fairness and impartially. II some
of its provisions have been fraudulently
cyaded by the appointing officers, our
resentment should not suggest tho re-
peal OF the law, but reform in its:ad-
n,inistration. We should have one Wow
OF the matter, and hold 1t with q SIN
sideration that the party to which we
belong is for the time in. power.
rHg RAILWAY NAIL SERVICE.
My predecessor on the 4th day OF
January, 1850, by an executive order, TO
take effect March 10, brought the rail.
way 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 l1th day
of March Mr.. Lyman, then the only
member of the commission, reported "a
me in writing that it would not be possi-
BILE TO have the list OF cligibles ready be
fore MAY 1, and requested that tho tax
ing effect of the order be postponed un-
til that time, which was done, subject 10
tho same provision as contained IN the
original order rs to when the eligible list
was sooner obtained.
asa result of the revision of the new
rules oil 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. ! recon-
mend that the additional clerks asked for
by the commission be appropriated Tor
APPOINTMENTS AND REMOVALS,
The duty of appointment is devolved
by the constitution, or by the law, and
the appointing officers are held to high
responsibility in its exercise. The
growth OF the country and the conse-
ouent increase of the civil list have
magnihed the question of the oxecu
tive disproportionately. IL can not he
denied, however, that the labor connect
ed with this necessary work Is increased
often to the point of actual distress, by
the sudden and excessive demands that
are made upon the incoming admins
tration for removals and appointments,
but, on the other hand, ii is not true
that incumbency is n conclusive argu'
ment for a continuance in office. I'm
partiality, moderate fidelity to public
duty, and a good attainment In the dis
charge of IL must be added before the
argument is complete. When the hold
ing administration officers so conduct
themselves as To convince just political
opponents that no party consideration
or bias effects In any way the discharge
of their public duties, We can more
easily stay the demand for removals.
PROMOTIONS.
am satisfied that both in and ont OF
the classified service great benefit would
accrue for the adoption of some system
by which the officers would receive the
distinction and benefit that in all private
employments comes from exceptional
faithfulness and efficiency in the per
formarce of duty. | have suggested &c
the heads of the executive department,
that they consider whether a record
might not be kept In each bureau of all
those elements that are covered by the
terms "faithfulness' and efficiency"
and rating made showing the relative
merits of the clerks of each class, thi.
rating 10 be regarded as a test of merit
in making promotions. | have also sug'
gested to the postmaster general that he
can, upon the basis of the reports to the
department and of frequent inspections
indicate the relative merits of the post
masters OF each class, They will be
appropriately indicated to the oificia
register. That great stimulus would
thus be given to the whole service, dc
not doubt and such a record would b,
the best defense against removals from
office.