Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-01

ReeAR DING THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Comnsission Finds Lack OF Reform
In Some Branches.

IN some branches
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec 1.-The annual
report of the civil service commission
states that the classified service has grown
so as to include at present more than 30.
600 people. Considerable space is devoted
to the question OF removals in the CLASH
fed service for partisan reasons, and fig
ures are given which show that during the
first year of Cleveland administration be-
tween and 5 per cent. of the appoint
ments made during the previous admins
tration were removed or resigned, and of
those who came into the departmental
service through civil service examinations
during Cleveland's administration little
more than per cent. were removed OF re-
signed during the first year of the present
administration.
Not Worth Talking About.
This difference of barely half OF per
cent. in removals, the commission saws
is so small that it is not worth regarding.
and certainly is not necessarily due to par
tisanship. The fact also that only per
cent. of the appointees OF one administra-
ton are removed the first year of the sue
ceeding one, makes it safe to saw that
political considerations have practically
disappeared as factors in the removals in
the classified service i'm this city. The
commission concludes. therefore. that
the law as whole has been faithfully and
honestly observed, in spite of the strain OF
two changes OF administration.
Where IL Is "a Matter OF Politics
In the customs and postal services the
result is less satisfactory. Comparing"
the report says, ''the percentages of re-
inovals in the classified service in each
postofiice with the number of removals
made in the unclassified and ex-
cepted places, the difference is as
tonishing. In one case the percentage
ranges from 3 to -; in the other from ~ to
over 80; and the average is about seven
times as great among those employees not
protected by the law. II would lie difficult
to advance any argument which would
show more conclusively the good effect
that the law has in preventing in the clas-
sified service clean sweeps and removals for
political purposes.
An Irresistible Conclusion.
"The interests of the public service de-
mand changes to the extent Of only 10 or
Is per cent. among those who have en-
tered thorough examinations, whereas 50
or 70 per cent. of those who have not thus
entered are removed during the year sue
ceeding any change of administration The
conclusion is irresistible, either that where
the law does not apply appointing officers
put into excepted and unclassified places
incompetent persons, or else that their sue
cessors remove from these places men who
are competent, aud who are therefore re-
moved for reasons unconnected with the
good of the service
Rather Rough ON the worker
The commission further says that for
the first time 1t Is able to assert with the
utmost positiveness that in holding a num-
Der of examinations for well paid depart
mental positions, a large proportion of
those examined and appointed have been
men different in political faith from the
party in power The portions of the civil
service law interdicting political assess
ments, the report says havo not entirely
stopped the evil, but have undoubtedly
much abated it. Political agents, prohib-
tied from soliciting subscriptions in the
departments, now send the letters TO en-
ployes homes. The commission wants the
law amended so that il shall make IL an
offense TO solicit from government en-
ployes anywhere.
Eject of the Law.
In conclusion the commission makes an
argument in favor of the reform, which it
claims betters the tone of public life and
produces better governmental administra-
ton. The system is an American sys-
tenn and lit is noteworthy that the Offices
and bureaus which show the best results
IN giving an honest. efficient and econom-
ical administration are precisely those In
which the civil service law has been most
faithfully observed. Choosing almost
at random the postofiices at Boston and
Brooklyn under the last administration on
the one hand, and those at Chicago and
Indianapolis under the present admins
tration on the other. can be taken as Il
Illustrations and proofs of this statement,
although TN speaking Of the above post
offices it must be distinctly understood
that there Is no intention to slight many
others which might be named where the
same conditions have obtainedr