Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-01
Annual Report OF the Civil Service
Commission.

The annual report of the Civil Service
Commission shows that the classified service
now includes over 30,000 people. The re-
port gives the figures for departmental SER
vice at Washington for the entire period
during which the law has been in force,
nearly seven years, says: ''The number of
designations and removals have to be given
together because it 10 impossible to differ
entiate voluntary from forced designations.
OF the ITO appointees who came into the
departmental service through civil service
examinations during Cleveland's admins
trAtion 81, or little over per cent, were
removed or resigned during the first year
Of the present administration. OF the 378
appointees who catered the service through
these examinations during President Ar
thurs administration about So, between Z
and per cent, were removed or resigned
during President Cleveland's first year.
During the last year of President Arthurs
administration 25 removals or designations
occurred, between six and seven per
cent. All Of the force had at that time
been appointed under his administration,
and the evident difference between the per-
centsge in this case and the percentages
during the first year Of President Cleve-
land administration affords probable meas
ure for removals which could. by any
possibility, have been for political
reasons. This difference Of barely one
half per cent. is so small that it may be
entirely disregsrded. for it 10 likely to
have arisen from other than political
causes. When only 8 per cent. of
the sppointees Of one administration separ-
ated from the service during the first year
succeeding the administration, the year in
which under the old system the greatest
number of removals for political reasons
were made, it 10 safe to say that political
considerations have partially disappeared
as factors in making removals in classified
service departments at Washington. There
are doubtless in force 5000 en-
ployecs, where changes are continually
being made and some Of these
changes made for improper reasons. This
is true in any system and any business,
public or private. In the departmental
service at Washington, figures show that
for the past seven years the law as whole
has faithfully and honestly been observed
in the department although subject to
strain of two changes Of administration.
In the customs and postal services the re-
sun iv iNbo rohsAoSeohy. AZ
offices and bureaus which show the best re-
suits in giving honest, efficient and an eco
nomical administration, are precise
iy those in which the civil SER
vice law is most faithfully observed.
A weakness in opposition to the civil ser
vice law can be estimated from the fact
that its opponents rarely advance against it
any argument which needs argument to re-
fute it. Ninety-nine per cent. Of their ac
cusations upon examination resolve them
selves into simple representations. Por-
tions of the civil service law interdicting
political assessments have undoubtedly
abated much evil. There is one point
where the Law is systematically evaded.
The commission, in the course of investi-
cations, found in 1883 and 1890
a certain campaign committee of
dominant party which procured full
lists of various employees in the government
service, and of their home residences, had
sent letters soliciting campaign subscrip-
tons to them at their homes. These letters
were signed by men not in the government
service. acting for different campaign conf
mittees. In some instances these agents
even visited the clerks in person at their
homes, The commission is of the opinion
that the law should be amended so as to
forbid solicitation from government EN-.
ployes by outsiders in any way, at any time
or in any place.