The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-09
Thirteenth Annual Report
of Commission.
The Competitive System Has
Proven Beneficial.
Report Strongly Favors an Exten-
sion of Terms of Office.

the growth Of the governments civil
service. the efforts Of the commission TO
eradicate partisanship in federal Offices
and important civil service reforms and
extensions contemplated.
During the year the commission con-
Quoted Investigations into charges OF
political assessments, political or relig-
ious determinations. illegal appoint
ments and alleged fraud or unfairness In
connection with examinations and APP
pointments. In a number OF cases OF
charges OF political assessments. it was
found that there had been no technical
violations OF the law. The promulga-
ton of the law on this subject and the
commissioners warning TO employees
during the campaign, that they could
not be forced 10 contribute TO political
funds. the report says, had a most salu-
tatory effect
One Investigation was made at the CO.
iumbus. O.. postofiice over a year ago.
II developed the fact that for years Ii
was the practice of many employees,
without regard TO their party affiliations,
to contribute TO the campaign fund
of whatever party was in power. In all
cases where there was the slightest evi-
dence of fraud or unfairness the COM
mission required the re-examination Of
the competitors. The most serious case
OF violation OF the civil service law, the
report says, was at Erie, Pa, where the
secretary of the postal board was found
to have opened a package containing
the examination papers and furnished
the questions 10 a competitor, an en-
ploye of the office, In advance Of ex-
animation. Both were removed from the
service and are now held for trial. At
the Toledo postoffice an employe was
shown to have made false representa-
tions to injure the prospects of appoint
ment OF certain other elgihles. Action
In this case is still pending.
During the last four years the remov-
ais from competitive positions tn the
classified departmental service at Wash
mgton have been less than per cent for
all causes not including such removals
as resulted from necessary reductions in
the force. In the unclassified and. except
service at Washington. the removals are
believed 10 have aggregated in the four
years at least 80 per cent
The conclusion drawn is that either the
persons brought in through examina-
tions are far more efficient than the
others, or the removals from the unclas-
siiied positions have been made for other
causes than the good Of the service.
The total approximate number of po-
sitions in the civil branch of the govern
ment is 17S7l7. OF these, S7107 are in
the classified service, and $3.50 unclassi-
fed. OF these not yet classified 66,I25
are postmasters Of the fourth class. OF
those remaining in the classifiable, but
unclassified group, many will he trans
ferred 10 the CLASSIFIED service by the ac-
tion OF the rules.
The aggregate compensation paid IN
the executive civil service OF the United
States during the last fiscal year was
approximately 500 100000.
The new civil service rules, the report
saws. give the commission sufficient au-
thority to regulate promotions as Wen
ms TO investigate cases where discrimina-
tion is charged in making removals or
reductions Within a short time. salts
factory regulations are expected To be in
operation in all the departments so that
promotions may be made wholly on
merit and removals and reductions
made Only for satisfactory causes. with
out regarding personal political or re-
ligious considerations. The tempta-
| ton to increase the number of employees
or TO retain employees when there is no
| work for them to do, which was such
characteristic feature OF the spoils sys-
ten, has entirely disappeared under the
| new civil service system
-4ha pre ssure for office having been re-
| moved. decreases OF force have been
| made from time to time in the classified
| service OF the departments, during the
| Inst IA years as the work was completed,
because there was no object In keeping
| unemployed persons on the pay rolls.
| AZ To tenure of office, the report says
| our administrative system now pre-
sents the anomaly OF filling certain in
ferior positions by the test OF merit and
| changing every four years the higher
positions, like collectors OF customs and
internal revenue. postmastors and chiefs
| of bureaus in which the largest ca
pacity and longest experience are re-
| uulred, and thus frequently subjected
subordinates to inexperienced and in
competent superiors. TO the demoraliza-
ton of the public service. The gradual
Increase i'm the number OF presidential
offices IL is asserted is bound TO forcs
a change I'm the method Of filling them.
There are now nearly 0.000 persons ir
the public service commissioned by tn,
president, and this number Is growing
every year. At this rate OF increase, says
the report. in a few years il will be ply
sically impossible for the president anC
cabinet officers 10 examine the papers
and hear arguments and complaints re
lating 10 the large number OF persons 4
be commissioned. and the repeal Of tn
four years tenure law Will be necessary
The commission is OF the oI xSon tha
the fourth-class postofccs hay be In
cluded I'm the classification by execu
tive order. When these extensions o
the classification have been made. an
the four years tenure of office acts ar
repealed. and regulations i'm successfu
operation IN all the departments, requir
ing promotions 20 be based on the eff
cheney OF employees. the reforms in ex
7 ecutTVc cTNIT gFTVICO, Tr Ts EH1d, VIII
practically complete.
The commission is now making car
Fystem 90 show certain Information re
Carding every person In the executiv