The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-03
% SAYS THE COMMISSION.
Politics Cut Some Figure in
Appointments.
ABUSES ARE BEING REMEDlED.
In the Unclassified Departments a
System of Terrorism Was
Unearthed.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The eleventh
annual report of the United States Civil
Service Commission shows that from July
l. 1898, to June 80 1894, there were 4572
appointments made in the classified SER
vice. an increase of eighty-three over the
previous year. The number is divided as
follows: Departmental service, 3S5; rail-
way service, us; Indian service. 166; GUS
toms service, $50, and postal service, 1923.
The whole number of applicants exam
ined for the five branches of the classified
service was 81, 49, of whom %, 131 passed
and 1920 failed to pass. The total num-
Der examined is an increase on the year of
1884 and increase of S121 in the number
VINO passed and 441S In The number who
failed.
Figures for the different branches are :
Departmental service, 1892 examined, of
whom 1866 passed; railway mail service,
1867 examined, 3120 passed; Indian ser
vice, 43i examined, 800 passed; customs
service, 1912 examined. 2012 passed; and
postal service, 25,777 examined, 1898
passed.
The report states that every State has
received substantially its due share of ap-
pointments. any departure from a mathe-
NAUTICAL apportionment being caused by
the need occasionally of filling place re-
quiring his technical qualifications with
the best qualified person without reference
to his place of residence. The commission
claims that experience shows that all posi-
tions In the Government service, with
possibly few exceptions, can we'll De
filled under the competitive system. A bout
One-haf of all the employees of the classl-
fed service are in the G10 classified rost-
offices. The law, it is said. is now better
observed in tue larger offices than ever
before. The Indianapolis and Baltimore
Offices are cited as having been badly man
aged from civil service standpoint, but
now are considered as well conducted as
those of Boston and Chicago.
Politics are said to have been prac-
tically eliminated in making appoint
ments and removals In almost all
of the large postofices as we'll as
in most branches of the departmental ser
vice at Washington. There has been
com plants from many of the smaller offices
showing that large number of removals
have been made for political reasons, al
though other offenses. generally of minor
character, are alleged 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 appointments nor re-
movals have bsen made for political rea-
sons. Gratifying progress is reported in
the administration of the civil service law
In the Indian school service. The majority
Of the appOlntees have been retained and
new appointments have been made with
on: reference to political considerations.
The report states that from the terms OF
the law politics should have nothing to do
with the continuance in or exit from
the service, but that to some extent re-
ligious and political reasons will influence
dismissals until there is a requirement of
law or rule that not only shall reasons for
dismissal be made matter of record and
be made known TO the person dismissed,
but that an opportunity be given for de-
Tense. The Northumberland has in
troduced practice in this line in the
postal service, which. so far as the results
are known, works well In the direction OF
security, stability and efficiency and to
the complee elimination of politics. Con-
corning offensive partlsanship the commits
sion says:
1.-The rules against offensive partisan
ship are usually construed strictly
against the opponents of the party in
power and leniently against their adhe-
rents. Persons in the classified service,
though unrestricted in vote and opinions
on all political subjects, should not take
any active part in political management or
political campaigns, and should be de-
hor
the benefit of either political party"
After speaking of the conviction of
Postmaster Lockes of Newark, Ohio, ana
of Internal Revenue Collector Ranaj of
Kentucky for making political assess
ments In the Presidential campaign of
1892. reference is made TO the case of C. n.
j. Taylor, Recorder OF Deeds for the Dis
trict of Columbia, of which report is now
in the hands of the President for action.
Of this the commission says: "In investi-
eating this case the commission was much
struck by the condition of terrorism that
obtains in the unclassiied civil service
In the service there is no security of the
future. Removals are made for purely
political and personal reasons and there is
an amount of corruptness in CONSEQUENCE.
In the unclassified civil service and in the
excepted places at Washin gton the condi-
tions are as bad as ever. These evils will
be largely cured by the recent extension
of classification 10 the Department.
service
The commission reviews the attempts
made at assessment In the campaign of
1894 and the opinion of the Attorney
General that solicitation by letter in public
offices is not solicitation within the law
and after reviewing recent extensions
cites the fact that there are few important
branches of the Government service vel
unclassified.