The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-02-09
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
With Its Demand for Further Extension of
the System.

| Washington, D. C. Feb S-The thirteenth
! annual report of the civil service commits
! son, covering the past fiscal ear. has been
| submitted to the president. 1t reviews the
growth of the governments civil service,
partisanship in federal Offices and import
ant civil service reforms and extensions
contemplated. During the year the COM
mission conducted investigations into the
charges of political assessments. political
or religious determinations, Illegal appoint
nents and removals and alleged frauds and
! Enfairness in connection with examina tions
and appointments. In number of cases
OF charges of political assessments it was
found there had been no technical viola
tions of the law.
One investigation, which is still under
consideration, was made at Columbus. o.,
rostoffice, over year ago. II developed
the fact that for years it was the practice
of maDC employees. without regard to their
party affiliations, TO contribute to the cam
paiSn fund OF whatever party was in pow
or. During the last four years the removals
from competitive positions in the classified
service at Washington has been less than
per cent for all causes. not including such
remolas as resulted from necessary reduo
tons in the force. In the unclassifed and
expected service at Washington. the re-
movals are believed 20 have aggregated IN
the last four years at least 50 per cent
The conclusion drawn IS that either the
persons brought in through examination
are far more efficient than the others, or
the removals from the unclassified posi-
tions have been made for other causes than
the good OF the service.
The new civil service rules. the report
says, give the commission sufficient authori
ty TO regulate promotions, as we'll a. to in
vestiSate cases where discriminate Is
charged in making removals or reductions.
Within a short time satisfactory regula-
tions are expected to be in operation IN all
the departments so that promotions may
be made wholly on merit. and removals and
reductions be made only for satisfactory
causes. without regard 10 personal, politi-
cal or religious considerations.
As TO the tenure of Office, the report says:
Our administrative system now presents
the anomaly OF filing certain inferior posi-
tons by the test OF merit and changing
every four years the higher positions. like
collectors of customs and internal revenue.
rostmasters and chiefs OF bureaus, in which
the largest capacity and longest expert
ence are required, and thus frequently sub
jecting suborGinates to inexperienced ana
ton OF the public service"
The gradual increase in the number OF
Presidential offices. it is asserted. IS bound
&c force change in the method of filing
them. There are now nearly 10000 persons
in the public service commissioned by ths
president, and this number is growing
every year. At this rate OF increase. saws
Ea rv,o g.
ally impossible for the president and cabi-
net officers TO examine the papers and hear
arguments and complaints referring 70 the
large number of persons TO be commission
Sd. and the repeal OF the four years tanur.
laws VIII be absolutely necessary. The
commission is Of the opinion that the sth-
class postofices may be included in -.
Classification b. executive order When
these extensions of the classification have
been made. and the four years tenure Of Of /
fee acts are repealed and regulations ara
N successful operation in all the depart
nenis requiring promotions 20 be based on I.
he efficiency ot employees, the reforms IN /
Executive civil service. II IS said. viii be /
practically complete.
The whole number OF persons exau1fnA5 I
or the I'VE branches OF the CLASSIFIED SER
.ice during the year ended June 60 1855 4
vas Sl.-Io. of whom p, 423 passed and 70 s7s
allied 20 pass This is material decrease
\ failures The whole number OF appoint
'senis was 5.Csl, an increase OF - over the
irevious year.
SQec-a! Efforts have been made 70 keep
ne examinations ss practical as possible
nd radical innovations have been made !
Tor some Of the newly classified positions
specially those included among the ma !
aanical trades. rev elements in e1a-lns-
.o1s have been used. such as experience
ha-acts- as a workman. age and phyz.cs3
o1titiol- Il IS proposed 20 have 10 e-iu-
atlonsi test. G. one with very i'm,
-e.Sht. where educational Qualifications
re not required.
n reviewing ire growth of the ctvTl Ss--
re. iAe report says that under President
IrthlH there vas 4 growth of 1.ss3 cIasss-
Il places. nak-nz q to;al % l5ao0 az tAA
i0ss % bis administration; -.sp ADDED By
resident Cleveland durnz h5s frs; z5-nia-
srSu-n. aEl coateupo7aae0us Increase o,
bo-t 40 places by natural growth: sea
5ditionsi oy President Harrison BY srAcu- I
ve order and natural growth ot nearly
80 places a ihe same tine. ard 4; The
rsesai tine there are owe. $500. /.