Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-07
ClVlL-SERVICE LAW.
Extension Of Its PfoYiSions to Thirty
Thousand Employees.
ALL FORMER ORDERS CANCELLED.
The New Rules Go Into Eject at
Oncc-Aimost All Positions I'm
Washington Vow In the Competi-
tive List.

WASHINGTON. May 6.-The President.
by his signature to-day, extended the pro-
visions Of the eivll-service law 10 a.oo
government employees. increasing the
hunoer OF positions on the CLASSIFIED list
from 50,ISS to S5.lG5. and with a few minor
exceptions, between the extremes OF Off
cials whose confirmation by the Senate ia
eonsttutionally requisite, and mere
laborers and workmen, governmental an
polntees are withdrawn as far as possl-
bic from political influence. and pro-
tected In their tenure of office by the
merit system.
The Presidents signature az II O'clock
this morning cancelling all former orders
issued, and substituting the new rules
was Immediately filed in the State De-
partment and went into effect at once.
thus forestalling any possible action
throughout the country by appointing OFF,
Gals, or transferring employees. or in
any other way evading the rules. before
being formally notified OF item. From
the moment of its signature the new oruer
made all government officials directly re-
spohsiole 70 the commission for appoint
ments and changes
To-days revision Of the rules divides the
Executive Civil Service into five branches
as follows; The Departmental Service. the
Custom-House Service. the Post-Or,cs
service the Government Printing Service.
and the Internal Service
IN the Departmental Service are classi-
fed all officers and employees texcaut
laoorers ana persons who have been
nominated for continuation in the several
executive departments. the commissions.
the District OF Columbia. the Railway
Mall Service, Indian Service. pension
agencies, Steamboat Inspection Service
Marine Hospital Service mints and ASSAY
Offices, Reyenue-Cutter Service. sub-trea-
suries' and engineer departments, and the
forces employed by custodians OF public
buildings. The only exception made In
the Treasury Department is in favor OF
those i'm the Life-Saying Service
In the Custom-HOuse Service are classi-
fed all officers and employees OF any
customs district which employs as many
as five.
In the Post-Ohice Service are classified
an officers and employees in any free
delivery post-oflice.
In the Internal Revenue Service ara
classified all officers and employees i'm
every internal revenue district except.
of course, as in the other cases, mere
laborers.
The number OF classified places ex-
empted from examination has been ro-
duced from 2099 to 10, which are mainly
positions OF cashiers i'm the Customs. Pos
tai and Internal Revenue services. In
dams employed In minor capacities in tho
Indian Service are necessarily put IN the
excepted list Almost all Of the positions
In Washington which have heretofore
been excepted have been included In the
competitive list. The only classified poal-
tions in Washington which will be ex-
cepted from examination under the new
rules Will be private secretaries or con-
ddential clerks mot exceeding two), 10
the President. and 10 the head OF each OF
the eight executive departments.