Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-21
THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
Effect Of the Presidents Civil Service Ordel
of June 10 Last.
A Memorandum Prepared by the Com
mission ms n Suggestion to the
Executive Departments.

In order that the officers and employees
| of the Navy Department may fully compre-
bend the limits of the classified service of
that department, defined by the extend
| ed classification recently ordered Ey the
President, Secretary Herbert today pro-
mulgated explanatory memorandum
| prepared by the civil service commission
on the subject and directed that all officers
and employees Of the Navy Department be
| governed in accordance herewith
This memorandum, which has been SINH
| larly adopted for the government of all
| the executive departments, relates to the
| executive order of June 10, 1896, with spe-
| cial reference to laborers and workmen.
! 1t is follows: ,.., 2, ..,-.
| While. in the opinion of the commits
| SIGN. the matter Of interpreting and apply
| ing the executive ortier of June 10, de-
| wolves upon the several executive depart
ments, the commission deems it proper to
| make a few suggestions in order that uni
| form action may be taken In enforcing the
| order. The object of the order may be
| stated as follows:
=. To classify all laborers or workmen
| regularly assigned TO work OF the same
grade IS that performed by classified
| ployes.
-. To prohibit the assignment hereafter
| OF unclass fled laborcrs workmen to
work of the Same grade as that performed
| by classified employees.
SO. To require all vacancies in positions
OF classified labcrers workmen to be
hiled, In accordance with the civil service
rules, through examination and certiilca-
| ton by the commission.
1t may be stated that the executive order
| OF June 10 origns ted from the well-known
fact that many employees borne on the
| rolls as laborars or workmen are perform
| ing clerical, Waterman, messenger or other
a classified IN
ar unclassified service, composed of en-
ployes engaged upon classified work has
reen rapidly developing in evasion of the
| civil service law and rules The executive
order referred to was issued for the purpose
OF correcting this evil and preventing fur
ther eva sions of the law and rules.
Inc Interpretation and application of the
oroef depends chiefly upon the definition
| OF the phrases mere laborer or workman
and regularly assigned The phrase mere
laoorer or workman as used in the civil
service law and rules, has already been
practically defined by the various executiye
orders bringing into the classified service by
designation almost every form Of skilled
| labor and leaving nothing outside except
the merest unskilled manual labor This
executive order recognizes this fact. and
! directs that persons performing any duties
perla, pertaining TO classified places shall be
classified BY the phrase regularly as
| signed in the order the commission ,inder
stands that a la borer is classified If the work
! upon which he is regularly EMPLOYED in
cruces work or classified character: but
| II his regular assignment does not include
| classified work, he is uncIassified even
| though In exceptional cases he NAV he
called upon TO assist in the performance of
| work of classified character
':As it would he contrary to the executive
| order of June 10, hereafter to assign labor
| er to classified work. the commission nnder
stands 1t to be the intention of the executive
ORDER in question to include in the classifica-
| ton all laborers who, at the date of said
| order, were assigned to work of a classified
character, and who were similarly empIoyed
| on May 6, 1896. when the revised civil serv-
Ice rules were approved. classified labor
er may be required to do unclassified la bor
work, but an unclassitied laborer cannot
hereafter be assigned to any classified
| duties.
The commission understands that all
laborers regularly assigned to classified
work VINO are at this time declared by The
| head Of department, in obedience to the
| executive oroer, TO be in the classified SER
vice will thereby become classified and all
| others will remain uncla ssified The action
of the head OF department under its in
depreciation Oh the executive order will he
! final. Vacancies in those places which re
| thereby classified can hereafter be filled
only by certlncation from the appropriate
| registers of elig1bles, and hereafter it will
| be unlawful to assign any uncIassi6ed Ia
| borer to any classified duties
The commission believes that If the de-
partments designate clearly by name those
so-calied laborers who become classified
main unclassif1ed, the line will be so dis
| tinctly drawn that it will hereafter he
clearly maintained, and there will be no
| repetition Of the evil which has grown up
| In the absence OF specific rule to prevent
1t. rs IT
"tsigned, 10 JOHN r. PROCTOR,
| ,,i yC president"