The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-09
CIVIL SERVICE YEAR
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
COMMISSION SUBMITTED TO
THE PRESIDENT
BUT VERY FEW REMOVALS.
TOTAL FOR ALL CAUSES IN CLASSI-
FLED SERVICE ONLY TWO
PER CENT.
AUTHORITY OVER PROMOTIONS.
Power Now Vested i'm the Commits
sion Expected to Bring About
Excellent Results.

teenth annual report of the civil serv-
ice commission, covering the past fiscal
year, has been submitted to the presi-
dent. 1t reviews the growth Of the
governments civil service, the efforts
OF the commission to eradicate parti-
sanship in federal offices, and impor-
tant civil service reforms and extern
sions contemplated. During the year
the commission conducted investiga-
lions into charges of political assess
mentS, political or religious discrimina-
tons, illegal appointments and remov-
ais and alleged frauds and unfairness
in connection with examinations and
appointments. In a number of cases
of charges of political assessments it
was found that there had been no
technical violations Of the law. The
PRONUNCIATION of the law on this sub
ject and the commissions warning to
employees during the campaign that
they could not be forced to contribute
to political funds, the report says, had
a most Statutory effect.
During the asst four years the re-
movals from competitive positions in
the classified departmental service at
Washington have been less than per
OONAN wi "
removals as resulted from necessary
reductions in the force. In the I'M
classified and excepted service at
Washington, the removals are believed
to have aggregated in the last four
years at least so per cent The con1lu-
sion drawn is that either the persons
brought in through examination are
far more efficient than the others, or
he. l.,
sitions have been made for other caus-
es than the good OF the service
The total approximate number of po-
sitions in the civil branch Of the gov
eminent is 1877. Of these, S7,1O7 are
in the classified service and 91,610 un-
classified. The aggregate compensation
paid in the executive civil service Of
the United States during the last fiscal
year was, approximately, $500, COO
The new civil service rules, the report
says, give the commission sufficient au-
thority to regulate promotions as we'll
as to investigate cases where discrjm-
fnation is charged, in making removals
or reductions. Within a short time
satisfactory regulations are expected
to be in operation in all the depart
ments, SO that promotions may be
made wholly % merit, and removals
and reductions made only for satisfac-
tory causes without regard to personal,
political or religious considerations
As to tenure of Office, the report says
our administrative system now presents
the anomaly Of filing certain inferior
positions by the test of merit and
changing every four years the higher
positions like collectors of customs and
internal revenue, postmasters and
chiefs of bureaus, in which the Iarg-
est capacity and longest experience are
required, thus frequently subject
lrg subordinates to inexperienc-
ed and incompetent superiors,
to the Generalization Of the pub
lie service. The gradual increase in
the number Of presidential offices, it is
asserted, is bound to force a change in
the method of filling them. There are
now nearly 10000 persons in the public
service commissioned by the president,
and this number is growing every year
The commission is Of the opinion that
the fourth-claSS pOStOffices may be in
Guided in the classification by execu-
tive order When these extensions CT
the classification have been made, and
the four years tenure Of office acts are
repealed and regulations are in sue
cessful operation in all the departments.
requiring promotion to be based On
in executive civil service, it is sail,
will be practically complete.
The commission is now making a
card system to show certain lnforma-
ton regarding every person in the ex-
ecutiVe civil service. The whole num-
Der of persons examined for the five
branches Of the classified service dur.
ing the year ending June 80, 1896, was
31270, of whom 90, 493 passed and TO-
816 failed. This is a material decrease
in failures. The whole number OF APP
pointments was 5,0S4, an increase Of
292 over the previous year
Special efforts have been made to
keep the examinations as practical as
possible and radical innovations have
been made, For soma OF the newly
classified positions, especially those in
Guided among the mechanical trades
new elements in examination have been
introduced such as experience, charaC-
ter as a workman, age and physical
conditions. 1t is proposed to have no
educational test, or one with a very
light weight where educational quail
ficatiCn5 are not required.
In reviewing the growth If the civil
service, the repCrt says that under
President Arthur there was a growth
OF 1,S49 classified PLACES, making a
total of $4,000 at the close Of his adj
ministration; 1000 added by President
Cleveland during his first administra-
ton, and contemporaneous increase Of
about $500 places by natural growth;
5000 additions by President Harrison,
by executive order, and 4aar9 natural
growth of nearly 1000 places at the
: same time, and at the present time
there are over $1,000.