Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-03
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Report of the House Committee-The
System Fully Endorsed.

Report of the House Committee-The
System Fully Endorsed.
WASHINGTON CITY. March -Lehlbach,
from the house committe on the reform
in the civil service, submitted to the
house yesterday the report of the commit
tee upon the workings of the civil service
law. The Investigation, the report says,
discloses that the public service has been
greatly benefited since the appointment
of the civil service commission and the
law on the whole well executed. One OBJ
lection to the present law is that the per.
son who Is appointed TO a position after
having passed an examination can be dis.
charged by superior officer without
cause, and the committee feels that rem
edy should be proposed aud recommend
that the civil service law be remodeled iu
order that the duties of the civil service
commissioner and the appointing officers
shall b. clearly defined.
Some improvements Suggested.
Accompanying the report is bill which
the committee recommend do pass, re-
modelling the present civil service law
The law aboiishes the civil service COM
mission and creates the civil service office.
lt provides for the appointment OF one
commissioner, who shall be responsib BILE
for the execution of the law 1t provides
1urther that any appointing officer, after a
certihcatlon Is made, which shall not con-
sist of more than three names-those of
persons standing highest on the list
shall be compelled to select and appoint
one OF this number. This ne II not De
allowed to refuse to do, save upon presen-
tation OF his reasons in writing and the
formal approval o. the commissioners IL
necessitates giving thirty days notice to
persons selected Tor removal, and gives
them the right to demand a written
statement giving the reasons for their dis
charge
The Board of Examiners
The bill also provides for the appoint
ment OF two deputy commissioners, one to
be chief examiner and of different politics
from the commissioner, and the other secre-
tary OF the Office. The bill separates all
examiners from any persons serving in
the various departments of the govern
ment and creates a general board OF ex-
aminers who shall take charge OF all ex-
aminations Local boards OF examiners
Will simply assume nominal charge o. the
examination OF applicants and Will have
nothing to do with the formulation of pa
pers or their marking and grading when
an examination Is concluded. Under the
existing law 1t has been found that per
sons doing mechanical work can he sub
jected to examination, and this Is pre-
vented in the bill offered
Departmental Examination Opposed
Ia CONCLUSION tue report says that the
committee feel satisfied that the examiua-
lions under the present system are being
conducted in fair and impartial manner,
and the departmental examinations, such
as have been advocated by several bills in
PRODUCED i'll the house and referred to the
| committee, would lead TO the pernicious
| spoils system of former years. The recent
| investigation has shown that appoint
ments TO positions in the public service by
| departmental examination will require
| political or personal influence rather than
merit on the part of the applicant, and
will tend to degrade and cripple depart
mental work. 1t is the judgment of the
| committee that any law which revives In.
fiuence, political or otherwise, as an at
tribute to appointments in the public
service of the country should be We
hemently opposed and that no system
other than that in vogue at the present
time can furnish safeguard against the
spirit of favoritism.