New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS WORK
prponr OF ITS YEARS ACTIVITY POI1T1cAI


| A REPORT OF ITS YEARS ACT1V1TY-PolIIlOAh
ASSESSMENTS IN THE CAMPAIGN.
washington. Dec 6.-The United States Civil Service
| Commission to-day made public us nhth report w NV
President II shows that from July. /, 1891, 10 June
20 tbe whole number examined for the hve branches
q, the classified service was l0,46O, OF whom l2loo
| passed. and 1900 failed TO pass. Compared WIN 'ne
previous year this shows an Increase OF $50 Ill 'ho
whole number examined decrease OF the whoie mum
Der who passed Of 6o6. and an Increase In the "ho'
number who failed 10 pass OF 1Ol2. The proportion
NJ women 10 men was little than one In three.
decided Increase over the last year. There was also
q decided increase In the number OF women promoted
on their efficiency records and 1t Is shOwh' says III"
report that when women In the public service nave
n fair and even chance with men they WIN their lui
share Of the more lucrative and responsible positions
Upon the subject OF political assessments the report
says
>The Commission deems the stand 1t has taken In
reference to political assessments to be OF speclaI
importance, and perhaps the most noteworthy feature
tial campaign II made use Of every means IN us poNt
to protect Government employees from being assessed
for political purposes and 10 procure the punishment
OF those seeking 10 assess them In violation OF NV"
This is the first time the Civil Service Commission
has in the midst Of Presidential campaign, actively
prevent the collection OF these
pmblic EMPLOYEES felt as they never before felt that
they were protected and need not contribute unless
done than ever before although IT cannot doubted
that as It altogether too much took place.
In the opinion OF the Commission this practice VIII
not be wholly broken up until II Is made pen"l
offence for any reison whatsoever 10 solicit political
contribution from Government employc In any place
Whatsoever such employees would then be left al
liberty to contribute II they cared 10, but they would
not be asked TO do So
The Commission as the first step 10 seeing that TIE
law was Observed published, abont the middle OF Juy
Just before the campaign got fairly under way,
notice calling public attention TO the provisions OF The
Civil Service law In relation TO political assessments
and contributions informing Government employees Of
their rights in the premises, and warning all persons
not TO infringe these rights.
The Commission thoroughly understood that Its efforts
would be liable to criticism but deemed It's duty TO be
clear and did not feel II would be hight 10 hesitate
because OF any hostility It would miscon-
struction Of motive TO which It might be exposed. 1t
ielt that II was bound TO attack this practice OF
political assessments without regard 10 the conse
qucnces 10 any political party. Having by It's
manifesto promised that II would do what 1t could 10
protect Government employees from improper coercion
Of this kind, and TO procure the punishment OF wrong
doers II speedily found occasion TO redeem It's promises
Numerous cases OF alleged political assessment
were brought TO the Commits SONS attention Each
one investigated Immediately and as fully
possible. Wherever 1t seemed that the law was
Icing evaded that II probably being violated,
but there was difficulty in collecting proof the Com
mission gave the widest publicity to the matter
surfing the menaced Government employees that they
could and would be protected in their rights. The
American people have hearty contempt for black
mailing, and especially for Matchmaking defencicss
people In not few cases It seemed to the Commits
sion that the evidence obtained warranted the indlct
mcnt of the offenders and such cases were broug ht
the attention Of the Attorney General and also
to the head of the department whose employees wcr"
involved
The Commission declares that the classified service
should be extended rapidly practicable. as, 10
Instance. to clerks and Writers In Navy Yards L
almost the entire body Of officials In TIE Dis ret Of
Columbia to The internal revenue service 10 custom
houses with twenty-five cmIl Yes. and 10 free deitcry
ton, acting In Its capacity OF a branch Of the knight,
Of Labor have recommended that all fee deliver,
Offices BE- classified The letter carriers are just Ike
other American citizens: they want 10 feel That when
they do the work Of the public honestly, zca'0uly
aud intelgcntly they should not b., made the sp 1T
OF local p ltca bosses. TIC Commission ais urges
the adoption Of a classfif al II az the customs
and postal services and modification 4 ia rules, 80
that the number Of excepted places AID II pac sun
jet TO nOn-cOmpctltivc examination may he greatly
reduced In all branch's OF the scrv CO. TEE Com
mission thinks that the exceptions from cXamn III n IN
any pOstoiice may be limited 10 The y stna r. As
haps, superintendent OF the money rder div son
In the way the number Of excepted pa. cS IN
the departments NJ Washington should lie re llly r
duccd. Very scriOns harm. In II, judgment. result
from allowing the chiefs Of divisions 20 be eXccp ed
from examinations a"d the COmuiss)n inks III I
they should be- put under the grnei" rue and be ap
pointed BY promotion from within the service.