River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Commission Reports on It's Work
Johnston's Minority Report.


Johnston's Minority Report.
WAsHIEeroS, Dec l2-The majority
report of the civil service commission
for the present year is volLminous
document of abou. $1,000 words
las long as the presidents mes
sage. The portion of special interest is
that bearing on the extension of the
classified service to free delivery post
offices, by order of President Harrison,
January 5, 1898 1t is from this portion
that Commissioner Johnston dissented,
causing his removal by President Cleve-
land. The majority report says of this
extensions:
This act brought into ths classified service
he4 Offices and since Its PRONUNCIATION the free
delivery service has been extended TO nine
other Offices, thus making the total number Of
classified post Offices at this time 8 10 in-
GLIDING the hfty-three classified prior 10 this
extension"
The salary limit to the classified
service in the custom houses is con-
demned and classification by grade rec
commended Changes in the New York
custom houses are cited as examples.
The satisfactory result of the classified
ton of the railway and mail service
are dealt on at length. The work of
fourth-class postmasters subject to re-
comparison with that of railway mail
clerks To show the advantage of the
system of choosing the latter.
The report closes with statement
showing that the number OF persons
connected with the civil service in the
United States is about 200. 0co, and Civ
ing in detail the regulations governing
hours of labor, compensation. promo
tions, etc.
Commissioner Johnston in his.miuor-
ity report takes issue with his coll
leagues as to the extension of the clas-
sitied service ordered January 3, 1893,
10 include free delivery post offices. lie
thinks that under the circumstances,
with the commission crippled for want
of clerical force with which TO d. even
the regular work of the commission. it
was ill-advised. unfair and harmful to
the cause of civil service reform. He
says:
.'The American people realize that the ex-
tension OF the clas3ided service does not
necessarily mean ciyl service reform.
When that extension increases by thou
sands the representatives in Office OF
party whose luCUADcrS already In
classified places outnumber the members of
the other party in classified places in the pro-
portion of probably three or four 20 one. and
when such extension is ordered by an admin
istration and goes into effect shortly before
tho government Is turned over 10 smother ad-
miuistration OF different political faith and
party afiliation known TO be friendly 20 the
cause OF civil-seryice reform. IL Is difficult ~
reconcile il to fair-minded men Of all pSrdes
as a uon-partisan measure, and difficult 70
reconcile II 70 believers in genuine civilservics
reform as helpful contribution to that worth!
and good cause"
The sending to the president of this
minority report brought to a crisis the
serious personal and official differences
that, ever since Mr.. Johnston's appoint
ment as member of the COM
mission, have existed between him
and his colleagues, and it is
understood that Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Lyman at once laid the mat
ter before the president, representing
that as Mr.. Johnston's views differed
from those of the majority on the vital
questions of policy it seemed quite inn
possible that the personnel of the COM
mission could longer remain as then
existing. The result was Mr.. john
stOn's dismissal