The Washington times., 1894-12-03
REFORM MAKING HEADWAY
Gratifying Progress of Classification
in the Civil Service.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
Some Evils Yet to Be Uprooted- Government
Employees Should Not Take Active Part in
Political Campaigns-some Things Found
in Investigating Recorder Taylor's Case.

The eleventh annual report of the United
States Civil Service Commission shows that
from July l. 1898, to June 80, 1894 there were
1872 appointments made in the classified serv-
ice, an increase of eighty-three over the pre-
vious year.
The commission claims that experience
shows that all positions in the government
service. with possibly few exceptions, can
well be filed under the competitive system.
About one-half Of all the employees of the clas-
sifed service are. insthe 610 classified post
Offices. The law, it is stated, is now better
observed in the larger offices than ever be-
fore. The indianapolis and Baltimore offices
are cited as having been very badly managed
from a civil service standpoint, but now
at Boston and Chicago.
Politics are said to be practically eliminated
in making appointments and removals in al
most all Of the larger post-offices as well as
in most branches of the departmental service
at Washington. There have been complaints
from many of the smaller offices, showing
that a large number OF removals have been
lenses, generally of minor character, are al
legged as the ground OF dismissal. In some
offices there have been practically clean
sweeps. The law has been rigidly observed
in the Railway Mail Service, and neither ap-
pointments nor removals have been made for
political reasons.
Gratifying progress is reported in the ad-
ministration OF the civil service law in the In
dian school service. The great majority of
appointees have been retained, and new ap-
pontments have been made without reference
to political considerations The report states
that from the terms of the law politics should
have nothing TO do with continuance in or
exit from. the service. but that to some ex-
tent religious and political reasons will in
fuence dismissals until there is requirement
OF law or rule that not only shall the reasons
for dismissal be made a matter OF record
and be made known to the person dismissed,
but that an opportunity be given for defense.
The Postmaster General has introduced a
practice in this line in the postal service
which, so far as results are known. works
well in the direction of fsecurity stability, and
efficiency, ard the complete elimination of
politics.
Partisan feeling and bias are said to have
| been shown not only in dlsmissals, but in pro-
motions and reductions, for which the only
adequate remedy seems to be in the introduce
tion and enforcement of promotion regula-
| tions.
Concerning offensive partisanship, the COM
mission says:
1.-THE rules against offensive partisanship
are usually construed strictly against the op-
| ponents of the party in power and leniently
| against their adherents. Persons in the
| classified service, though unrestricted as to
vote and opinions on all political subjects,
should not take anv active part in political
management or political campaigns, and
| should be debarred from turning position 10
the benefit OF either political party
| After speaking of the conviction OF Post
master Ickes, ofNewark Ohio, and of Internal
| Revenue Collector Haney, OF Kentucky, for
making political assessments in the Presi-
| Dental campaign of 1892, reference is made
| to the case of C. H.tJ. Taylor, recorder OF
deeds for the District of Columbia, of which
! a report is nowsin the hands OF the President
! for action OF this the commission says:
"In investigating this case the commission
was much struck by the condition of terror
! ism that obtains in the unclassifled service.
/ In this service there is no security of tenure.
| Removals are made for purely political and
| corruption in consequence. In the unclassi-
| fled service and in the excepted places at
| Washington the conditions are as bad as ever.
| These evils will be largely cured by the recent
| extension of classification in the depart
! mental service.
| The commission reviews theattempts made
| at assessment in the campaign OF 1894. and
| the opinion of the Attorney General that So
licltation by letter in public offices is not So
! licitation within the law, and after reviewing
! recent extensions cites the fact that there are
| few important branches of the government
| service yet unclassified.