The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-14
CIVIL sBIsVICE EXTENDED.
Important Order by President Glove
land-NGarly Thirty Tho,Ssand Cow
crhmont Employees Brought Under
Civil Service Rules.

'hportRht orucr ny YreSfucnt ClcyC
land-Ncarly Thirty Tholssand Gov
crnment Employees Brought Under
Civil Service Rules.
Almost thirty thousand government
employees have boon brought with
one sweep under the protection of the
civil service by the issuance ofan exec
utlve order from President Cleveland
making a general provision of the civil
service rules. The Ordor is the most
important since tho inauguration of
tho system more than u decade ago.
1t takes eilect Immediately. Its pratt
cul effect Is the classification OF all gov
ernment employees below tho rank of
those subject to nomination by the
President and confirmation by the
Senate and above the grades Of laborers
or "orkmen, with u few exceptions.
Tho OF der has long been in c0ntempla-
| tlon and It's PRONUNCIATION is the result
or an immense amount of correspon-
uoncc and conference between the
President, the Civil Service Commits
sloncrs and the heads of tho various
departments.
The new rules add 20, ,3Y7 positionsro
the classified list,' increasing the num-
Der OF classified positions from IS, 1856
to 80, l36. The number of classified
places which arc excepted from exami-
nation has been reduced from 1850 to
10, being mainly positions Us cashiers
III the customs, postal and internal
revenue services. Indiuns employed
In minor capacities in the Indian ser-
vice arc necessarily put in the excepted
list. Almost all of tho positions in
ashington which have hitherto been
excepted have been included in the
ccmpetitive. The only classified posi-
tions in Washington which will be ex-
cepted from examination under the
new rules will be private secretaries or
conlidention clerks mot exceeding two)
to the President and the head of
each OF tho executive departments.
No positions will hereafter be subject
to non-compctitive examinations eX-
ccpt in the cases OF Indians employed
in IL teaching capacity in the Indian
service.
Tho revision of the rules divides the
executive civil service into five brachcs:
The departmental, custom house, post
Office, government printing and intern
III revenue services.
In tho departmental service arc
classified all oilicors and employees,
except persons merely employed as
laborers or wOrkmen and persons who
have been nominated by the Senate,
who are serving In or on detail from
mo executive Department., commits
sl0nS and officers, in tho District de-
purtmcnt, the railway mail servive, all
pension agencies, steamboat inspection
service, marine hospital service, light
house service, all mints and assay Olli-
ces, revenue cutter service, force en-
plOyGu under CustoGians Of public
buildings, several sub-treasurics, and
engineer department at large. EN-
| ployces outside of tho District OF Co.
| lumbln not employed in any Of these
capacities also are classified in tho de-
phrtmcntnl service, as follows Those
serving in clerical capacity, watchman
or messenger, physician, hospital stow
ard or nurse, or whose duties are OF u
medical nature, craftsman, cival en-
gcnccr, steam engineer, electrical en-
gnccr, computor, or fireman, suporin-
tendcnt OF construction, superinten-
dent OF repair or foreman 10 the super
vlSlng architects Office, and those in
the service Of tho Treasury Department
in any capacity except in the life saw
| ing service.
In the custom house service are clas-
silicd all officers and employees in any
customs district whose employees num-
Der as many rs five, except .Dersons
merely employed as laborers or work.
mon and persons who have been nomi-
mated for confirmation by the Senate.
In the postoilice service arc classified
all officers and employees in any free
delivery postoiiice, except persons
merely employed as laborcrs or work
mon and persons who have been nOmi-
mated for confirmation by the Senate.
In the internal revenue service are
classified all Offices and employees in
any Internal revenue district, except
persons merely employed rs laborers
or workmen and persons who have
been nominated for confirmation by tho
Senate.
The statements explanatory OF the
order issued by the Civil Service Com
mission says tho action will make tho
classified service more completely sub
jcct to merit principles and take it out
Of politics. Whore SO largo part of
the service was left to be filled by poll
| tical influence and when the men ap-
| pointed possibly were active working
politicians, the rest Of the force tended
to fall under political influence. The
statement continues
"Thc first civil service rules were
promulgated by President Arthur in
1883. In 1888 President Cleveland
adopted revision of them, which was
continued in force, with various sue
cecding amendments until now. These
involved repetition for each of tho
branches Of the classified service Of
provisions common to oil. When the
classified service was small, this plan
worked we'll, but now tho service has
grown to large proportions and there
are seven branches. The repetition
now is avoided by putting tho common
provisions into gonc"al rules"
a large reduction is now made of the
list of excepted places, which usually
arc tho higher and more important
places in the classified service. This,
it is claimed, must have far-rcaching
and beneficial results. The existence
Of any large number Of excepted places
in any branch Of the classified service
is Il menace to and has an evil effect
upon tho parts OF the service subject to
competitive examination and does
much to nullify the good effects of the
examinations. The lower grades will
now be recruited by a still better class
Of mer, who will be invited by the op-
portunty Of promotion upon merit.