Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-14
A Heavy Blow at the spo,ls system.

President Cleveland Wednesday ad-
ministered a heavy blow at the spoils
system by appending his signature to
the Encouragement of Civil Service
classifications prepared by the Civil
Service Commission. BY this rear
rsngement nearly 10000 offices are
taken from the classified list and placed
under the protection of the Civil Ser
vice.
This action, according to a special
from Washington, has been contem-
plated for several months past Early
In the winter Mr.. Cleveland announced
to the various members of his cabinet
his deaire to extend the Civil Service
rules TO all positions under the govern
ment to which they could be properly
applicable, and called upon them to
prepare lists in the various depart
ments under their charge of clerks and
officials then excepted from the CLASH
fed service who, in their Judgment,
could In the near future be brought
under the system. Prior to this time
Secretary Morton of the Department
Of Agriculture had secured the CLASH
fcation of all employees in the Agricul-
tural Department. With the exception
Of the assistant secretary, chief clerk,
private secretary and laborers, the
entire force Of the Department of Ag-
riculture was by executive order
brought under the operation Of the
rules of the Civil Service Commission.
Mr.. Cleveland, who has been from
the outset Of his first administration a
strong advocate of the principles OF
Civil Service reform, expressed a
strong desire before the close of his
public service to extend the competi-
tive system to all government officials
not exempted from its operations by
tho Civil Service law, or who, occupy,
ing confidential positions, such as AS
sistant Secretary and private secretary,
should naturally remain as the personal
appointments of the various heads of
departments.
After several months of earnest work
the results were laid before the Civil
Service Commission, which to-day
placed before the President for his
approval the order which yesterday
became a law. This order makes a
complete revision of the rules and di-
vides the executive Civil Service into
five branches, namely, the Department
Service, the Custom House Service,
the Postofiice Service, the Government
Printing Service and the Internal Rev
niue Service. Briefly stated, the new or
der includes in the competitive lists al
most all Of the positions in Washington
which have been heretofore exempted
except laborers and the few officers of
confidential nature before referred to.
1t adds 29, 800 positions to the classi I,
fed lists, bringing the number of
classified positions from so, 736 to
So, 13j. Where formerly there were
1000 classified places excepted from
examination, there are now only left
175, and the only classified positions
in Washington excepted from examina.
tion under the new rules will be private
secretaries, confidential clerks and la
borers.
Aside from the professional place,
hunters and those Senators and Con.
gressmen who look upon the disposal of
patronage as the most effective aid To
keeping themselves in office, there will
be general commendation Of President
Cleveland's latest accomplishment. 1t
makes nearly $4,000 less Offices fo,
spoismen to seek and Congressman tc
quarrel over. 1t debilitates the spoil,
system to that extent, and elevates tn,
Civil Service system TO corresponding
degree. That it will tend to vastly i'm
prove the public service will not b,
disputed
Such decided move in the direction
OF practical Civil Service reform is on,
Of the crowning acts of Presiden
Clevelands administration.