Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS.
n Commissioner Gregory Outlines HE Idea
of Comprehensive system.

To the Editor OF The Evening star:
NV attention was recently called to brief
communication published some weeks back in
your paper complaining. somewhat bitterly.
Of a speech Of mine on the civil service reform.
hold that the present civil service reform
is neither deep enough nor broad enough. IN
| placing guard at the gateway Of the public
service and insisting upon the examination of
! applicants it did well. but il should have gone
within the gates and organized the service in
such a way as TO remove every root of part san-
ship and corruption which exists there. So
far from injuring the clerks now employed
such a reform would certainly benefit them,
by giving both dignity and permanence to
their appointment
But / can best explain nv views by putting
them in the form of an act of Congress, as /
did in the speech referred to. / would intitle
| this:
An act for the further reform of the civil
service:
eminent requires fidelity, capacity, intelligence
and experience such as can be gained only in
| the work itself; and
Whereas, Those employed in this work ought
| not only to be chosen for ascertained fitness,
| but to be retained during efficiency and good
behavior in order to give the country the full
benefit of the experience and skill gained in
the service; and
Whereas The pay Of the peoples servants
| ought not to be more than the people themselves
can earn IN similar work for private employers
requiring equal ability, labor and RESPONSE
bility; therefore.
Be # enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States in Con-
gress assembled.
Sec. 1. All future appointments to clerical or
other services or work in the executive de-
partments in Washington and in the postal and
customs service of the country, except as here
matter provided. shall be made to the lowest
grades of such service in the several depart
| ments and Offices respectively. This shall not
include mere manual laborers whose employ
nent is by the day or week for temporary serv-
| ice.
Sec. 2. No person shall be appointed to such
lowest grade of clerical or other service or
work who is under, say, eighteen years or
over say. thirty years Of age. and who shall not
have passed an examination under the rules Of
the civil service commission to test character,
capacity and acquired qualification for the
place to be filed. and such examination shall
be competitive. provided by law and by the
| rules of the civil service commission.
Sec. 3. All persons appointed under this act
| shall be paid as follows:
l. All clerks, copyists, filekeepers. counters
enumerators or others doing clerical work shall
be paid during the first year of their service at
| the rate of. say. 400 year. and this pay shall
thereafter be increased each wear OF continuous
| service 300 a year: provided the fidelity and
efficiency OF the employee shall be approved by
the head OK the department or Office III which
the service has been rendered, and provided
that the maximum salary shall not exceed
81 800 year, the salary OF the highest grade Of
clerks at the present time.
z All messengers. watchmen and doorkeepers
and all clerks, distributors and lette- carriers
IN cities of less than 10000 inhabitants shall be
paid during the first year OF their service, say,
900. and this pay shall be increased each sue
ceeding wear of continuous service 100 q wear
on approval for fidelity and efficiency. but the
maximum pay shall not exceed, say, II ,5OO
year.
Sec. T. The head OF each department may
designate IN his department and III any office
under his control such places as in his judg-
ment require superior technical, scientific OF
professional learning. skill and experience. and
these places shall be filled by persons who have
passed the competitive examination provided
superior qualifications: and such appointments
shall be made in the manner provided by the
civil service rules. prescribed by the President,
and the salaries shall be such as Congress may
from time to time prescribe.
Sec o. The provisions OF this act for the
annual increase OF pay shall apply to persons
already IN the service, but no increase shall be
allowed except In due proportion to the time
already served and the maximum pay shall not
IN any case exceed thGt now provided IN the
executive departments and In the customs and
This plan, as viii be seen, retains all the ma
chinery oil the present civil service commission,
SO lar as appointments are concerned. 1t sub
'sututes Tor the present unequal, and often ex-
trayagant pay at the outset, salaries fully equal
20 the average pay Tor similar services under
private employers and corporations, but it does
not tempt the personal greed or stir the party
zeal Of millions OF Office seekers. Young men
Will not in such large multitudes, haunt the
offices or solicit Congressman for appointments
a. a nfsAf IN -
year. The second important feature of this
plan Is the steady annual advancement in sal
airy which 1t provides. Under the present sys-
tenn the clerk who has sufficient influence" to
aid him may be promoted from $500 to Il 200.
y, 40 or even to 81 500 in single year. OF il
unfrlended he may remain, as Is often the case,
At the lowest pay for many years. The
regular increase of SlOO year,
| to be won only by efficiency
ana good behavior. VIII induce the average
clerk to give his best services; the continuance
| OF this increase through fourteen years is u
continuance in his promotion through all those
years, through which 1t opens TO him an ad-
vanclng career The principal Is that of the
best civil service systems Of Europe. 1t con-
forms to the dictates OF common sense. 1t ap-
peals to the self interest OF the CLERK. The plan
further preserves the rights OF the present en-
pi1yes- 1t reduces no man salary. but on the
other hand, secures to many friendless though
faithful clerk the higher pay TO which his long
service entities him. IL there are clerks who
fear that their fidelity and efficiency not
snch rs 10 ensure them the benefits of this
act, to such my views will seem odious and