The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-09
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Thousands of Government Employees
Under New Rules.
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND'S ORDER
Very Few of the Governments Servants
Are Left Outside of the Pale of
Competitive Examination
Effect of Sweeping Reg
ulati0E on Political
Appointments.

WAsmNGToS. May 6.--Almost 10000 gov
ernment employees were brought with ono
sweep under the protection of the civil ser
vice to-day 10y the issuance of an order by
President Cleveland making "A general reyis-
ion of civil-sprvicc rules The order is the most
important since the Inauguration OF the sys
TEN, more than Il decade ago. 1t takes effect
Immediately.
Its practical extent is tho classification of
all government employees below the rank OF
those subject TO nomination by the President
and confirmation by the Senate, and above the
grades OF lahorcrs or workmen. with few
executions. The order has long been in con-
temptation and its PRONUNCIATION this after
noon is the result OF IN immense amount Of
correspondence and conference between the
President, the civil service commissioners
and the heads of the various departments.
The new rules add 29,399 positions to the
classified list. increasing the number OF classi
fled positions from 55,73G to S5.135. The
number of classified places which are ex
cepted from examination has been reduced
from 2,099 to 775. being mainly positions as
cashiers in the CUSTOMS postal and internal
revenue services. Indians employed in minor
capacities in the Indian services are neces-
sarly put in the excepted list.
Almost all of the positions in Washington,
that have heretofore been excepted, have
been included in the competitive list. The
only classified positions in Washington which
will he excepted from examination under the
new rules, will be private secretaries or con-
hdential clerks (not exceeding two), to the
President and to the head Of each of the eight
executive departments. No positions will
hereafter be subject to onon-competitive exam.
ination, except in the cases of Indians en-
ployed in II teaching capacity in the Indian
service.
THE NEW DIVISIONS.
The revision of tho rules divided the execu-
tive civil service into branches: The depart
mental, custom house. post Office govern
ment printing and internal revenue services.
In the departmental service are classified
all officers and employees, except persons
merely employed as laborers or workmen,
and persons who have been nominated for
ny tllN ncI!utt, "lp ui' ScENIuS
in or on detail from the executive departments
commissions and offices in the District of
Columbia. the railway mail service, Indian
service, pension agencies, steamboat inspec-
tion service, marine hospital service. light
house service, all mints and assay offices,
revenue cutter service. force employed under
custodians of public buildings, several SUBJ
Employees outside of the District of Column
bia not employed in any of the capacities al
so are classified in the department tai service
us follows:
Those serving in clerical capacity; watch
man or messenger, physician, hospital steward
or nurse. or whose duties are of a medical
nature; craftsman, civil engineer, steam en-
gineer, electrical engineer, computer, or
fireman; superintendent of construction,
superintendent of repair or foreman in the
supervising architects office. and those in
the service Of the Treasury Department in
any capacity, except in the life saving ser
vice.
In the custom-house service are classified
all officers and employees in any customs dis
trict whose employees number as many as
five, except persons merely employed as lab
orers or workmen, and persons who have
been nominated for confirmation by the
Senate.
In the Post Office service are classified all
officers and employees in any free delivery
post Office, except persons merely employed
as laborers or workmen and persons who
have been nominated for confirmation by the
Senate.
In the internal revenue service are classi-
fled all officers and employees in any internal
revenue district. except persons merely en-
ployed as laborers or workmen, and persons
who have been nominated for confirmation
by the Senate.
The statement explaining the order issued
by the Civil-Servce Commission saws the
action will make the classified service more
completely subject to merit principles and
take it out OF politics. Where so large a
part Of the service was left to be filed bv
political influence and when men appointed.
possibly We're active working politicians. the
rest of the force tended to fall under political
influences.