New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-15
MERIT SYSTEM A SUCCESS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION.
PRESENT CONDITIONS CoNTRAsTEp WITH THOSE
UNDER THE spOII.s sYsTEM-A YEARS
WORK OF THE CoMMIssIoN-PREs1
DENT MKINLEY's ORDER

Washington. Feb 1.-THE annual report Of tho
Civil Service Commission for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1897. has been presented to the President
Il begins with statement to show that after an
experience OF nearly fifteen years the hopes OF the
advocates Of the Civil Service law have been large
~ realized. In practice the law has proved to he a
constantly excrted ard effective force in the direc
ton OF economy Considering the few changes in
the service under the merit system and the whole
sale removals under the patronage system. the
economy and efficiency Of the stand in striking
contrast to the extravaganza and neficency of the
other. During the five years preceding the classi-
cation Of the NewYork Custom House there were
l,6S removals. while FOR the Two years ended June
80 last there were only l0l removals and co
designations In the entire Civil Service during the
Last five years least ~ per cent Of those occupy
Ing uncassihcd places We're removed. while In
the classified competitive service not more than S
per cent of separations occurred Since 1853 the
year Of the organization Of the Commission the
classified places. which have been subject 10
political control. have increased In number 81 per
cent and in cost 10 per cent. while the classified
places subject to cxamlnat ions have remained AZ
a standstill The large extension OF the Civil
Service rules IN May. 1896. TO include places
hitherto unclassifed has the report says. brought
TO light number OF unnecessary places Quite
a number OF these have been abolished as
Of economy.
EXAMINATIONS AND PROMOTIONS.
Tho whole number OF persons examined during the
year was 4al45. Of whom 2S 100 passed The number
Of appointments 4l36 The Commission the re-.
port says. has been steadily making its exan1ina-
tons more practical In examinations for certain
trades and other places FOR which no scholastic
tests nave been deemed advisable the Commission
determines relative fitness by a consideration OF the
elements Of experience and physical ability.
Discussing he ~ ,bo
says the Navy Department is the only Department
in which the promoting scheme OF the Commission
has been fully applied. The results there such
as TO confirm the Commission in its belief that the
promotion system. based upon the efficiency records.
is an absolutely practicable method OF carrying out
the law. The reports Of the officers AT the New
York Navy Yard are unanimous as 10 the excellent
effect Of the application OF promotion reguls lions
and efficiency records to that branch OF the SER
vice.
The average age OF nppolntecs 70 the departmental
service during 1897 less than twcnty-cight and n
halt years. and discussing the statistics bearing on
this question the Commission suggests that they
afford no foundation for tho charge that the merit
system tends 20 lead to a civil pension list.
During the year the Commission has made a num-
Der Of Investigations whore violations Of the Civil
Service law were charged. In some OF the cases
the charges were not well founded: in others they
were sustained. while In all OF the cases the inyes-
legations undoubtedly had beneficial effect on the
service.
Numerous complaints have been made OF Illegal
appointments in the Internal Revenue Service IN the
districts where the collectors have been changed
since the change Of Administration INVESTIGATIONS
by representatives. o, the Commission have been
made a Pittsburg. Nashville ana Knoxville Tom
Asheve, n. C.. Richmond Va. Dallas Tex. and
Baltimore. In several OF the Offices whore deputy
collectors have neen removed there were ellgibles
on the registers but appointments were made with.
a. ND
Service law ard rules The Commission has
brought all OF these cases to the attention OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury. 1t appears that the
Treasury Department IS dcforring action on tbes.
recommendations pending decision whether
deputy collectors in tho force OF which nearly all
OF the removals and appointments have been made
are properly subject TO classification
Tho attention of the Commission has beer called
to number OF alleged violations of the Civil Ser
vice rules in the Bureau of Pensions I'm tho ro
moyal of pension examining surgeons from about
twenty-five classified local boards. in the creation
OF additional boards without examination and in a
number OF removals reductions and promotions in |
tn, Bureau at Washington. All instances Of an |
parent violations of the Civil scrvic, rules have |
been referred to the Secretary Of tho Interior |
Thus far the Commission has not been informed |
as TO The action Of the Department
In an investigation held IN November 1881 at the |
Fort Peck indian agency the evidence showed |
that three OF he employees were concerned in levy
ment has been requested 70 remove the EMPLOYEES |
and the case Will be forwarded 10 the Attorney |
Genera for criminal prosecution.
Daring the year covered by this repor; humorous |
removals. have been made OF deputy marshals
clerks In offices OF United States attorneys and |
guards in the United States penitentiarlcs all of |
which positions are under the Department Of Ius-
tlce. number OF communications have been adj /
dressed by the Commission 10 the Attorney Gen
fra calling attention 10 tho apparent vioat ons of
the Civil Service rules, but response has been
received
In the early part Of tho present Administration
charged ma
and reductions Of classified employees In
his Office In violation Of the Civil Service net and
rules From the statements made to the Com
mission II appeared that n largo proportion Of
hose removed reduced Democrats while |
nearly all those promoted Republicans The
otal number OF employees In the Executive Civil |
Service January H. 1891. was l1S7l7 with arcre-
gate salaries amounting 10 nearly 800 coo GD OF |
he total number Of places, S7,i0S were classified.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY's ORDER
Reference IS made to the rule approved bv the
President last July prohibiting removals except for
.ause and upon written charges. and in comment
ns it the report says: This is one Of the mosi
orders made since the enactment OF the |
aw, and has met the entire approval OF public
,pinion While not impa.ring tho prompt exercise
Il tho power Of discipline. this amendment guards
he scryic, against abuse lessons the ternpi aton Ia
AXE improper removals. ana affords a lust degree
# protection the empioye and greater security
y Dcrma hence in Office during good behavior. IL
he reasons sufficient the officer Will NOT hesi-
ate TO make the removal like rGle has been
Dplicd TO lettcr-carricrs since June IS 1891 with
most salutary effect"
NOMINATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT.