The Newtown bee., 1898-03-11

the commercial and general business in
terests of the country, and a source of
the most dangerous social evils.
One of the most important movements
in American politics, at this time, is civil
service reform. Nothing argues more
for the Inherent vitality and stability of
our popular system of government than
the power and alacrity of the public con-
science in demanding and adopting this
timely measure for the correction of a
shameful abuse. The practical work OF
administering the general government
has to q great extent been redeemed
from the hands of party patronage and
placed safely upon basis of sound, per-
manent business principles. This is sim
ply a return to the fundamental ideas of
political science and Christian statesman
ship upon which our forefatheIs built.
Washington, speaking of applications
for Office said ''My friend receive with
cordial welcome. He is welcome to my
house and welcome to my heart; put,
with all his good qualities, he is not a
man of business. My private feelings
have nothing in the case. | am not
George Washington, but president of
the United States. AS George Washing
ton would do this man any kindness in
my power. AS president of the United
States 1 can DO nothing"
Ex-Secretary Window is quoted as
saying, that during his term Of office,
GOT those who sought places in the ma
tiOnal treasury department, five-sixths
based their demand not on merit or fit
meas or character, but on their poverty
and incapacity otherwise to obtain a
livelihood"
To great extent the spoils system
has been set aside and the civil service is
now established upon the merit system.
Fitness for the position and ability to
do the work required, under certain llmi-
tations, will secure to my one, without
regard to political or social affiliations, a
place in the classified service. The civil
4 sawy;oo oovnro{9eiOu 81 WoahSum+0r n
c., will send to any one, on application,
a "Manual of Examinations for the
Classified Civil Service" which gives al
necessary information concerning the
same. There are about 100 different ex.
aminatIons for places in the different de-
partments of the government and the
manual gives examples of the qualifica
tions required, samples of the examina.
cations, dates and places where the ex
aminations will be held, methods Of
marking papers, subjects in which can
didates are examined, etc., etc.
This manual defines the extent of the
classified civil service, method of filling
the vacancies as they occur, tells wha
positions are filed by competitive exami
nations, what by non competitive exami
nations, and what without examina
ton.
There is in Washington, D. Ca schoo
known as the National Correspondence
Institute" which prepares candidates tt
take the required examinations. This Of
course, has no connection with the gov
eminent. But it gives some interesting
and valuable information and quote al
follows from its circulars, which are SEN
free, on application. ''At the close O
President Harrison's administration there
were about AZ, 900 places in the classified
service. With the additions that Presi
dent Cleveland and President Mckinley
have made the number is now more thar
10000. The classified service at presen
embraces practically all the positions be
tween the cabinet officer and the common
laborer.D
"With less than 50, 700 In the classified
service the annual number of appoint
ments was about 5000. Now, with 80,
900, the number appointed In 1893, If the
same proportion be maintained, will make
about 5000 appointments. designations
deaths, transfers, dismissals Cor miscon