Evening star., 1899-05-29
The Presidents Amendments of Civil
Service Rules.
FOR THE REMOVAL OF FRICTION
Shown to Be Necessary by Three
Years Experience.
OBJECT OF THE ORDER


service rules, was issued from the White
House this morning, as foreshadowed in
The Star of Friday.
At the time Of the issuance Of the civil
service order in 1896, bringing into the clas-
sfied service practically the whole OF the
executive civil service not Heretofore Cias-
sified, there was a quite widespread feeling
that the order had gone too far and covered
many places that ii would be found imprac-
ticable to deal with under the civil service
rules. 1t is said at the White House that
the experience OF the last three years has
shown this feeling to have been well found
ed. The effort TO enforce the civil service
rules in connection with many of these
places has resulted in much friction, it is
said. and in embarrassing and irritating de-
lays harmful TO the service.
To remove, as far as possible and neces-
sary, these causes of friction and delay,
and to promote efficient and harmonious
administration, certain amendments TO the
civil service rules have been thought 20 be
necessary, and such amendments have been
for some time in contemplation. Their fer
mutation and promulga ton have, however.
been delayed partly by the war and partly
in the belief that the additional experience
that delay would give would indicate with
greater certainty the amendments that
ware most necessary.
A few of the amendments have no refer
ence to the extension of the classification
made in 1896, and are such as are neceE-
sary to meet the new conditions that are
constantly arising in the public service.
Some places, specifically enumerated in
Rule VI, have been taken from the CONF
petitve class and placed in the class eX-
cepted from examination.
Other places in various branches Of the
service have been removed from the opera
tion of the rules, but not from the classii-
cation. These places are enumerated in
Ampnpy al
examining surgeons, Indians employed in
the Indian service not conn scted with the
Indian school service, and many places in
the engineer department at large, the QUAR-
termaster's department at large, thu sub.
sistence department at large, the ordnance
department at large, of the War Depart
ment. With reference to these places in
the outside War Department service It is
provided that they shall be subject to regu-
lations to be prescribed by the Secretary OF
War, and approved by the President, thus
placing these branches of the service on
substantially the same basis as the navy
yard service.
All of the amendments have for their
main object more uniform, efficient ard
satisfactory administration of the system OF
appointments established by the civil SER
vice law.
About 5000 Places Exempted.
No figures were made at the White House
of the actual number of places removed
from the classification of the civil service
by the Presidents order, but an approxi-
mate number is 5000. BY far the majority
of these consist of deputy marshals ana
deputy collectors, storekeepers and gaug-
ers, attorneys, assistant attorneys, etc,
wardens, chaplains and physicians in United
States penitentiarieS and the various posi<
tions in Alaska. The number of deputy
marshas in each state is considerable, and
these alone will aggregate a large part ot
the exemptions.
The Presidents Order.
The Presidents order follows, and is pub
lished in full:
The civil service rules are hereby amend
ed as follows:
Rule III.
Rule II, section s, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
s. No removal shall be made from the
competitive classified service except for
just cause and for reasons given in writing;
and the person sought to be removed shall
have notice and be furnished a copy Of
such reasons, and be allowed a reasonable
time for personally answering the same in
writing. Copy OF such reasons, notice and
answer, and of the order Of removal shall
be made part of the records of the proper
department or orfice: and the reasons for
any change in rank or compensation within
the competitive classified service shall also
be made part of the records of the proper
department or office.
Rule iii.
Rule III. section s. is hereby amended to
read as follows:
s. The following mentioned positions or
employees shall not be subject to any Of
the provisions of these rules except Sec
tions /, and of rule II:
(a) Any position filed by a person whose
place of private business is conveniently
located for his performance OF the duties
of said position, or any position filled by q
person remunerated in one sum both for
services rendered therein and for necessary
rent, fuel and lights furnished for the per-
formance of the duties thereof: Provided,
That in either case the performance Of the
duties of said position requires only por-
ton of the time and attention of the oc-
cupant, paying him a compensation not
exceeding, for his personal salary onlyl
$500 per annum, and permitting OF his pur-
suing other regular business or occupation.
(b) Any person in the military naval
service of the United States who is detailed
for the performance of civil duties.
(c) Any person employed in foreign
country under the State Department, or
who is temporarily employed in confiden-
tial capacity in a foreign country under
any executive department or other office.
I'D Any position the duties OF which
of quasi-military quasi-naval charac-
ter and for the performance of which du-
ties a person is enlisted for term of years,
or positions in the revenue cutter service
where the persons enlist for the season OF
navigation only.
(e) Any local physician employed tempo
rarily acting assistant surgeon in the
marine bispital service.
() Any person employed in the marine
hospital service as quarantine attendant at
the gulf, South Atlantic, Tortugas, Reedy
Island and Angel Island quarantines: and
any person temporarily employed as qua
rantine attendant on quarantine vessels or
in camps or stations established for qua
rantine purposes during epidemics of con-
tagfous diseases in the United States or be-
yond the seas.
(g) Any person in the quartermaster's de-
partment at large of the United States
army employed as train master, chief pack
er, foreman packer. pack master, master
baler, foreman of laborers, superintendent
of stables, forage master. Appointments
to these positions shall be made hereafter
on registration tests of fitness prescribed
in regulations to be issued by the Secretary
of War and approved by the President.
(h) Any person in the medical departs
ment at large of the United States army
chief packer, packer, or assist
ant packer. Appointments to these posi-
tions shall be made hereafter on registra-
ton tests of fitness prescribed in regulas