St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-05-07
THIRTY THOUSAND POSITIONS
HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO
THE CLASSIFIED LIST,
spolLs SYSTEM SPOILED.
PRACTICALLY ALL CIVIL POSITIONS
NOW REMOVED FROM POLIT-
ICAL INFLUENCE.
ORDER ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT.
The Step the Most Important Since
Civil Service Was Inaugurated
a Decade Ago.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-The long-expected
order of the president including in the civil
service most of the Offices now outside of the
classified list was issued this afternoon. 1t
is stated at the civil service commission bu-
reau that the new rules add 29, ,399 positions
to the classified list, increasing the number
Of classified positions from 5.736 to s., 135.
The number of classified places which are
excepted from examination has been reduced
from 2,Oss to IT'S, being mainly positions as
cashiers in the customs postal and internal
revenue bureaus. Indians employed in minor
capacities in the Indian service are neces-
sarily put in the excepted list Almost all
positions In washington which hitherto have
been excepted are now included in the COM
petitive list. The .Son1y classified positions
in Washington, Which will be excepted from
examination undef the new rules will be pri-
vate secretaries or confidential clerks not
exceeding two etos the president and the head
Of each executive department. Each posi-
ton wilE-be subjected to competitive exam
ination, except Indians employed In teaching
capacity in the Indian service.
The order is the Smost important since the
Inauguration of TIE system more than de-
cade ago.FIt taKss2 effect Immediately. Its
practical extent is the classification of all
government employees below the rank of those
subject to- nomination. by the president and
confirmation by tho senate. and above the
grades Of laborers or workmen, with a few ex-
ceptions. The order shas long been in contem-
pIation, and its promulgation this afternoon
Is the result of an immense amount of corre-
spondence and conference between the presi-
dent, thescivil service commissioners and the
heads of the various departments.
The revision of the rules divides the ex-
ecutiye civil service into five branches: The
departmental, custom house, postofice, gov
ernment printing and internal revenue serv-
ices. In the departmental service are classi-
merely employed as laborers or workmen and
persons who haTe Been nominated for confr-
nation by. the senate, who are serving in or on
detail from the executive departments COM
missions, and :offces In the District of Colum-
bia, the railway mail service, Indian service,
pension agencies steamboat inspection serv-
ice, marine hospital service, lighthouse serv-
ice all mints and assay Offices revenue cutter
service. force employed under custodians Of
public buildings. several subtreasuries, and
engineering departments at large.
In the custom house service are classified all
officers and employees in any customs district
whose employees number as many as FIVE, ex-
cept persons merely employed as laborers or
workmen and persons who have been nomi-
mated for confirmation by the senate. In the
postof1ceS seEsteezzafe classified all officers
and employees IN aays free delivery postofice,
except PERSONS merely employed as laborers or
workmen and persons who have been nomi-
mated for confirmation blythe senate. In the
internal revenue service arg classified all Of
ficers and employees In any internal revenue
district, except persons employed merely as
laborers or workmen and persons who have
been nominated for confirmation by the SEN
ate.
The statement explanatory Of the order is-
sued by the civil service commission says the
action will make the classified service more
completely subject to merit principles and
take 1t out of politics. Where so large part
of the service was left to be filled by political
influence and when the men appointed possi-
bly, were active, EoSlking politicians the rest
Of the force tended 70 fall under political in
fuences; The statement continues:
THE first civil. service rules were promul-
gated; by President Arthur in 1883. In 1888
President Cleveland adopted revision Of
them, which vas continued in force with
various succeeding eamendments until now.
These Involved az repetition for each of the
branches Of the Classified service of provisions
common to ar When the classified service
was sq1aH this plan worked we'll but now
the service has grown to large proportions,
and there are seven branches. The repetition
now is avoided by putting the common provi-
sions into general rules. %
A large reduction Is now made Of the List of