Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-29
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

tested their new plan of civil service
reform for the District Offices without
saying anything to anybody in very
| practical way several months ago, and
the account Of their experiment will
Interest civil service reiormers every
where A small position was vacant.
Inc commissioners were anxious to
fill 1t with II man thoroughly reliabld
nnd competent. Four senators All
two representatives, made application
for the place and presented their con-
sttucnts, all Of whom they recon-
mended in the highest terms as being
fully qualified Here was predica-
ment for the triumyIrate. The sena-
tors We're all representative men,
and had proven their friend
ship for the District in Congress.
:. was recognized and his man ap-
II would stir up bad feelings
rhe others. Then it was that
n proposition was made that solved the
entire question. \ competitive ex-
animation would be held under the
bIlltt6 VI llc CIV II b'l NlNt NDullulS-
sion, and the man recommended as
having passed the best examination
would get the position. No one could
object to this. 1t was fair and just.
SO the examination was ordered and
the applicants notified. About half
, of them responded. The examination
was tA&sn and the papers later for
warded to the commissioners. Just
one of the number passed, and his
rating was not high. Several of the
others made dismal failures. The ap-
pointment was ac> -rdingly made, the
man receiving the highest mark get
ting the place
CIVIL SERvICE-The civil service
commission has submitted to the
president report, supplemental to
the one laid before Congress at the
beginning of the last session, which is
the II tn annual report of that body.
The report shows that the whole num-
Der of persons regularly employed in
the civil service of this country is
about 1000 OF these approximately
one-fourtb are in the classified service
subject to competitive examinations
under the civil service rules. OF
thos,, in tha unclossitia1 sarvico % OOO
are laborers 5000 are anpointed bv
fine nresidant suhiact to CONFIRMATION
by the Senate, 1900 are III the legis.
lative branch Of the government and
, 6G6 mr.. in fine iudiciol branch The
civil service oct evcIudes these classas
from Classification The total nm.
Der Of positions affected bv the extern
sion of civil service rules from March
l. 1893 to January 3. 1895, was s, 1874,
OF these G,j37 We're added to the
classified service bv original classif-
cation, and 2,G47 by transfer of places
classified, but excepted from examina-
ton, to list of places subject to com
petitive examination. Since that pe-
riod about 500 positions in the agri-
cultural department have been brought
into the classified service. A compar-
alive statement shows that at the end
of President Arthur's administration
the approximate number of positions
classified was 15,573; at the end of
President Cleveland's first term there
were ~, $50, and at the end of Presi-
dent Harrison's administration there
were 40, 92S places classified. Legis-
lative acts brought -, S73 of the latter
number into the service, while the IA,
O53 Others, principally IN postoitices,
became CLASSIFIED by reason OF growth
from small offices.
NICARAGUA COMMISSION The cruis-
er Montgomery has arrived at Colon
with the United States Engineer Com
mission which has been inspecting the
Nicaragua Clnal route. The visit of
the commission to Panama is for the
purpose of examining the amount of
canal work already Accomplished
there and the present condition of the
machinery plant. The commission
has practically completed its labors in
Nicaragua, and desired to take adj
vantage Of the actual excavation of
the French company at Panama as
guide to them in checking off the es.
Inmates as to the cost of the Nicara.
guam project They also wished TO
learn whether the dredges and other
tools and buildings at Panama were
worth buying. All the members of
the party are reported we'll.
A FAT BFRTu-It il renorted that
ex-senator Ransom. minister 70
Mexico and who at present is at home
in North Carolina on sick leave. is
very seriouslv III md some d.nht ia
expressed as TO whether he will be
able TO return TO his most Of dutv,
Mr.. Ransom is advanced in wears and
bos not been in good health for some
timo The Mex;can Mission is q very
attractive one, The salary is Sl7 800
a wear in American gold. which is the
equivalent of S35. 900 in Mexican sill.
YER and which makes it the best maid
mission in the diplomatic service As
lhe Neyican ministers : eynansps are NOT
~ h's Il rs 'nc9e u o"i "'''o"Ss""orS W
'ie"' III ''"," VI ''t' o'n'i i-"'oPe"n
countries, Inc minister can save more
IF his salary than any other member